When you do not know what you are doing and what you are doing is the best - that is inspiration.
Robert BressonRead
Two types of films: those that employ the resources of the theater (actors, direction, etc...) and use the camera in order to reproduce; those that employ the resources of cinematography and use the camera to create
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote distinguishes between traditional theatrical filmmaking and innovative cinematographic techniques.
Robert Bresson's quote reflects his belief in two different approaches to film: one that relies on conventional theatrical elements to reproduce performances and narratives, and another that utilizes the unique capabilities of cinematography to create new experiences and narratives. This perspective emphasizes the importance of the camera as a creative tool that can transcend mere reproduction, encouraging filmmakers to explore the medium's potential to generate meaning and emotion.
Themes
FilmCinematographyTheaterCreationArtistic Expression
In practice
Example use cases
During a film studies lecture, this quote can be used to discuss different filmmaking techniques.
More from Robert Bresson
All quotes →In the NUDE, all that is not beautiful is obscene.
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Cinema, radio, television, magazines are a school of inattention: people look without seeing, listen in without hearing.
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Make visible what, without you, might perhaps never have been seen.
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The most ordinary word, when put into place, suddenly acquires brilliance. That is the brilliance with which your images must shine.
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For me, film-making is combining images and sounds of real things in an order that makes them effective. What I disapprove of is photographing things that are not real. Sets and actors are not real.
Robert BressonRead
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