Shane Black Quotes

The one reader I'm trying to please as I write is me, and I'm pretty difficult to please.

I just make music that I love. I'm kind of selfish when I make music. I'm like, 'Do I like this?'

I don't put any pressure on myself in terms of what people or fans do or don't want. It really just doesn't occur to me. I honestly just want to make the films I want to see as a fan. The film will survive or fail in my mind by how much I like it. Having said that, everyone wants their films to do well and to be well-received.

Well, I don't really concern myself too much with what other people make of my work.

The big question about how people behave is whether they've got an Inner Scorecard or an Outer Scorecard. It helps if you can be satisfied with an Inner Scorecard.

When I write, I write for myself, and I have high expectations... so I'm just trying to meet those. I'm not going to distract myself with other people's expectations.

I do not need to hear how I am judged by others. I know by myself if I can be satisfied or not with my work.

If you can't write a story that pleases yourself, you will never please the public. But in writing the story forget the public.

I try to please myself. I don't try to anticipate what people want to see.

I've never recorded anything I didn't like.

Satisfying myself is the point in filmmaking, in my mind.

My question about my art and my music has always been, 'Am I good, or am I good because?' I'm not the artist who wants to have the 'because' attached.

I only write music for myself, I don't try and appeal to anyone else.

I hope they get something of interest out of it, but I'd rather they all hate it and I like it, instead of vice versa... I make films to please myself first, and if the audience likes them, all the better.

Awards are not the only markers of success; I don't judge myself just based on them. I believe that each cinema-goer has his own mental trophies.

I never want to be in a position where I have to defend my material. It's too subjective. It's for other people to defend or not defend.

I am so anti-people's opinions when I'm making a record, but when it's finished and I put it out there, I hope somebody likes it.

I don't think you can really make television based on what you think audiences want. You can only make stories that you like, because you have to watch it so many times.

The first record I made, when I listen to it, I understand. I understand perfectly well why certain musicians were unhappy with me. I had to decide: was I unhappy with me? I liked it. If they didn't like it, it was on them.

I don't have many rules, but one of them is, 'Do not make a movie you yourself would not want to see.'

You make you work for yourself. It's the feeling of, 'If nobody ever saw it, that'd be fine, too.'

I don't do any art to please any people.

I only make those films that I would love to watch.

For me, I don't feel all the pressure. I make music, and I release it because I like it myself and I want my friends to hear it from me.

My scope on what's good is if I like it. The first person I have to please is myself.