--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I learned from doing 'The Graduate'…" description: "\"What I learned from doing 'The Graduate' was it doesn't matter what the medium is... as long as the material is inspiring and the characters are well w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/alicia-silverstone-8220_characters_what-i-learned-from-doing-the-graduate-w_2879975.jpg" --- # What I learned from doing 'The Graduate' was it doesn't… ![“What I learned from doing 'The Graduate' was it doesn't matter what the medium is... as long as the material is inspiring and the characters are well written.” quote by Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/alicia-silverstone-8220_characters_what-i-learned-from-doing-the-graduate-w_2879975.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/alicia-silverstone-8220_characters_what-i-learned-from-doing-the-graduate-w_2879975.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/alicia-silverstone-8220_characters_what-i-learned-from-doing-the-graduate-w_2879975.jpg) > “What I learned from doing 'The Graduate' was it doesn't matter what the medium is... as long as the material is inspiring and the characters are well written.” [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The medium matters less than inspiring material and well‑crafted characters. **In simple terms:** Good story beats format. Key Takeaway Focus on compelling content. Themes creativity storytelling medium inspiration character development Mood insightful analytical Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - writing - film production - advertising - education Key Concepts literature film studies artistic theory Questions to Reflect On - How to adapt story across media? - What makes characters memorable? A Different Perspective Medium can limit reach. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Doing Graduate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-graduate-3986313/) [Graduate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduate/) [Graduate Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduate-doesn-1724000/) [Graduation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduation/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Material](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material/) [Material Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material-inspiring-3986312/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Medium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medium/) [Well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well/) [Well written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well-written/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) ## Related quotes > [What I learned from doing The Graduate was it doesnt matter what the medium is... as long as the material is inspiring and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/what-i-learned-from-doing-the-graduate-was-it-doesnt-matter-what-the/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [I was from a small town, and nobody really expects you to leave, especially before you graduate. That doesn't happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-was-from-a-small-town-and-nobody-really-expects-you-to-leave/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [If the material is inspiring and motivates you, then it doesn't really matter what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-johnson/if-the-material-is-inspiring-and-motivates-you-then-it-doesn-t-really/) [Don Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-johnson/) > [“Thanks for reading all the way through. I hope that you enjoyed this book. As a new writer, it is hard to get started;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-the-noob/thanks-for-reading-all-the-way-through-i-hope-that-you-enjoyed-this/) [Steve the Noob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-the-noob/) > [SHADOW KNIGHT'S MATE is a compelling story, extremely well-written and alarmingly plausible. Jay Brandon does for politics what Dan Brown did for religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharyn-mccrumb/shadow-knight-s-mate-is-a-compelling-story-extremely-well-written-and/) [Sharyn McCrumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharyn-mccrumb/) > [If I like the story and it's well written, and it's a character I want to play and they'll pay me, then I decide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/if-i-like-the-story-and-it-s-well-written-and-it-s-a-character-i-want/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [ That was my big break \[Lonesome Dove\]. My first real kind of adult role on something really well-written. It was a spin-off of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/that-was-my-big-break-lonesome-dove-my-first-real-kind-of-adult-role/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [I have enjoyed doing some films as they were well written like 'Andaz Apna Apna,' 'Hera Pheri' and 'Cheeni Kum.' These films were high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paresh-rawal/i-have-enjoyed-doing-some-films-as-they-were-well-written-like-andaz/) [Paresh Rawal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paresh-rawal/) > [Anything I've ever read by John Irving has been really well written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/anything-i-ve-ever-read-by-john-irving-has-been-really-well-written/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/books-are-well-written-or-badly-written-that-is-all/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [When there's no technical problems, if you did the right casting, and the scene is well written, the actor will give you a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-villeneuve/when-there-s-no-technical-problems-if-you-did-the-right-casting-and/) [Denis Villeneuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-villeneuve/) > [I like films that are well-written and concise and with not a lot of room for improvisation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-leconte/i-like-films-that-are-well-written-and-concise-and-with-not-a-lot-of/) [Patrice Leconte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-leconte/) > [Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault. Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-ugly-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-corrupt-without-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The script is your map of the world, isn't it? And if someone knows that if it's well-written, you get all of the beats,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-oldman/the-script-is-your-map-of-the-world-isn-t-it-and-if-someone-knows/) [Gary Oldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-oldman/) > [Anything well written with good language and clarity and honesty is worth doing. It comes out of the same tradition as Shakespeare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moriarty/anything-well-written-with-good-language-and-clarity-and-honesty-is/) [Michael Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moriarty/) ## More by Alicia Silverstone > [“Strangest of all, we’ve convinced ourselves that our health has nothing to do with what we eat. People who will spend that extra 20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/strangest-of-all-we-ve-convinced-ourselves-that-our-health-has/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [I'm always looking for inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/i-m-always-looking-for-inspiration/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [I love, love, love apricot baby food. My closet in the kitchen is filled with jars of it. I love Lucky Charms and