Reed Morano Quotes

Powerful Reed Morano for Daily Growth

About Reed Morano

Reed Morano, an acclaimed cinematographer, director, and producer, was born on September 7, 1980, in Valatie, New York. Growing up with a passion for film, Morano honed her skills by working as a photographer's assistant during her teenage years. She later attended the State University of New York at Purchase to study filmmaking and photography. In the early stages of her career, Morano worked extensively in commercial and music video production, collaborating with artists such as Taylor Swift, Florence + The Machine, and Lana Del Rey. This experience provided a solid foundation for her future work in the film industry. Morano made her feature film directorial debut with the critically acclaimed drama "Meadowland" in 2015, which earned her the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. In 2017, she directed episodes of the highly-praised dystopian series "The Handmaid's Tale," for which she won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series in 2017 and was nominated again in 2018. Quotes by Reed Morano often reflect her passion for storytelling and commitment to creating visually captivating films: - "I don't have a favorite camera, I have a favorite tool for the job." - "A lot of times you're trying to communicate something that is so personal it's hard to say. So, you make a movie about it instead." - "The best work comes out of collaboration. It doesn't come from one person being in control." - "In order to create something that's powerful and emotional, you need to be able to understand the human condition." Her latest project is directing and serving as a producer for the upcoming film adaptation of Emily St. John Mandel's novel "Station Eleven," which showcases Morano's dedication to bringing thought-provoking stories to life on screen.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The camera doesn't lie, but it can be tricked."

The quote implies that while a camera is an objective tool capable of accurately recording visual information, its usage can be manipulated intentionally to create subjective interpretations or to deceive the viewer. In essence, the skillful use of cinematography can shape the narrative, emotions, and perception of reality in films and images, suggesting that the power of storytelling is not solely reliant on the truthfulness of what the camera captures but rather on how it is used to portray a particular version of events.


"I think there's something very powerful about taking a subject that might not initially seem cinematic and making it cinematic."

This quote suggests that the true artistry in filmmaking lies in the ability to transform ordinary, seemingly unfilmable subjects into visually captivating experiences on screen. By employing creative techniques, storytelling, and visual aesthetics, even mundane or non-traditional themes can be given a cinematic quality that resonates with audiences emotionally and intellectually. In essence, it's all about pushing the boundaries of what is considered "cinematic" to create compelling stories that engage viewers on multiple levels.


"My job as a director is to tell the best story possible with the resources I have."

This quote by Reed Morano emphasizes the essence of effective filmmaking, suggesting that a director's primary responsibility lies in crafting the most compelling narrative given the available resources. It highlights the importance of adaptability, resourcefulness, and creativity in the field of directing. Achieving excellence is not solely dependent on an abundance of resources but also relies heavily on skillful storytelling that can captivate audiences regardless of budget or limitations.


"I always approach projects looking for authenticity, truth, and depth."

This quote indicates that Reed Morano, a filmmaker or creator of any media content, prioritizes authenticity, truth, and depth when selecting and executing her projects. Authenticity refers to the sincerity and honesty in portraying characters, settings, or events. Truth involves presenting accurate or factual information, while depth implies a complex, nuanced understanding and representation of the subject matter. In essence, Morano is choosing projects that offer a meaningful, truthful, and multidimensional experience to the audience.


"You don't need the most expensive equipment to make great cinema - you just need a great story and a vision."

The quote emphasizes that the essential components for creating great cinema are not primarily dependent on having expensive equipment, but rather on possessing a compelling story and a clear vision. This implies that with a strong narrative and a creative perspective, even limited resources can be effectively utilized to produce high-quality cinematic work.


A lot of cinematography is intuition. It's an art, not a formula.

- Reed Morano

Art, Intuition, Lot, Formula

I've DP'd so many films for first-time directors, and I know the trauma, the heartbreak, the vulnerability, how much you have to believe in the story.

- Reed Morano

Heartbreak, Trauma, Films, First-Time

Most of the people I know in the film business here in New York, the moms and the dads, just take different turns working. So everybody's a working parent, and nobody bats an eyelash at it.

- Reed Morano

New, Here, Film Business, Dads

I think I subconsciously knew you needed life experience to direct, and the best films are directed by people who have really lived, with exceptions like Orson Welles, who just burst out of the gate. There are prodigies like that, but for me, personally, I thought I needed life experience.

- Reed Morano

Thought, Needed, I Think, None

We're too complacent. We let things happen to us. And you don't have to let things happen to you. You can affect change.

- Reed Morano

Things Happen, Happen, Too, Complacent

Ultimately, the idea of being able to escape and lose myself in a new world every time I go to 'work' was too appealing to ignore.

- Reed Morano

Work, New, Idea, New World

As a cinematographer or director, I'm always looking for projects that are able to say a lot with the actor's expressions.

- Reed Morano

Actor, Always, Lot, Expressions

I actually carried a Panavision Platinum and a G2 when I was seven months pregnant for a film called 'Little Birds,' and the whole movie was handheld. And we were shooting in the desert. That's a 35-millimeter camera. It's huge, probably at least 50, 55 pounds, and I did all my own operating.

