--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I find the character, I try to spend…" description: "\"When I find the character, I try to spend time with them and get to know them very well. Therefore my notes are not from the character that I had in my..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb8/abbas-kiarostami-2631_character_when-i-find-the-character-i-try-to-spend_2711833.png" --- # When I find the character, I try to spend time with them… ![“When I find the character, I try to spend time with them and get to know them very well. Therefore my notes are not from the character that I had in my mind before, but are instead based on the people I've met in real life.” quote by Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb8/abbas-kiarostami-2631_character_when-i-find-the-character-i-try-to-spend_2711833.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb8/abbas-kiarostami-2631_character_when-i-find-the-character-i-try-to-spend_2711833.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb8/abbas-kiarostami-2631_character_when-i-find-the-character-i-try-to-spend_2711833.png) > “When I find the character, I try to spend time with them and get to know them very well. Therefore my notes are not from the character that I had in my mind before, but are instead based on the people I've met in real life.” [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding characters deeply by engaging with real people, leading to authentic storytelling. **In simple terms:** Learn characters through real-life interactions. Key Takeaway Base creative work on genuine human experiences. Themes creativity authenticity character study storytelling human connection Mood thoughtful inspirational practical Type instructional philosophical When to use this quote - documentary film - character-driven scripts - workshop exercises Key Concepts method acting observational research empathetic listening Questions to Reflect On - How can you integrate real stories into your work? - What ethical considerations arise? 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I have a general outline and a character in my mind, and I make no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-don-t-have-very-complete-scripts-for-my-films-i-have-a-general/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [I'll tell you a little secret about the Blues: it's not enough to know which notes to play, you have to know why they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-ll-tell-you-a-little-secret-about-the-blues-it-s-not-enough-to-know/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Where are the songs I used to know, Where are the notes I used to sing? I have forgotten everything I used to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-rossetti/where-are-the-songs-i-used-to-know-where-are-the-notes-i-used-to-sing/) [Christina Rossetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-rossetti/) > [I am the consequence of a particular type of demographic movement, one that has always involved paying a high price. But I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/concha-buika/i-am-the-consequence-of-a-particular-type-of-demographic-movement-one/) [Concha Buika](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/concha-buika/) > [In most instances, the driving force behind the action is the mood, the personality, the attitude of the character - or all three. Therefore,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/in-most-instances-the-driving-force-behind-the-action-is-the-mood-the/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [If you grow yourself to become a successful person, in strength of character and mind, you will naturally be successful in anything and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/if-you-grow-yourself-to-become-a-successful-person-in-strength-of/) [T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/) > [If you let the plot be determined by what you feel is in the character's mind at that point, it may not turn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-you-let-the-plot-be-determined-by-what-you-feel-is-in-the/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Before I write down one word, I have to have the character in my mind through and through. I must penetrate into the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/before-i-write-down-one-word-i-have-to-have-the-character-in-my-mind/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [Such as are your habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of your mind; for the soul is dyed by the thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/such-as-are-your-habitual-thoughts-such-also-will-be-the-character-of/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [When we look at films, we usually see only the action. Yet it is the decision to act that helps us understand how the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-seger/when-we-look-at-films-we-usually-see-only-the-action-yet-it-is-the/) [Linda Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-seger/) > [Sometimes when a character in a novel is difficult for me to enter, I sue something in myself or in my own life as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marge-piercy/sometimes-when-a-character-in-a-novel-is-difficult-for-me-to-enter-i/) [Marge Piercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marge-piercy/) > [Meditation helps you to learn about character and mind. It relieves you of the tension you have gone through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-christo/meditation-helps-you-to-learn-about-character-and-mind-it-relieves/) [Bob Christo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-christo/) > [When you live with a character in your mind, after a while you start to behave like them, act like them and connect with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmapriya-janakiraman/when-you-live-with-a-character-in-your-mind-after-a-while-you-start/) [Padmapriya Janakiraman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmapriya-janakiraman/) > [Since I am first of all a character writer, that character's emotions are as vivid to me as my own. I always begin with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/since-i-am-first-of-all-a-character-writer-that-character-s-emotions/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [Your work isn't just to learn and say the lines. Your work is to figure out what the chatter in your brain is, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wayne-callies/your-work-isn-t-just-to-learn-and-say-the-lines-your-work-is-to/) [Sarah Wayne Callies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wayne-callies/) ## More by Abbas Kiarostami > [I think violence can never be justified. At the same time, nobody’s culture or beliefs should be insulted, that’s not something I can accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-think-violence-can-never-be-justified-at-the-same-time-nobody-s/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [I would say that no film is apolitical. There are politics in all films. 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I have a general outline and a character in my mind, and I make no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-don-t-have-very-complete-scripts-for-my-films-i-have-a-general/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [This was pointed out to me by somebody who referred to the paintings of Rembrandt and his use of light: some elements are highlighted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/this-was-pointed-out-to-me-by-somebody-who-referred-to-the-paintings/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [A work of art doesn't exist outside the perception of the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/a-work-of-art-doesn-t-exist-outside-the-perception-of-the-audience/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [I would be too selfish if I said everyone should see my movies more than once. To say that would mean I'm just marketing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-would-be-too-selfish-if-i-said-everyone-should-see-my-movies-more/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [Unfortunately, cinema critics are very few in America, 400-500 people, but there are more critics of Iran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/unfortunately-cinema-critics-are-very-few-in-america-400-500-people/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [Usually when I take my films to festivals, I feel incredibly anxious about them. I wonder how it will be received, how the audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/usually-when-i-take-my-films-to-festivals-i-feel-incredibly-anxious/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [My car's my best friend. My office. My home. My location. I have a very intimate sense when I am in a car with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/my-car-s-my-best-friend-my-office-my-home-my-location-i-have-a-very/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [It was a film that I knew, that I had seen, that I was familiar with, but I wasn't anxious about it at any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/it-was-a-film-that-i-knew-that-i-had-seen-that-i-was-familiar-with/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [I never intended to write poems, nor to be a photographer, nor to be a film-maker. 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Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. 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