It’s embarrassing, isn’t it? It took me 15 years to make an 18-minute movie.

Meaning of the quote

Making a movie can take a very long time, even if the final product is only a few minutes long. Andrew McCarthy, an American actor, spent 15 years working on a movie that was only 18 minutes long. He felt embarrassed that it took him so much time to create something so short. It's a good example of how creating something, even something small, can be a long and challenging process.

About Andrew McCarthy

Andrew McCarthy is an American actor, travel writer, and television director best known for his roles in 1980s films like St. Elmo’s Fire and Pretty in Pink. He’s also worked as a director, including on the popular show Orange Is the New Black.

More about the author

More quotes from Andrew McCarthy

I thought I understood the story very well, because I’ve lived with it for so long. But movies change and take on a life of their own once they start to be made, and you have to keep your eye on the real ball, not the ball that’s in your head.

Andrew McCarthy

American actor

I was fascinated that everybody in the story thinks that they’re in the right.

Andrew McCarthy

American actor

In doing everything, from coming up with the ideas and putting them on paper till doing the final edits, you are always thinking the next three steps, you’re always thinking what next, what next, what next?

Andrew McCarthy

American actor

Nobody thinks that they’re evil or bad, they think that they’re doing the right thing.

Andrew McCarthy

American actor

It was a beautiful experience for her, the experience that she had that she confesses. It wasn’t dirty and it wasn’t horrible and wasn’t shattering. It was a wonderful, liberating experience.

Andrew McCarthy

American actor

It’s embarrassing, isn’t it? It took me 15 years to make an 18-minute movie.

Andrew McCarthy

American actor

So I wanted to explore all points of view of that, not just the girl’s but his point of view as well. Only by directing it could I explore all the points of view.

Andrew McCarthy

American actor

The price of self-empowerment is what I call it. Somebody who thinks outside the box.

Andrew McCarthy

American actor

In starting to learn about film festivals and what were good ones – ’cause there are five billion of them – it was just a really good East Coast festival. And I thought this little movie was an East Coast film.

Andrew McCarthy

American actor

So something about that touched me, obviously, when I was young and it just stayed with me. I’m always amazed by that, because my experience seems to be so much different than what I’m told, so much of the time.

Andrew McCarthy

American actor

And I know when I was younger, and still, I always marvel at what I feel is different from what I’m told that I’m supposed to feel.

Andrew McCarthy

American actor

The idea that we cause harm by doing what we perceive to be the right thing, that’s another theme that interests me. Because most people don’t intend to cause harm, they cause harm by doing the right thing – in their mind.

Andrew McCarthy

American actor