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Taika Waititi Quotes

36 Insightful Quotes By Taika Waititi For The Alive And Kicking

Famous As: Filmmaker Best Known for His Films: 'Boy', 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople' and 'What We Do in the Shadows'

Born On: August 16, 1975

Born In: Raukokore, Waihau Bay, New Zealand

Taika Waititi is a well-known New Zealand actor and filmmaker. He has earned a number of awards and accolades for his works, including an ‘Academy Award.’ He appeared in ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople,’ and ‘Boy,’ which have been one of the highest-grossing New Zealand films. Some of his other notable works include ‘Jojo Rabbit,’ ‘What We Do in The Shadows,’ ‘Thor: Ragnarok,’ ‘Two Cars, One Night,’ ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ ‘Flight of Concords,’ and various others. Go through the corpus of famous quotes by Taika Waititi on music, life, daydreaming, movies, family, people, opportunity, reality, humanity, time, energy, ideas, actors, etc.

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Film & Theater Personalities

Comedians

A big part of the humor is in identifying with the tragic elements of the film. The New Zealand sense of humor is very dark. Our films are usually very dark and it's always someone being killed. Usually a child.

A big part of the humor is in identifying with the tragic elements of the film. The New Zealand sense of humor is very dark. Our films are usually very dark and it's always someone being killed. Usually a child.
Children
Taika Waititi

There are lots of parts of filmmaking that I don't like. At the end of the day, especially on features, the film turns into a commodity. You have to play this entirely new game I'm very uncomfortable with.

There are lots of parts of filmmaking that I don't like. At the end of the day, especially on features, the film turns into a commodity. You have to play this entirely new game I'm very uncomfortable with.
Taika Waititi

I distinctly remember watching Annie when I was very little and thinking 'I don't like this kid.' In fact I think I remember thinking 'I don't like any of these kids.' That's all I remember.

I distinctly remember watching Annie when I was very little and thinking 'I don't like this kid.' In fact I think I remember thinking 'I don't like any of these kids.' That's all I remember.
Taika Waititi

Sundance felt like a natural fit. I love coming here, and I do think that this festival suits my films rather than most of the festivals I've been to. I'm not going to Cannes, you know.

Sundance felt like a natural fit. I love coming here, and I do think that this festival suits my films rather than most of the festivals I've been to. I'm not going to Cannes, you know.
Taika Waititi

I might revisit - I like the idea of doing something else with [Hunt for the Wilderpeople characters]. But also I get bored of doing the same thing again. I just get bored.

I might revisit - I like the idea of doing something else with [Hunt for the Wilderpeople characters]. But also I get bored of doing the same thing again. I just get bored.
Character
Taika Waititi

I never wanted to be a filmmaker. I still, sometimes, think I got sidetracked by this, like this is a tangent. My main thing was painting; I was just going to do that.

I never wanted to be a filmmaker. I still, sometimes, think I got sidetracked by this, like this is a tangent. My main thing was painting; I was just going to do that.
Taika Waititi

I really love him [Jack Gleeson as Joffrey in Game of Thrones] - I love watching that character. It's quite phenomenal how people love to hate that character.

I really love him [Jack Gleeson as Joffrey in Game of Thrones] - I love watching that character. It's quite phenomenal how people love to hate that character.
Character
Taika Waititi

I have to keep reminding myself that I was hired for a reason and one of those reasons is because of the stories I tell and the films I've made previously.

I have to keep reminding myself that I was hired for a reason and one of those reasons is because of the stories I tell and the films I've made previously.
Taika Waititi

I constantly remind myself that there are terrible movies out there. I try to watch them, some of them, to give myself an understanding of what not to do.

I constantly remind myself that there are terrible movies out there. I try to watch them, some of them, to give myself an understanding of what not to do.
Trying
Taika Waititi

In a couple of years I think it [sequel to What We Do] will come out as a script and we'll shoot that. Or maybe it will just come out as some t-shirts.

In a couple of years I think it [sequel to What We Do] will come out as a script and we'll shoot that. Or maybe it will just come out as some t-shirts.
Taika Waititi

I've always been a relaxed person on set, but I think the main thing is I think about it from an editing point of view way more than I did before.

I've always been a relaxed person on set, but I think the main thing is I think about it from an editing point of view way more than I did before.
Taika Waititi

I think I did not like him [Corey Feldman] in Goonies. He's kind of a similar character in Stand By Me isn't he? Well I liked him in Stand By Me.

I think I did not like him [Corey Feldman] in Goonies. He's kind of a similar character in Stand By Me isn't he? Well I liked him in Stand By Me.
Character
Taika Waititi

Short film: you can be poetic and you don't have to answer anything. You can make whatever you want. You have creative freedom with short film.

Short film: you can be poetic and you don't have to answer anything. You can make whatever you want. You have creative freedom with short film.
Taika Waititi

I don't have any room in my heart for that character [Kevin McCallister ]. I like the actor [Macaulay Culkin], but the character, no.

I don't have any room in my heart for that character [Kevin McCallister ]. I like the actor [Macaulay Culkin], but the character, no.
Heart Character
Taika Waititi

I've loved comics since I was a kid, collected them, I've always dreamed of being involved in comics.

I've loved comics since I was a kid, collected them, I've always dreamed of being involved in comics.
Taika Waititi

I want to do weird things and big budget things and no budget things. I don't have a five-year plan.

I want to do weird things and big budget things and no budget things. I don't have a five-year plan.
Taika Waititi

I love heroes that really go through ordeals and then come out the other end completely changed.

I love heroes that really go through ordeals and then come out the other end completely changed.
Taika Waititi

I hate the modern day the kids live in. I don't think it's very cool. Everyone's interconnected.

I hate the modern day the kids live in. I don't think it's very cool. Everyone's interconnected.
Taika Waititi

I'm used to working with restrictions and that's when you come up with the more creative stuff.

I'm used to working with restrictions and that's when you come up with the more creative stuff.
Taika Waititi

A feature film is an expansion of budget, stress, story, hours, time, workload, everything.

A feature film is an expansion of budget, stress, story, hours, time, workload, everything.
Taika Waititi

I like to find comedy or something interesting to look at with whatever I'm working on.

I like to find comedy or something interesting to look at with whatever I'm working on.
Taika Waititi

The films I like to watch are when they make it relatable to human audiences.

The films I like to watch are when they make it relatable to human audiences.
Taika Waititi

To make filmmaking interesting to me, I want to keep learning things.

To make filmmaking interesting to me, I want to keep learning things.
Taika Waititi

There were definitely Nazis who saw the error of their ways.

There were definitely Nazis who saw the error of their ways.
Taika Waititi

Music - it's motivational and just makes you relax.

Music - it's motivational and just makes you relax.
Taika Waititi

Hitler rounded up all of the vampires in Europe.

Hitler rounded up all of the vampires in Europe.
Taika Waititi

Sometimes there are really happy mistakes.

Sometimes there are really happy mistakes.
Taika Waititi

I loved him [Ke Huy Quan as Short-Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom] - everyone loved him when I saw the film. Now I'm a grown-up and I watch it I'm not so sure - he's so loud. He yells for the entire film.
Taika Waititi

I'm really not trying to do everything that comes to mind because that's when it can be dangerous. For instance, I believe as much as possible, how your camera moves and flies around should be limited to the physics of how you could do it in real life.
Believe
Taika Waititi

With a feature film you're dealing with so much more money and you've got to be very aware of the fact that you're really working with an audience. You've got to have a relationship with the audience. Play with them and show them things you want them to see.
Taika Waititi