Jason Isbell Quotes

Every once in a while, when the audience is expecting to see one thing, you have to show them something else.

I always like playing with some sort of typical convention or idea and turning it over.

I feel the best way to respect my audience is to not give them what they expect from me... 'cause it's fun that way.

It's good to give people a jolt. If they're expecting one thing, it's important to give them something else. If you do something startling, audiences might at first freak out, but then they start to think, 'This is not going to be conventional. I'm going to enjoy this.'

In art, the obvious is a sin.

Nothing surpasses the beauty and elegance of a bad idea.

Being an artist is in part an act of rupture.

What's great about comedy, obviously, is that you set up a situation that people assume one thing and then you break the assumption. That's basically the backbone to comedy. You set up a situation, let people make an assumption, and then you break the assumption.

Most people try to avoid cliches. It's my ambition in life to try to get 'em right!

All creative people want to do the unexpected.

I want to entertain, but I also want to push the barriers beyond what kids are conditioned into accepting.

I'm always very excited by something that's a curveball or from left field.

As a creator, I always want to betray fans' expectations.

I like to do something different that people don't expect. That's what I've always been about, in everything I do.

When you create something new, you're breaking tradition - which is an act of defiance.

I like to do things that are surprising and different.

I think that, to some degree, being irreverent is the only reason I continue to be successful.

I like the unknown. That's what Terry Malick has always really liked. He's always looking for the unexpected.

Embrace risk. The driving force behind our economic model at Illumination Mac Guff is designed to preserve the opportunity to take risk. Subvert the expectation of the audience. Surprise them with unexpected choices.

I'd like to change what people expect. I want to evoke something that's not nameable, for people to go, 'Huh?'

What people don't realize is that when you start making things outside of the convention of what is normal or good or 'best practices,' you're also shedding some of the baggage that comes with the concept of what a game 'should' be.

I like things that don't go together.

Any film that can entertain and has a message and cannot be slotted into any genre is unique.

Any time people are breaking outside the norm and playing something that isn't expected - that feels like punk to me.

Obvious is not my forte. I take a left turn right when everybody thinks I'm going to go straight.