- Reed Morano

Own, Shooting, Movie, Platinum

There is something to be said for one vision and following one vision through. I do think it's something TV will catch up to at some point and realize, 'Wow, we're in the Golden Age of Television right now; we've taken television to another level, but now let's take it to an even higher level where it is one vision throughout a whole season.'

- Reed Morano

Through, Some, TV, Golden Age

When it was time to go to college, I was going to apply to Boston University for journalism, and dad said, 'Why not apply to NYU film school, because you love telling stories and taking pictures?' And I thought, 'Oh, I can do that for a job? Cool!'

- Reed Morano

Love, College, Boston, Why Not

Being a cinematographer taught me a lot. I got to expedite the visions of many directors and learned how to navigate many styles and worlds.

- Reed Morano

Navigate, Worlds, Learned, Visions

Eventually, when I got the 'Meadowland' script, I saw something in it that made me think I could make something special out of it, something that could work with my style. Emotionally, I connected to it. I thought, 'If I feel this way just imagining it, maybe we can make that happen on screen and make people feel something when they watch it.'

- Reed Morano

Thought, Feel, Maybe, Something Special

I think it took me seven years before I got the script for 'Frozen River.' That's the movie I had been looking for my whole career. When I read that, I knew I had to shoot that movie - that it'd be a game-changer. It was one of those scripts where I read it, and I was like, 'This movie could get into Sundance.'

- Reed Morano

Career, Been, I Think, Scripts

Women have to compensate more in the personality department in order to get the things that men get. And they don't have as much leeway for being divas or jerks.

- Reed Morano

More, Being, Leeway, Jerks

I always like to do sound design, and in movies, you have more leeway with that, but I don't really notice that sound design is being used in TV other than just location sound.

- Reed Morano

Always, Other, TV, Leeway

I really hate having to put 'female' in front of any title, because it puts us in some kind of weird category for handicapped people or something.

- Reed Morano

Kind, Some, Having, Category

When you work as a cinematographer, the actors look to you for reassurance. When you're lighting them, they can never think you're making an adjustment because of the way they look. If they are nervous, it impacts their performance, which impacts the story.

- Reed Morano

Think, Making, Which, Reassurance

One of the color combos that I really love is the tones of technicolor, which older movies would have, these tones of blue and red in them.

- Reed Morano

Love, Color, Which, Tones

Normally, if I would read in a script that there's mostly flashbacks and mostly voiceover, I would run as far away as possible.

- Reed Morano

Away, Mostly, Read, Normally

I don't want to come in and do something that's been done before. You know, for me, it's not that I wouldn't come in and do a sequel to something, but it's only if I can bring something new to the table and I'm not following an extremely strict path.

- Reed Morano

Bring, Been, Before, Strict

Sometimes you come up with an idea when you're going out for a job, and then when you actually get into dissecting the world, you end up changing your approach, just because that's the way art goes sometimes.

- Reed Morano

Sometimes, Idea, Your, Dissecting

I know how a cinematographer wants to be treated by their director, and so I already have a leg up in that department, and I know what would be insulting to say to a DP because I've been one for so long.

- Reed Morano

Director, Been, Treated, Department

As a cinematographer, I was always attracted to stories that have the potential to be told with as few words as possible.

- Reed Morano

Always, Stories, Attracted, Cinematographer

When I got on my first set, I watched what the cinematographer was doing, and at that level in film school, the cinematographer has the most control. They're the one looking through the viewfinder, carrying the camera, framing the shots.

- Reed Morano

Doing, Through, Film School, Cinematographer

When 'Frozen River' started to get really big, I was four months pregnant. So when these agents and directors wanted to meet me, I was coming in pregnant, and people didn't really take me seriously. They thought, 'This woman is not going to shoot another movie again. She's going to become a mom, and that's what happens.' But that was not the case.

- Reed Morano

Woman, Thought, Big, Agents

I was in film school as an undergrad with a focus on directing. Once I started working on shoots, I realized, 'Oh, I really like this cinematography thing.'

- Reed Morano

Focus, Like, Film School, Cinematography

'Meadowland' was the reason I got 'The Handmaid's Tale,' and probably my experience in cinematography helped. Everything was like a stepping stone to the next thing.

- Reed Morano

Reason, Next, Handmaid, Cinematography

I started a business with my cousins in Fire Island called 'Wagoneers.' Since there are no cars on the island, we would hustle people at the ferry docks to bring their luggage to their houses in our wagons for a large fee.

- Reed Morano

Bring, Fee, Our, Luggage

What's the hardest thing about making a show like 'Vinyl' or 'Handmaid's Tale' is they are expecting movie-level cinematic quality in every way - from the performances to the visuals and the shots - especially on a show where you are doing Scorsese style.

- Reed Morano

Doing, Handmaid, Scorsese, Vinyl

I try to shoot film wherever possible. There's nothing like it.

- Reed Morano

Try, Nothing, Like, Wherever

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