Michael Arndt Quotes

Adversity challenges the masks we hide behind, revealing sides of ourselves we have not yet comfortably with the world outside. It is why we dislike adversity, because we have to face what we don’t yet understand about ourselves.

I like to begin every screenplay with a burst of delusional self-confidence. It tends to fade pretty quickly, but for me, at least, there doesn’t seem to be any other way to start writing a script.

The fluidity of thought is based on the flexibility of beliefs and the emotional boundaries surrounding them.

My God, there are so many mediocre screenplays out there.

Changing how you think costs you no money and it takes no special talent. It does take a commitment on your part to be different.

The best writing really does come from the deepest, most private part of you.

In terms of writing characters or stories, at least initially, there’s no difference between live-action and animation. A good story is a good story, whatever the medium.

I can write two scripts concurrently, but I usually prefer to do one at a time. However, I also usually have 5 or 6 story ideas that are percolating in my head at any one time, so it can get a little crowded in there.

All thought is created, therefore we are all creators of whatever world we live in.

A good story is a good story, whatever the medium.

If you write a bunch of different characters with a bunch of different opinions, you end up with these long scenes of everyone standing around talking.

Good writing is deceptive in that it hides its own artifice – it makes it seem easy.

In live-action, writing, production, and editing happen in discrete stages. In animation, they overlap – happening simultaneously. This allows a real dialogue to occur between the writer, the director, the actors, and the editor, and it makes the writing process a lot more collaborative and a lot less lonely.

If you only know something one way, then you don’t really know it.

Working at Pixar has been like my graduate school for screenwriting.

In live-action, writing, production and editing happen in discrete stages. In animation, they overlap – happening simultaneously. This allows a real dialogue to occur between the writer, the director, the actors and the editor, and it makes the writing process a lot more collaborative and a lot less lonely.

Every problem offers an opportunity for a solution. if you are in the right frame of mind to find it.