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John Landis

John Landis Quotes

Film director

John Landis, born on August 3, 1950, is a renowned film director known for his unique sense of humor and satirical style. His works, such as 'An American Werewolf in London' and 'The Blues Brothers', have become classics in the comedy and horror genres. Landis is widely recognized for his contributions to the film industry.

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All People Film Different Actors Directors Made Real Thinking Want Horror

Famous John Landis Quotes

“Directors, like actors, get typecast.”

Actors Directors Typecasting

Author:John Landis

“For some reason, people think of me as someone who can do anything I want. And I'm not. You know, I need someone to put up the money.”

People Thinking Knows Want Needs Reason Can Do Think Of Me

Author:John Landis

“I grew up in Los Angeles, and I've made movies all over the world... I've been in New York, Norway, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, London - I've been in all these cities, shooting away in the winter, thinking, 'People who choose to live here are insane.”

People Thinking World Made Cities New York Grew Grew Up Winter London Insane Shooting Los Angeles Chicago Philadelphia Pittsburgh Norway

Author:John Landis

“I would very much like to make Westerns. I love Westerns. I've worked on many Westerns in my youth, in Spain and here, and I love working on them.”

Author:John Landis

“I'm following a real event and real people.”

People Real Events Following

Author:John Landis

“In my career, my movies tend to polarize critics.”

Careers Critics

Author:John Landis

“The idea of doing a children's film is different, but quite honestly I like doing anything - any genre. I've only made one Western, which was 'Three Amigos,' but I would love to make a serious Western. I'm just wide open.”

Children Made Ideas Different Film Three Serious Western Wide Honestly Genre

Author:John Landis

“There have been 14 versions that I can find of Burke & Hare movies. They have all been horror films and all the movies have taken place in Victorian times, which doesn't make any sense.”

Has Beens I Can Film Taken Horror Versions Victorian Horror Film Hares Victorian Times

Author:John Landis

“Well, the bottom line is that I'm extremely pleased with 'The Stupids.' I'm pleased that it's coming out, and it should look good. It's nice looking, with the colors and stuff. I made it for kids, and I really would like them to see it.”

Should Wells Looks Made Kids Stuff Lines Nice Color Bottom Made It Coming Out Bottom Line

Author:John Landis

“One of the challenges of the movie is there are no apologies or excuses.”

Challenges Excuse Apology

Author:John Landis

“I'm very lucky to have worked in the '70s. It's a different industry and distribution is in a state of flux. It's all different platforms, they're doing this video-on-demand thing and also playing the film theatrically. It's funny to me: In the States it's an arthouse movie.”

Different States Film Industry Lucky Demand Video Platforms Distribution Flux

Author:John Landis

“Truthfully, most directors don't direct actors. Every actor is different, so when you're asked, "How do you approach an actor?," it depends on the actor. With some, you do nothing. With some, you're very specific.”

Different Actors Depends Directors Approach Direct

Author:John Landis

“I am very direct and I tend to treat everyone exactly the same, which sometimes gets me in trouble because some movie stars feel like they should be treated differently. But, when you're dealing with good actors, they really appreciate it.”

Feels Should Sometimes Actors Stars Trouble Appreciate Direct Treats Treated Movie Star Good Actors

Author:John Landis

“Movies are brand new. Film is less than 150 years old. It's brand new, compared to any other art form, all of which are thousands of years old.”

Years Art Film Form Brands Brand New

Author:John Landis

“Because of the cumbersome nature of filmmaking, it's only recently that it has become available to the masses, with digital equipment and laptop computers. You can now actually make a pretty serviceable movie for very little money by yourself.”

Littles Computer Mass Available Digital Filmmaking Equipment Laptops Little Money Laptop Computers

Author:John Landis

“You always want to do something different. I enjoy the process. I like making movies, and it's increasingly hard to find a movie you'd want to make.”

Want Different Hard Process Enjoy

Author:John Landis

“Anytime something makes money, no matter how outré, it's instantly mainstream. A good example is rock 'n' roll. When rock 'n' roll was first played to a wide audience it was considered the devil's music.”

Firsts Matter Audience Rocks Example Devil Wide Making Money Rock N Roll Mainstream Good Examples

Author:John Landis

“Rock 'n' roll started to make so much money and generated so much income for the record companies that suddenly it was no longer evil.”

