John Lasseter Quotes

Storytelling is about two things; it's about character and plot.

I believe that the writer should tell a story. I believe in plot. I believe in creating characters and suspense.

I want to tell a story and shape it all the way through to the end.

It doesn't matter to me if it has a surprise ending or not. I usually go for the material or the project.

Our biggest challenge is always story. The story is the ultimate thing you try to tackle.

I find that most people know what a story is until they sit down to write one.

No other aspect of filmmaking has tempted me to do a film other than the script and the story itself.

It's really, always, the story and the characters that come first, and the other things are kind of dealt with in time or, in fact, driven by the story.

Roles don't fascinate me. It is the narrative, the screenplay that is fascinating.

You can be technically strong, and focus all your efforts on elements like casting, music, cinematography and sets, but they are all just add ons. End of the day, filmmaking is really about how well you tell a story.

Moviemaking is about telling a story. And you need to know what story you are going to tell.

The writing is only ever the attractive thing about a part. And also if all the elements within the writing come together - the character and the structure and the narrative - if they are all there then you become excited.

Of course, I'm not allowed to talk about the script, but I can say it is a really good story.

Every drama requires a cast. The cast may be so huge, as in Leo Tolstoy's 'Anna Karenina,' that the author or editor provides a list of characters to keep them straight. Or it may be an intimate cast of two.

Listen to great storytellers; slowly, you will learn about voice, timing, tension, structure, climax - all the things you need to tell stories that will capture the imagination of your audience.

I'm first and foremost interested in the story, the characters.

If you're sitting in your minivan, playing your computer animated films for your children in the back seat, is it the animation that's entertaining you as you drive and listen? No, it's the storytelling. That's why we put so much importance on story. No amount of great animation will save a bad story.

Any story that I can consider worth telling is one that you could tell in words.

The technology available for film-making now is incredible, but I am a big believer that it's all in the story.

Lastly get emotionally connected to your story so you can deliver it, you know, if you can't deliver the emotions to your script there's no point to your story. Story is the key.

A story is built on characters and reasons.

The parallels between a stage and a book are compelling. You, like all authors, create 'characters' in a 'setting' who speak 'dialogue' encased in 'scenes.' Most importantly, you - like the playwright - have an 'audience.'

Film-makers must decide what story to tell and how to tell it.

With movies, you are always in search is a good story, one that everyone will relate to and love. I love finding those stories and creating a visual world to tell the story.

It's always the story that interests me.