Dakota Fanning Quotes

Do you know what a blessing it is to make movies that make people happy?

Give me an 18-hour day on set or in the theater, and I will be the happiest person alive.

I'm happy - at times - making films. I'm certainly unhappy not making films.

There's only one reason for my whole life, and that's art. Nothing else counts; nothing else gives me pleasure; nothing else gives me satisfaction.

I don't get over the wonder of it, and 'The Last Samurai' was an extreme example of that. Every day when I went to the set, I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

People don't realize how long hours are when you're shooting a movie.

I like the feeling of making things. It's very very rewarding. And filmmaking is that type of experience, where you're forced to collaborate with so many people. You're involved in the beginning to end, you're involved with so many elements, and when it's done, you're like, 'I made this movie.'

Movies are hard work. The public doesn't see that. The critics don't see it. But they're a lot of work. A lot of work.

I'm one of those people who thinks you can have a happy life and still be an artist.

'The Last Starfighter' was the first movie I did in the U.S. It was an absolute joy to be a part of it. 'Night of the Comet' was a labor of love. Truly a collaborative effort. I am eternally grateful for the experiences.

On the set I never know what day of the week it is.

It's hard work making movies. It's like being a doctor: you work long hours, very hard hours, and it's emotional, tense work. If you don't really love it, then it ain't worth it.

Whatever one considers art to be, there is in many people a hunger to express themselves creatively and to feel authentic in doing that.

I'm glad I took the leap away from acting into going behind the camera because it's much more satisfying - I love acting and I still do, but it's much more satisfying to be able to make the stuff.

I long to make films. I'm dying to be inside the next film. I always hope there will be another film.

I have so much respect for television actors and directors. We're on set doing 16-hour days, and that's just what we do.

My passion is doing movies, so as long as I keep doing that I will be happy.

I don't really care where I work, actually, because you know making a movie is like living in movie world. There's such a secluded world, and the director is the king ruling the country, and everybody's building this little town to speak in symbolism.

I feed on art more than I ever do on photographs. I can admire photography, but I wouldn't go to it out of hunger.

As an actor on sets, I've always clocked how hard the crew works, how much longer their days are, how much lesser their glory is - and the fact that their commitment to the work and project is unwavering, no matter the budget.

I'll keep working as long as I live because singing has taken on the feeling of joy that I had when I started, when my only responsibility was to sing well.

Why a musician loves playing jazz or classical music or what makes them happy, and why an artist likes to paint - it's so hard to actually put into words what that feeling is of joy that we get, but that is what I get: a feeling of joy when the camera is rolling, even if I'm doing something that is not joyous.

Work is my balm. I've just finished my work in Ketan Mehta's 'The Rising.' It's one of the best films I've done. Such a fabulous line-up of technicians and artistes. Above all, I got the privilege of working with Aamir Khan.

I love having made a movie.

There's something very surreal about driving a truck, looking in the rearview mirror, and seeing 20 cop cars behind you. Even though you know, 'We're just shooting. This is just a scene; we're making a movie here,' it's very unsettling.