How Quentin Tarantino Came Up With His Directing Style

It would be hard to name a bold voice and auteur than Quentin Tarantino in Hollywood. To see a frame from his films is to know they are of his voice. But things were not always like that. Check out this video of Quentin Tarantino talking with CNN's Chris Wallace about how he created his style by examining scenes from Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction.Let's dive in. Quentin Tarantino is an Auteur I really loved watching this eight-minute video because it really revealed the hard work Tarantino put in to become a household name and to find his signature auteur stylings. One throughline of the whole video is his writing process and ideation. Tarantino's writing process begins with character-driven conversations, where he initially guides the dialogue but then allows the characters to take over. He emphasizes rhythm and musicality in his dialogues and admits he rarely knows the endings of his movies when he starts writing.Of course, one of the things people pinged him on early in his career was the violence in his movies. but he never let that get to him. In fact, he embraced the way he saw this violence. Tarantino explained that he sees violence in movies as action, a unique aspect compared to theater or literature. He notes that filming kinetic violence can provide a cathartic release for the audience. Couple with this is his use of music, not just to score scenes, but to pace the movie. But Tarantino hears musicality in everything. He emphasizes the rhythm in his dialogue as well. All of these elements had to be discovered while he was working. He had to learn them about himself and learn them while putting these projects together. He was defining his auteurism by making movies and writing screenplays. Too many people wait around to figure out how they can be experts. That's wasting time. Just making things can help define who you are and help solidify your point of view on the world. They can also help you become a better filmmaker so that when you get the right chance, you're ready for it, instead of starting from the bottom and hoping for the best. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Mar 20, 2025 - 22:48

How Quentin Tarantino Came Up With His Directing Style

It would be hard to name a bold voice and auteur than Quentin Tarantino in Hollywood. To see a frame from his films is to know they are of his voice.

But things were not always like that.

Check out this video of Quentin Tarantino talking with CNN's Chris Wallace about how he created his style by examining scenes from Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction.

Let's dive in.

Quentin Tarantino is an Auteur

I really loved watching this eight-minute video because it really revealed the hard work Tarantino put in to become a household name and to find his signature auteur stylings.

One throughline of the whole video is his writing process and ideation.

Tarantino's writing process begins with character-driven conversations, where he initially guides the dialogue but then allows the characters to take over. He emphasizes rhythm and musicality in his dialogues and admits he rarely knows the endings of his movies when he starts writing.

Of course, one of the things people pinged him on early in his career was the violence in his movies. but he never let that get to him. In fact, he embraced the way he saw this violence.

Tarantino explained that he sees violence in movies as action, a unique aspect compared to theater or literature. He notes that filming kinetic violence can provide a cathartic release for the audience.

Couple with this is his use of music, not just to score scenes, but to pace the movie. But Tarantino hears musicality in everything. He emphasizes the rhythm in his dialogue as well.

All of these elements had to be discovered while he was working. He had to learn them about himself and learn them while putting these projects together. He was defining his auteurism by making movies and writing screenplays.

Too many people wait around to figure out how they can be experts. That's wasting time. Just making things can help define who you are and help solidify your point of view on the world.

They can also help you become a better filmmaker so that when you get the right chance, you're ready for it, instead of starting from the bottom and hoping for the best.

Let me know what you think in the comments.