--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think auditions are set up for failure…" description: "\"I think auditions are set up for failure because they're not really the set experience. There's no time to develop the character. You're just looking a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f4/cary-fukunaga-2753_audition_i-think-auditions-are-set-up-for-failure_3218493.jpg" --- # I think auditions are set up for failure because they're… ![“I think auditions are set up for failure because they're not really the set experience. There's no time to develop the character. You're just looking at someone... if someone's really good in an audition, sometimes they're not good in the film. It's something you learn when you're doing short…” quote by Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f4/cary-fukunaga-2753_audition_i-think-auditions-are-set-up-for-failure_3218493.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f4/cary-fukunaga-2753_audition_i-think-auditions-are-set-up-for-failure_3218493.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f4/cary-fukunaga-2753_audition_i-think-auditions-are-set-up-for-failure_3218493.jpg) > “I think auditions are set up for failure because they're not really the set experience. There's no time to develop the character. You're just looking at someone... if someone's really good in an audition, sometimes they're not good in the film. It's something you learn when you're doing short films. It's the same way that some people do well at taking tests and some people don't. But when you're on a long-term filmmaking process it's a completely different feeling.” [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that auditions often fail to reflect real filmmaking, lacking character development time, unlike long‑term projects. **In simple terms:** Auditions are limited, not true tests of acting. Key Takeaway Seek sustained creative environments for growth. Themes acting auditions film development Mood critical thoughtful Type industry educational When to use this quote - casting - film workshops - acting schools Key Concepts character building process realism career longevity Questions to Reflect On - How can auditions better simulate real production? - What practices help actors develop over time? A Different Perspective Short‑term auditions may favor surface talent over depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audition/) [Auditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditions/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Filmmaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaking/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Short films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-films/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I think auditions are really rough for anyone. I know people who've gone into their first audition and booked it, but that definitely was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-rodrigo/i-think-auditions-are-really-rough-for-anyone-i-know-people-who-ve/) [Olivia Rodrigo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-rodrigo/) > [I'm not good at audition tapes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-soni/i-m-not-good-at-audition-tapes/) [Karan Soni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-soni/) > [I like to audition for good projects because if it's a good project, it's an opportunity to get in front of a casting director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krysten-ritter/i-like-to-audition-for-good-projects-because-if-it-s-a-good-project/) [Krysten Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krysten-ritter/) > [You think you can go into all those auditions not knowing who you are? The work came after I found my sense of self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/you-think-you-can-go-into-all-those-auditions-not-knowing-who-you-are/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [I'm not good at audition videos. I could perform the performance but I'm not good at filming them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-stalter/i-m-not-good-at-audition-videos-i-could-perform-the-performance-but-i/) [Megan Stalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-stalter/) > [If it's a good audition, whether or not I think I'm going to get the part, I do always say yes to going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krysten-ritter/if-it-s-a-good-audition-whether-or-not-i-think-i-m-going-to-get-the/) [Krysten Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krysten-ritter/) > [My job is to go into that audition and be good enough of an Asian actor - or an actor in general - to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/my-job-is-to-go-into-that-audition-and-be-good-enough-of-an-asian/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [ I went in for an audition \[for As Good As It Gets\], but the audition was with James L. Brooks. I was the first… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-benz/i-went-in-for-an-audition-for-as-good-as-it-gets-but-the-audition-was/) [Julie Benz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-benz/) > [When I was in casting, we would bring somebody in, have them read their lines, maybe give them a few pointers, and hire them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/when-i-was-in-casting-we-would-bring-somebody-in-have-them-read-their/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [When I was in Australia, I had three different agents in three different years, and I didn't have one audition. They were good agents;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/when-i-was-in-australia-i-had-three-different-agents-in-three/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [Think about being a teenager and feeling like school is just about taking tests you may or may not be interested in, after which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/think-about-being-a-teenager-and-feeling-like-school-is-just-about/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [“ All-or-nothing thinking is when you see things as only black or white and either-or. For example, if you make a mistake while giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-moehn/all-or-nothing-thinking-is-when-you-see-things-as-only-black-or-white/) [Heather Moehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-moehn/) > [This notion that I was somehow special and deserving of a more involved education was wrong.I was smart at taking tests, but I knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/this-notion-that-i-was-somehow-special-and-deserving-of-a-more/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [“ Grades Class participation is usually a big part of a final grade, and many people with social anxiety are afraid of speaking aloud.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-moehn/grades-class-participation-is-usually-a-big-part-of-a-final-grade-and/) [Heather Moehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-moehn/) > [When I was young I liked taking tests. I happened to be good at it. Certain subjects came easily, like math. All the science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/when-i-was-young-i-liked-taking-tests-i-happened-to-be-good-at-it/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) ## More by Cary Fukunaga > [The only pressure is the pressure I put on myself, that's up to be I guess to mitigate that. I think there's always pressure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/the-only-pressure-is-the-pressure-i-put-on-myself-that-s-up-to-be-i/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [One of the great things about working with Focus is that you're never forced, especially with a film with low budget. The pressure is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/one-of-the-great-things-about-working-with-focus-is-that-you-re-never/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [When I see an image in my head that compels me, where there's this mystery about what's going to happen next or could happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/when-i-see-an-image-in-my-head-that-compels-me-where-there-s-this/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [I wrote my first script, which