Evil Company Records Rocks Income Rock N Roll Record Companies

Author:John Landis

“They sought out rap music to attack, but you don't hear that anymore because it made too much money. They use Che Guevara to sell soft drinks. If something comes out that is radical and it's successful, then it's no longer radical. It's co-opted.”

Ifs Made Use Successful Too Much Drink Sells Rap Radical Rap Music Soft Drinks

Author:John Landis

“The 1960s and 1970s were the real years for independent film, because they were really independent. Plus, there were hundreds of distributors. There were all these companies that basically did exploitation, but they were independent. Now, there are very few independent distributors.”

Real Film Independent Exploitation 1960s

Author:John Landis

“People don't understand this: Ideas are important, but they're not essential. What's essential and important is the execution of the idea. Everyone has had the experience of seeing a movie and saying, "Hey! That was my idea!" Well, it doesn't mean anything that you had that idea. There's no such thing as an original concept. What's original is the way you re-use ancient concepts.”

People Mean Important Ancient

Author:John Landis

“What's interesting as a director, and even studio executives don't understand this, is that if you're directing a $200 million movie with six million people, it's the same as directing a $25,000 movie with three people. The director's job is, "You stand there and do that," or "This is the shot I want." The logistics change, but the job remains the same. And I enjoy the job.”

People Enjoy Interesting

Author:John Landis

“Marketing does have a lot to do with the success of a film. But even more so, and especially since home video, I've learned that a movie has a life of its own. A movie goes out there, and it exists, and it continues. I'm always fascinated by what movie people bring up when they approach me.”

People Home Film Marketing

Author:John Landis

“I grew up thinking of snow as a luxury you visit.”

Thinking Grew Grew Up Snow Luxury

Author:John Landis

“I have always loved you.”

Leadership Always Loved You

Book:Terrorism Subdues Now Save the Planet

Source: Terrorism Subdues Now Save the Planet

“It's not that I don't want to, it's just that there's no money in it. By that I mean the way the video business works now, the artist and the record label send out a song to a bunch of different directors and say, 'What would you do with this?' Then everyone has to come up with an idea and bid on it. For me, it's like, 'Hey, you want me to do it? Then pay me. I'm not auditioning for you.'”

Way Want Mean Ideas Different Artist Song Pay Records Directors Come Up Video Bunch Hey Labels Want Me No Money You Want Me Hey You Record Labels

Author:John Landis

“The pedigree's pretty high. For people who are really scary movie fans, this is nirvana. If you're in the mood to get scared, just watch this every week. It'll creep you out.”

People Ifs Watches Week Fans Scared Scary Mood Creeps Really Scary Pedigree

Author:John Landis

“Quite honestly, ... there`s never been stunt driving before or after as spectacular or elaborate. That`s all real, no (computer trickery).”

Real Computer Honestly Driving Spectacular Trickery

Author:John Landis

“Universal rushed us. We started shooting without a script that was totally completed.”

Universal Scripts Shooting

Author:John Landis

“The field (of filmmaking) is suddenly sexy, ... so it's deluged with these wannabes who say 'I don't want to be a secret agent, I'll be a filmmaker.' I think a lot of people are really kind of naive.”

People Thinking Want Kind Secret Fields Sexy Agents Filmmaker Filmmaking Naive Wannabes Secret Agent

Author:John Landis

“I've been all over the world, and to be in Milan and see guys dressed as Jake and Elwood is amazing. They really have become a part of the culture.”

World Guy Culture Jake Milan

Author:John Landis

“After 'The Blues Brothers,' I wanted to do a good musical number with real dancers and shoot it correctly.”

Real Wanted Numbers Brother Musical Dancer

Author:John Landis

“But what's interesting is now - and not only in horror, but across the board - the studios basically only make B pictures with A budgets. That's the biggest difference.”

Differences Interesting Horror Studios Budgets Boards

Author:John Landis

“Directors, like actors, get typecast. And because I've had great success with comedy and horror and TV shows, that's basically what I'm kind of offered.”

Kind Shows Actors Comedy Tvs Horror Directors Tv Shows Great Success

Author:John Landis

About the Author

Born: August 3, 1950
Known for: Film director
Quotes: 34

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People Film Different Actors Directors Made Real Thinking Want Horror

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