Steven Soderbergh Quotes

Powerful Steven Soderbergh for Daily Growth

About Steven Soderbergh

Steven Andrew Soderbergh is an acclaimed American filmmaker, known for his versatility in both narrative and documentary styles, as well as his pioneering use of digital cinema. Born on January 14, 1963, in Atlanta, Georgia, Soderbergh developed a passion for film at an early age. After completing his education at the Yale University School of Art, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in filmmaking. His first significant work was the independent film 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape' (1989), which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and propelled Soderbergh into the limelight. The film showcased his signature style of blending realism with unconventional narratives, a trend that continued in subsequent works such as 'Erin Brockovich' (2000), 'Traffic' (2000), and 'Ocean's Eleven' (2001). Soderbergh's influences are diverse, ranging from Stanley Kubrick to John Cassavetes. His innovative approach to filmmaking, including his preference for digital cinematography over traditional 35mm, has made him a trailblazer in the industry. In 2013, Soderbergh announced his retirement from feature filmmaking, stating that he wanted to explore other creative avenues. However, he continued to work on television projects and documentaries. Quotes by Steven Soderbergh reflect his thoughtful and analytical approach to storytelling. Here are a few examples: "I think you've got to make the movie you want to see. And if other people want to see it, too, then great." And "I love that moment when the audience is ahead of the characters." These quotes encapsulate Soderbergh's unique ability to create films that engage audiences while maintaining a strong narrative structure. Despite his retirement, Steven Soderbergh's impact on cinema continues to resonate, and his works remain influential in contemporary filmmaking.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I try to make movies I would want to see."

Steven Soderbergh's statement indicates a strong personal connection and commitment in his filmmaking process. He strives to create movies that appeal to his own tastes, which suggests he has a unique vision and authenticity. This approach allows him to produce films that not only satisfy his creative needs but also resonate with audiences who share similar preferences. By focusing on what excites him, Soderbergh can craft compelling narratives and engaging visuals, thus offering an immersive cinematic experience that transcends the ordinary.


"If you're not taking risks, you're not working."

This quote emphasizes the importance of risk-taking in one's work. It suggests that playing it safe or sticking to familiar grounds may lead to stagnation rather than progress. To grow, innovate, and make significant contributions, taking calculated risks is necessary. It encourages individuals to challenge themselves, push boundaries, and strive for new experiences and opportunities in their professional lives.


"The goal is to create an illusion of reality."

This quote emphasizes the artistic pursuit in filmmaking and other creative mediums, such as theater or visual arts, to effectively convince the audience that they are immersed within a believable world. The 'illusion of reality' implies a successful creation where the audience forgets they are watching a piece of art and instead experiences it as an authentic moment in time. In other words, great artistry is marked by its ability to convincingly transport the observer into a realm of seemingly unstaged reality.


"Every movie should be in the service of a good idea."

This quote emphasizes that every film, regardless of its genre or scale, should have a strong underlying concept or idea. A good idea provides a purpose for the story, giving it direction and coherence. It's a reminder that the visual medium of film is most effective when it serves to convey an engaging, thought-provoking, or meaningful message to the audience.


"I don't think about success. I only think about my next project."

This quote emphasizes a focused, process-oriented approach to work, rather than obsessing over outcomes or achieving success as an end goal. Steven Soderbergh suggests that by concentrating on the immediate task at hand (his next project), he ensures continuous growth, development, and progress in his career. It's about maintaining a steady creative flow and nurturing curiosity, instead of being preoccupied with external validation or accolades. This perspective encourages artists to stay engaged, innovative, and passionate about their work.


I'm a big believer in volume. If I made three times as many movies as Stanley Kubrick, that must mean I'm three times as good.

- Steven Soderbergh

Big, Made, Kubrick, None

Warner Bros. has talked about going out with low-cost DVDs simultaneously in China because piracy is so huge there. It will be a while before bigger movies go out in all formats; in five years, everything will.

- Steven Soderbergh

Before, Formats, Piracy, Simultaneously

I like to make all kinds of movies. I'd do 'Ocean's Thirteen' with the right script.

- Steven Soderbergh

Ocean, Movies, Like, Thirteen

But my sense in talking to people when I travel is that the film business is not that dissimilar from a lot of other businesses.

- Steven Soderbergh

Sense, Other, Film Business, Dissimilar

A movie that costs only $1.6 million doesn't have to be a cultural event to turn a profit.

- Steven Soderbergh

Movie, Cultural, Costs, Profit

A lot of people get very misty-eyed about celluloid. When I think of the time that's wasted in sending it back to the lab and having it developed and brought back, it would make me insane. I love getting my hands on the stuff immediately. That doesn't work for everybody. It just works for me.

