---
title: "Denzel Washington: ‘Movies Are Not Difficult. Send Your Son To Iraq. That’s Difficult’"
date: "2016-12-16"
modified: "2016-12-16"
authors:
  - name: "James Clark"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/james-clark.md"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/culture/denzel-washington-movies-not-difficult-send-son-iraq-thats-difficult/"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "Entertainment"
  - "History"
  - "Iraq War"
  - "Past Conflicts"
---

# Denzel Washington: ‘Movies Are Not Difficult. Send Your Son To Iraq. That’s Difficult’

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/04/19038180-1.jpg>)

Acclaimed actor Denzel Washington has no patience for those who think acting is like going to war, he said during a recent Director's Roundtable discussion by the [Hollywood Reporter.](<https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/director-roundtable-mel-gibson-denzel-washington-4-more-paralyzing-fears-cast-crew-complain>)

"People talk about the difficulty of making a movie and I'm like, send your son to Iraq, that's difficult,” Washington said during the interview. He was joined by Mel Gibson, Oliver Stone, himself a Vietnam War veteran, Barry Jenkins, Damien Chazelle and Mira Nair.

When asked about his first job, and his worst, Washington talked about working as a garbageman as well as a postman, before hitting on a much larger theme and one that has distanced Hollywood celebrities from the everyday folks who go see their movies:

“It’s like when people talk about the difficulty of making a movie, and I’m like, send your son to Iraq, that’s difficult,” the Oscar winning actor stated. “It’s just a movie. It’s like relax. I don’t play that precious nonsense. Your son got shot in the face. That’s difficult. Making a movie is a luxury. It’s a gift, it’s an opportunity, but most importantly it’s a gift.”

[Related: Mark Wahlberg Thinks Celebrities Need to Shut Up About Politics »](</culture/mark-wahlberg-thinks-celebrities-need-shut-politics-2.md>)

Washington’s comments are a far cry from the way some actors have referred to the challenges they face on set. In 2013, Tom Cruise likened his work on “Oblivion;” which filmed in Louisiana, Iceland, New York, and California; to a tour to Afghanistan

"That's what it feels like." [Cruise reportedly said of his job,](<https://www.businessinsider.com/tom-cruises-job-tough-afghanistan-2013-11>) comparing it to serving in a warzone. "And certainly on this last movie, it was brutal. It was brutal."

Acting, while a challenge, is nothing like serving in a combat zone. Washington’s words should help Hollywood keep things in perspective.

“Don’t get it twisted, it’s just a movie,” Washington said. “It ain't that big of a deal.”

## Author
James Clark is the editor-in-chief of Task & Purpose. He is a former Marine and a veteran of the War in Afghanistan.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/JamesWClark>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/jclarkjournalism/>)