--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The guys that write Once Upon a Time were…" description: "\"The guys that write Once Upon a Time were major writers on Lost, and we had lunch when I started on OUAT and the first thing I said to them was, \"I spe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/alan-dale-39064_character_the-guys-that-write-once-upon-a-time-wer_934006.jpg" --- # The guys that write Once Upon a Time were major writers on… ![“The guys that write Once Upon a Time were major writers on Lost, and we had lunch when I started on OUAT and the first thing I said to them was, "I spent five years on Lost, you have to tell me, was my character good or bad?" They looked at me and said, "We have no idea." That's why you have to…” quote by Alan Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/alan-dale-39064_character_the-guys-that-write-once-upon-a-time-wer_934006.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/alan-dale-39064_character_the-guys-that-write-once-upon-a-time-wer_934006.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/alan-dale-39064_character_the-guys-that-write-once-upon-a-time-wer_934006.jpg) > “The guys that write Once Upon a Time were major writers on Lost, and we had lunch when I started on OUAT and the first thing I said to them was, "I spent five years on Lost, you have to tell me, was my character good or bad?" They looked at me and said, "We have no idea." That's why you have to make your own backstory. I decided Widmore was the evilest of the evil, but in the end, not even the writers knew.” [Alan Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers may not know a character’s moral alignment; creators must define backstories themselves. **In simple terms:** Writers often lack character insight; you must craft it. Key Takeaway Define your character’s motives. Themes storytelling character development creative control Mood reflective curious Type analytical insightful When to use this quote - TV scriptwriting - character arcs - fan discussions Key Concepts Narrative ambiguity authorial intent Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide a character’s morality? - What backstory would change your perception? A Different Perspective Characters can be misinterpreted without clear backstory. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Lost you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost-you/) [Once upon a time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/once-upon-a-time/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When you're a regular on a TV show, they give you more of a backstory, so with these recurring gigs, you have to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dale/when-you-re-a-regular-on-a-tv-show-they-give-you-more-of-a-backstory/) [Alan Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dale/) > [I try to make every issue new-reader friendly. I remember being frustrated many times trying to pick up new series that were overladen with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-simone/i-try-to-make-every-issue-new-reader-friendly-i-remember-being/) [Gail Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-simone/) > [I like looking at the characters. Seeing them always brings up some voice or attitude. I am much more visual, and that works so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-welker/i-like-looking-at-the-characters-seeing-them-always-brings-up-some/) [Frank Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-welker/) > [You know, I don't talk about the characters that I play. Years ago, I was a little timid about it and I kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-waltz/you-know-i-don-t-talk-about-the-characters-that-i-play-years-ago-i/) [Christoph Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-waltz/) > [Music helps define the character and is an extension of the character somehow, so that you are able to use both the songs themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandro-nivola/music-helps-define-the-character-and-is-an-extension-of-the-character/) [Alessandro Nivola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandro-nivola/) > [An employer of mine back in the '80s was kind enough to take me on after a rough patch, and it made a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/an-employer-of-mine-back-in-the-80s-was-kind-enough-to-take-me-on/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [If I tell you my character has grey hair, you will not see her. If I tell you she has a tiny scar at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-schneider/if-i-tell-you-my-character-has-grey-hair-you-will-not-see-her-if-i/) [Pat Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-schneider/) > [“Things that only a writer would understand—you’re writing a character—you tell that character who she or he is and they stop you and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-marbly-warir/things-that-only-a-writer-would-understand-you-re-writing-a-character/) Lisa Marbly-Warir > [“You can tell the character of a person by their handshake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-magliato/you-can-tell-the-character-of-a-person-by-their-handshake/) Kathy Magliato > [Tell me what are the prevailing sentiments that occupy the minds of your young peoples, and I will tell you what is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/tell-me-what-are-the-prevailing-sentiments-that-occupy-the-minds-of/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [A part of being an actress that is sort of frustrating is that the writers get to tell you about your character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabeth-gish/a-part-of-being-an-actress-that-is-sort-of-frustrating-is-that-the/) [Annabeth Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabeth-gish/) > [If Bruce Springsteen, Harlan Howard, or Tom Waits can tell a character's whole story in four minutes, maybe you don't need as many words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-leffel/if-bruce-springsteen-harlan-howard-or-tom-waits-can-tell-a-character/) Tim Leffel > [I couldn't tell you a good, bad or ugly pilot just from reading it, but I can tell you a character I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-parsons/i-couldn-t-tell-you-a-good-bad-or-ugly-pilot-just-from-reading-it-but/) [Jim Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-parsons/) > [John Milius and Francis Ford Coppola and Oliver Stone - those guys are consummate filmmakers. They believe that you don't talk it, you show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/john-milius-and-francis-ford-coppola-and-oliver-stone-those-guys-are/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [You can tell the character of every man when you see how he receives praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/you-can-tell-the-character-of-every-man-when-you-see-how-he-receives/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) ## More by Alan Dale > [I came to The United States to see what would happen in 2000 after working for 20 years in Australia and asked my agent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dale/i-came-to-the-united-states-to-see-what-would-happen-in-2000-after/) [Alan Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dale/) > [I came to the United States to see what would happen in 2000 after working for 20 years in Australia and asked my agent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dale/i-came-to-the-united-states-to-see-what-would-happen-in-2000-after-2/) [Alan Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dale/) > [When you're a regular on a TV show, they give you more of a backstory, so with these recurring gigs, you have to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dale/when-you-re-a-regular-on-a-tv-show-they-give-you-more-of-a-backstory/) [Alan Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dale/) > [When you're tied to one show, you are very much at the mercy of the writers so you can suddenly get a script where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dale/when-you-re-tied-to-one-show-you-are-very-much-at-the-mercy-of-the/) [Alan Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dale/) > [When you're tied to one show, you are very much at the mercy of the writers, so you can suddenly get a script where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dale/when-you-re-tied-to-one-show-you-are-very-much-at-the-mercy-of-the-2/) [Alan Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dale/) > [I think the most fun I ever had was playing King Arthur in Spamalot on the West End.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dale/i-think-the-most-fun-i-ever-had-was-playing-king-arthur-in-spamalot/) [Alan Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dale/) > [I did a production of Macbeth in the 1960s in which I had a swordfight in the final scene. But the blade fell off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dale/i-did-a-production-of-macbeth-in-the-1960s-in-which-i-had-a/) [Alan Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dale/) > [I was doing a late-night round as a milkman in 1978 when I heard a radio DJ announce that he was leaving. I marched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dale/i-was-doing-a-late-night-round-as-a-milkman-in-1978-when-i-heard-a/) [Alan Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dale/) > [My wife says I'm much happier when I'm not a regular on a TV show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dale/my-wife-says-i-m-much-happier-when-i-m-not-a-regular-on-a-tv-show/) [Alan Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dale/) > [When I moved to Los Angeles, aged 54, I printed out Winston Churchill's phrase, 'Never, never, never give up', and stuck it on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dale/when-i-moved-to-los-angeles-aged-54-i-printed-out-winston-churchill-s/) [Alan Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dale/) [Explore all 11 Alan Dale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dale/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The guys that write Once Upon a Time were major writers on Lost, and we had lunch when I started on OUAT and the first thing I said to them was, \"I spent five years on Lost, you have to tell me, was my character good or bad?\" They looked at me and said, \"We have no idea.\" That's why you have to make your own backstory. 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