Cocoa…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/i-love-love-love-apricot-baby-food-my-closet-in-the-kitchen-is-filled/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [I came from a generation of actors for whom TV was taboo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/i-came-from-a-generation-of-actors-for-whom-tv-was-taboo/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [I hate to shop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/i-hate-to-shop/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [Prince Charming is very nice and very honest and very confident in who he is and funny and knows how to have a kick-ass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/prince-charming-is-very-nice-and-very-honest-and-very-confident-in/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [All the things I've loved the most in life were my biggest risks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/all-the-things-i-ve-loved-the-most-in-life-were-my-biggest-risks/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [I was a foodie and I continue to be a foodie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/i-was-a-foodie-and-i-continue-to-be-a-foodie/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [I'm reachable for people, I'm not out of their league. I'm just a normal girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/i-m-reachable-for-people-i-m-not-out-of-their-league-i-m-just-a/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [Being vegan helped me realize I can say and do what I believe is right. That's powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/being-vegan-helped-me-realize-i-can-say-and-do-what-i-believe-is/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [I don't know what anxiety is like anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/i-don-t-know-what-anxiety-is-like-anymore/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [I'm surprised by the fact that I like the word 'husband.' I thought I would hate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/i-m-surprised-by-the-fact-that-i-like-the-word-husband-i-thought-i/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [I've had so many crushes on gay boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/i-ve-had-so-many-crushes-on-gay-boys/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [I'd die if I was Madonna. I'd die. God, what a horrible way to live. And Michael Jackson! To be so famous and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/i-d-die-if-i-was-madonna-i-d-die-god-what-a-horrible-way-to-live-and/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [I think lightness has to come from a very deep place if it's true lightness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/i-think-lightness-has-to-come-from-a-very-deep-place-if-it-s-true/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) [Explore all 83 Alicia Silverstone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) ## More Characters 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'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/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [I'm truly, 100% guided by the characters and my Muse. If one of the characters suddenly decided to do something very different, I'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/i-m-truly-100-guided-by-the-characters-and-my-muse-if-one-of-the/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) > [I have played several characters that are crabby and cranky. I don't know if I'm just not a very well-developed human being or if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-greer/i-have-played-several-characters-that-are-crabby-and-cranky-i-don-t/) [Judy Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-greer/) > [You do get fond of your characters. Handing them on is like giving a child to a nanny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/you-do-get-fond-of-your-characters-handing-them-on-is-like-giving-a/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [Your job as a writer is to find storylines, narrative structures, and characters to show the things that you believe rather than saying them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/your-job-as-a-writer-is-to-find-storylines-narrative-structures-and/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [Being of Indian heritage is a challenge - and it's a blessing as well sometimes - because being good isn't good enough. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-dhawan/being-of-indian-heritage-is-a-challenge-and-it-s-a-blessing-as-well/) [Sacha Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-dhawan/) > [On the stage, the characters express themselves more through words than images. So the arguments of the characters and the tension between characters -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/on-the-stage-the-characters-express-themselves-more-through-words/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [I really like all of the characters in 'The Secret History' by Donna Tartt, especially Camilla, the one girl. I find her fascinating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-murray/i-really-like-all-of-the-characters-in-the-secret-history-by-donna/) [Hannah Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-murray/) > [I've just always loved really good projects. The things that draw me into a new project have very little to do with genre and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel-staite/i-ve-just-always-loved-really-good-projects-the-things-that-draw-me/) [Jewel Staite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel-staite/) > [“Take care of your costume and your confidence will take care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/take-care-of-your-costume-and-your-confidence-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I always wanted to be a fireman, a cop, an Indian chief, a doctor, a lawyer. I always wanted to be all these things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-fireman-a-cop-an-indian-chief-a-doctor-a/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) [Browse all 3,066 Characters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I learned from doing 'The Graduate' was it doesn't matter what the medium is... as long as the material is inspiring and the characters are well written.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alicia Silverstone" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/what-i-learned-from-doing-the-graduate-was-it-doesn-t-matter-what-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Characters" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/what-i-learned-from-doing-the-graduate-was-it-doesn-t-matter-what-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/alicia-silverstone-8220_characters_what-i-learned-from-doing-the-graduate-w_2879975.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/alicia-silverstone-8220_characters_what-i-learned-from-doing-the-graduate-w_2879975.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/alicia-silverstone-8220_characters_what-i-learned-from-doing-the-graduate-w_2879975.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What I learned from doing 'The Graduate' was it doesn't matter what the medium is... as long as the material…” — Alicia Silverstone", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alicia Silverstone", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What I learned from doing 'The...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/what-i-learned-from-doing-the-graduate-was-it-doesn-t-matter-what-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/what-i-learned-from-doing-the-graduate-was-it-doesn-t-matter-what-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```