- Steven Soderbergh

Love, Everybody, Very, Celluloid

As vocal as some people have been about how emotionally attached they've been to celluloid, I've been equally emotional in my stance that nothing is more valuable than this. Than being able to see the result of your work quickly.

- Steven Soderbergh

Some, Been, Equally, Celluloid

I guess I didn't feel confident enough to be searching in a big public way. I was very content at the time to toil in obscurity on things that I thought might point me in certain directions or teach me certain things - not knowing what that would be.

- Steven Soderbergh

Thought, Big, Very, Obscurity

One of the reasons why I think virtual reality, as a narrative format, is never going to go beyond the short-form immersion space is because the bedrock of visual storytelling is the reverse angle. If you can't look into the eyes of the protagonist, you cannot hold people's attention for more than 15 minutes.

- Steven Soderbergh

Storytelling, Virtual, Bedrock

I just produced Criminal, this remake of Nine Queens, and one of the things that appealed to me about Nine Queens is that it was a performance piece, and that's the most fun.

- Steven Soderbergh

Nine, One Of The Things, Remake

There are three major social issues that this country is struggling with: education, poverty, and drugs. Two of them we talk about, and one of them we don't.

- Steven Soderbergh

Education, Country, Social, Social Issues

When people say that moviegoing is dead, I go, 'OK, so the makers of 'Get Out' should've sold that movie to a platform? Then they don't have this insane, crazy success theatrically all over the world.'

- Steven Soderbergh

Dead, Movie, Platform, OK

The ought to be a worldwide cultural taskforce that just stops you when you have ideas like combining The Red Desert with an armored car heist movie.

- Steven Soderbergh

Movie, Like, Armored, Combining

After making a lot more films, I realized that the movie and TV business is, for all its inefficiencies, one of the best-run big businesses we have.

- Steven Soderbergh

Big, Making, Films, Businesses

Traffic is about drugs. As detailed a portrait as I can muster about what is happening in the drug world, from top to bottom, from policy to how things move on the street.

- Steven Soderbergh

Move, Bottom, About, Muster

Maybe I'll paint, do photography, just something else. I can see that.

- Steven Soderbergh

See, Maybe, Else, Just Something

Getting upset about Netflix, to me, is like getting upset about the weather. It's just something that's happening, and we have to decide what we feel about it.

- Steven Soderbergh

Upset, Like, About, Just Something

The key to making good movies is to pay attention to the transition between scenes.

- Steven Soderbergh

Movies, Making, Good Movies, Transition

It would be nice if all people who saw movies had some sort of basic understanding of what they're looking at, but I don't think you can assume that.

- Steven Soderbergh

Think, Some, Saw, Assume

I had more fun making Traffic than either of the Ocean's films.

- Steven Soderbergh

Making, Either, Films, Traffic

The great thing about the business is how Darwinian it is. We have to swim or die - if you are found wanting over a period of time, you've either got to change what you're doing or find something else to do.

- Steven Soderbergh

Die, Doing, Wanting, Darwinian

I try to focus on the stuff that I can control and let go of the other stuff.

- Steven Soderbergh

Focus, Go, Other, Let Go

I'm of the minority opinion that presidents should be given more power for less time.

- Steven Soderbergh

More, Given, Less Time, Minority

I'm sure some people will say, 'Why do this?' And my response is, 'Why wouldn't you?' The film business in general is using a model that is outdated and, worse than that, inefficient.

- Steven Soderbergh

Some, Film Business, Using, Outdated

Another thing that really excites me: I'd like to do multiple versions of the same film.

- Steven Soderbergh

Same, Like, Versions, Excites

You don't go make 'Schizopolis' if you're trying to protect some idea of yourself as a filmmaker.

- Steven Soderbergh

Trying, Some, Idea, Protect

I came out of 'Che' a different filmmaker.

- Steven Soderbergh

Different, Came, I Came, Filmmaker

If you talk to any filmmaker, and if you said to them, 'I guarantee you x amount of money per month for the rest of your life, and it's not a big amount of money, but I can also guarantee that you will work continually, you will get to make what you want to make,' any filmmaker on the planet will make that kind of deal. I would have made it.

- Steven Soderbergh

Big, Deal, Guarantee, Filmmaker

Cinema is not about format, and it's not about venue. Cinema is an approach. Cinema is a state of mind on the part of the filmmaker. I've seen commercials that have cinema in them, and I've seen Oscar-winning movies that don't. I'm fine with this.

- Steven Soderbergh

Mind, Part, Venue, Filmmaker

I guess why the Ocean's films are hard for me is because on the one hand you have to make sure the performances are there, but on the other hand it's a film that demands, to my mind, a very layered and complex visual scheme. That takes a lot of time to figure out.

- Steven Soderbergh

Other, Very, Scheme, Demands

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