"I love to look at The Graduate, or Lawrence of Arabia, or things I had nothing to do with. But you could not get me to go back and watch movies that it was a privilege just to be around them when they were being made"

Jeffrey Katzenberg’s words tap into the complex relationship between creators and their own work, as well as the profound difference between the allure of classic cinema and the personal experience of artistic participation. His appreciation for films such as "The Graduate" and "Lawrence of Arabia" suggests a deep admiration for cinematic masterpieces he did not contribute to, allowing him to engage with these works as a pure spectator. These movies represent a form of artistic experience untainted by memories of production, decisions, or behind-the-scenes complexities. For Katzenberg, to watch these films is to encounter them afresh, with no personal baggage, simply experiencing the magic as any viewer might.

In stark contrast, he finds it difficult, even impossible, to watch films in which he played a role. Despite acknowledging it was a privilege to be present during their creation, the act of revisiting them becomes unappealing. The statement reveals that for someone so involved in filmmaking, the finished film is never just a finished product; it is layered with memories of challenges, compromises, and hard work. Each scene might recall anecdotes, problems, or moments from behind the curtain, making true enjoyment almost impossible. The magic of cinema, it seems, is reserved for those outside the process.

This dynamic is not unique to Katzenberg or even to film: artists in many disciplines often struggle to see their own creations simply as art, unclouded by memories, doubts, or internal critique. The privilege of participation, while invaluable, transforms the viewing experience into something too personal, too loaded with context. Thus, true appreciation is often more easily extended to the works of others. Katzenberg’s reflection underscores a bittersweet reality, sometimes, the deepest enjoyment of art belongs to the audience, not the creators, who carry every frame as a mosaic of their lived experience, rather than as a pure, finished story.