was 50 pages, at age 15. It was about two brothers in love with the same nurse while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/i-wrote-my-first-script-which-was-50-pages-at-age-15-it-was-about-two/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [My mom loved the old black-and-white films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/my-mom-loved-the-old-black-and-white-films/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [I think the only reason people use PCs is because they have to. Mac is the most streamlined computer there is. I started using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/i-think-the-only-reason-people-use-pcs-is-because-they-have-to-mac-is/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [The apartments are made for eels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/the-apartments-are-made-for-eels/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [I have tremendous faith that there will be greater films to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/i-have-tremendous-faith-that-there-will-be-greater-films-to-come/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [If you think of most murders as being between people who know each other, it's very easy to figure out who the killer is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/if-you-think-of-most-murders-as-being-between-people-who-know-each/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [I've written immense love letters that are supposed to be opened over days at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/i-ve-written-immense-love-letters-that-are-supposed-to-be-opened-over/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [I started writing stories when I was 9 or 10. I wrote my first screenplay-type document when I was 14.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/i-started-writing-stories-when-i-was-9-or-10-i-wrote-my-first/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [It's nice to represent to other people in the world that Americans actually do know what's happening in the world, can speak other languages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/it-s-nice-to-represent-to-other-people-in-the-world-that-americans/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [If you have something really important you want to say, you have to read your audience, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/if-you-have-something-really-important-you-want-to-say-you-have-to/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [I enjoy setting the scene and coming up with interesting frames. 'True Detective' was a very hands-on set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/i-enjoy-setting-the-scene-and-coming-up-with-interesting-frames-true/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [Sometimes the best set experiences make for the worst films. So, you don't want it to be too good an experience! But the bulk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/sometimes-the-best-set-experiences-make-for-the-worst-films-so-you/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) [Explore all 151 Cary Fukunaga quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) ## More Audition quotes > [My favorite performance would definitely be "Toxic," which was my blind audition song. It was the start of it all and it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/my-favorite-performance-would-definitely-be-toxic-which-was-my-blind/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) > [The first audition I went out on was because my father was on an audition for a TV show called the 'Gilmore Girls,' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/the-first-audition-i-went-out-on-was-because-my-father-was-on-an/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [I have a large watch collection, and classic watches are especially important to me. I had a silver Rolex, and I actually gave it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-have-a-large-watch-collection-and-classic-watches-are-especially/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [It's funny, I get really nervous when I audition for voiceovers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-benz/it-s-funny-i-get-really-nervous-when-i-audition-for-voiceovers/) [Julie Benz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-benz/) > [When I was six years old my friend was auditioning for 'Annie,' and I decided I wanted to audition with her. My mom was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-emerson/when-i-was-six-years-old-my-friend-was-auditioning-for-annie-and-i/) [Jacqueline Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-emerson/) > [I believe this: If an actor wants a role or wants to work with somebody, then you do everything within reason to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/i-believe-this-if-an-actor-wants-a-role-or-wants-to-work-with/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [ If they \[at the audition\] don't like the way you sound they won't buy you anyway, ripped dress or no ripped dress, ass hanging… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-they-at-the-audition-don-t-like-the-way-you-sound-they-won-t-buy/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [In L.A., I'm twice the size - height and everything else - of most of the other actresses who are going for an audition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/in-l-a-i-m-twice-the-size-height-and-everything-else-of-most-of-the/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [I didn't audition or anything like that. But I went into John Loganhis office... It was his screening room in his office, actually, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-spiner/i-didn-t-audition-or-anything-like-that-but-i-went-into-john-loganhis/) [Brent Spiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-spiner/) > [In films, I didn't crave the type of attention I had sort of stumbled into in my music career. And I do not audition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-timberlake/in-films-i-didn-t-crave-the-type-of-attention-i-had-sort-of-stumbled/) [Justin Timberlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-timberlake/) > [When I was 8, my dad asked me if I wanted to audition, just for fun. I did just a little short film, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/when-i-was-8-my-dad-asked-me-if-i-wanted-to-audition-just-for-fun-i/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [When I was younger, I did my first audition at 'Eurovision.' I was about 17. After my first audition, I blacked out; I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ora/when-i-was-younger-i-did-my-first-audition-at-eurovision-i-was-about/) [Rita Ora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-ora/) > [I suppose the biggest thing I learned is that I'm in it for the right reasons. I love my job as much now as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-blum/i-suppose-the-biggest-thing-i-learned-is-that-i-m-in-it-for-the-right/) [Steven Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-blum/) > [Before recording my 'Homeland' audition on my iPhone in my bedroom in Streatham, I hadn't worked or had an audition in the U.K. for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harewood/before-recording-my-homeland-audition-on-my-iphone-in-my-bedroom-in/) [David Harewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harewood/) > [I like doing films and I wish that I could do more but I still have to audition. I don't get offered starring roles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-meadows/i-like-doing-films-and-i-wish-that-i-could-do-more-but-i-still-have/) [Tim Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-meadows/) [Browse all 704 Audition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think auditions are set up for failure because they're not really the set experience. There's no time to develop the character. You're just looking at someone... if someone's really good in an audition, sometimes they're not good in the film. It's something you learn when you're doing short films. It's the same way that some people do well at taking tests and some people don't. 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