--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't even realize that I was…" description: "\"I didn't even realize that I was interested in film until I was in college, and since then, I've had a very uncertain and sort of lost decade.\" — Gaby ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/gaby-hoffmann-2890_cinema_i-didn-t-even-realize-that-i-was-interes_368677.png" --- # I didn't even realize that I was interested in film until… ![“I didn't even realize that I was interested in film until I was in college, and since then, I've had a very uncertain and sort of lost decade.” quote by Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/gaby-hoffmann-2890_cinema_i-didn-t-even-realize-that-i-was-interes_368677.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/gaby-hoffmann-2890_cinema_i-didn-t-even-realize-that-i-was-interes_368677.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/gaby-hoffmann-2890_cinema_i-didn-t-even-realize-that-i-was-interes_368677.png) > “I didn't even realize that I was interested in film until I was in college, and since then, I've had a very uncertain and sort of lost decade.” [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person discovers a passion later in life, leading to a period of uncertainty and feeling lost. **In simple terms:** Finding a passion later can cause confusion and doubt. Key Takeaway Embrace the journey and seek direction. Themes self-discovery career uncertainty growth Mood reflective hopeful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - college years - career change - creative exploration - personal growth Key Concepts identity passion development life transitions Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to turn uncertainty into purpose? - How might mentorship help navigate a lost decade? A Different Perspective Passion alone doesn't guarantee clarity; external guidance may be needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-college-3095789/) [Interested Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interested-film-1109144/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Lost Decade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost-decade-1807963/) [Realize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realize/) [Uncertain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertain/) [Ve Uncertain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-uncertain-3367942/) ## Related quotes > [You never fall in love with anyone the same way you fell in love with someone else. It's always different, every time, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-hart/you-never-fall-in-love-with-anyone-the-same-way-you-fell-in-love-with/) [Megan Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-hart/) > [College is something I've always said I wanted to do, but you're going there to get a piece of paper that says you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaten-matarazzo/college-is-something-i-ve-always-said-i-wanted-to-do-but-you-re-going/) [Gaten Matarazzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaten-matarazzo/) > [I started missing acting when I was in school, and I realized after being in the business after however many years that I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/i-started-missing-acting-when-i-was-in-school-and-i-realized-after/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [I don't know anybody who doesn't have a lost decade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-don-t-know-anybody-who-doesn-t-have-a-lost-decade/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [It changed my whole outlook. I lost a decade to self-pity, and the next thing I knew I was turning 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hardwick/it-changed-my-whole-outlook-i-lost-a-decade-to-self-pity-and-the-next/) [Chris Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hardwick/) > [My 20s were a lost decade. I didn't do much of anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kem-nunn/my-20s-were-a-lost-decade-i-didn-t-do-much-of-anything/) [Kem Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kem-nunn/) > [The '80s were a lost decade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cooper-clarke/the-80s-were-a-lost-decade/) [John Cooper Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cooper-clarke/) > [It's funny how film is the slowest art form to adapt to freedom. It's had freedom all along. It could've done whatever it wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-maddin/it-s-funny-how-film-is-the-slowest-art-form-to-adapt-to-freedom-it-s/) [Guy Maddin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-maddin/) > [When I was younger, I didn't read that much. I was more interested in film and music. Now I'm curious. I want to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/when-i-was-younger-i-didn-t-read-that-much-i-was-more-interested-in/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > ['The Room' has never interested me as a film. The reaction interested me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-sestero/the-room-has-never-interested-me-as-a-film-the-reaction-interested-me/) [Greg Sestero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-sestero/) > [You become a film critic because you're interested in film. I don't know whether knowing so much about cinema leads you to make better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/you-become-a-film-critic-because-you-re-interested-in-film-i-don-t/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [I became interested in film making at around 16, when I discovered a friend of mine had a HI 8 camera which belonged to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carney/i-became-interested-in-film-making-at-around-16-when-i-discovered-a/) [John Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carney/) > [It's hard to imagine anyone interested in film not being a fan of Alfred Hitchcock because he's such a key influence on the entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-jones/it-s-hard-to-imagine-anyone-interested-in-film-not-being-a-fan-of/) [Toby Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-jones/) > [What interested me in film was the image-making aspect of it. So, I went to school in cinematography. I was really convinced that image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babette-mangolte/what-interested-me-in-film-was-the-image-making-aspect-of-it-so-i/) [Babette Mangolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babette-mangolte/) > [I'm interested in film - any aspect - acting, directing, writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/i-m-interested-in-film-any-aspect-acting-directing-writing/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) ## More by Gaby Hoffmann > [We all got driven out of Manhattan. It was a very conducive place for artists when I was growing up, and now it's definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/we-all-got-driven-out-of-manhattan-it-was-a-very-conducive-place-for/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [If somebody smiles at me on the street, I'm like, 'Hi, have a nice day!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/if-somebody-smiles-at-me-on-the-street-i-m-like-hi-have-a-nice-day/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [My senior thesis was a documentary. By the time I graduated from college, I thought I was going to make films, and my interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/my-senior-thesis-was-a-documentary-by-the-time-i-graduated-from/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [My mom could be pretty strict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/my-mom-could-be-pretty-strict/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [Television has filled the space for actors that really want to make good work and not just make a lot of money and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/television-has-filled-the-space-for-actors-that-really-want-to-make/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [I think anyone who behaves boorishly but without a good sense of humor is not as fun to watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/i-think-anyone-who-behaves-boorishly-but-without-a-good-sense-of/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [I was never that famous, but I do think going to college and really getting away from the business and taking a true break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/i-was-never-that-famous-but-i-do-think-going-to-college-and-really/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [I certainly don't have any boundaries myself, but I think I'm very aware of other people's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/i-certainly-don-t-have-any-boundaries-myself-but-i-think-i-m-very/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [It's funny because I grew up with the T.V. on 24 hours a day. And the more money I made, the more T.V.s we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/it-s-funny-because-i-grew-up-with-the-t-v-on-24-hours-a-day-and-the/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [History is weirdly dismissed as not having anything to do with the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/history-is-weirdly-dismissed-as-not-having-anything-to-do-with-the/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [Looking at somebody looking good is so... boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/looking-at-somebody-looking-good-is-so-boring/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [I just try to show up and be relaxed and present and honest. And that's my only trick. And sometimes it works, and sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/i-just-try-to-show-up-and-be-relaxed-and-present-and-honest-and-that/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [I started missing acting when I was in school, and I realized after being in the business after however many years that I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/i-started-missing-acting-when-i-was-in-school-and-i-realized-after/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [I think I happened to work with sort of a bunch of slightly difficult male directors when I was a kid. I've since worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/i-think-i-happened-to-work-with-sort-of-a-bunch-of-slightly-difficult/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [My mother is the sort of a person who has no boundaries and no filter. She also has a big ego, but it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/my-mother-is-the-sort-of-a-person-who-has-no-boundaries-and-no-filter/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) [Explore all 146 Gaby Hoffmann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [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 love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't even realize that I was interested in film until I was in college, and since then, I've had a very uncertain and sort of lost decade.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gaby Hoffmann" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/i-didn-t-even-realize-that-i-was-interested-in-film-until-i-was-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/i-didn-t-even-realize-that-i-was-interested-in-film-until-i-was-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/gaby-hoffmann-2890_cinema_i-didn-t-even-realize-that-i-was-interes_368677.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/gaby-hoffmann-2890_cinema_i-didn-t-even-realize-that-i-was-interes_368677.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/gaby-hoffmann-2890_cinema_i-didn-t-even-realize-that-i-was-interes_368677.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I didn't even realize that I was interested in film until I was in college, and since then, I've had a very…” — Gaby Hoffmann", "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": "Gaby Hoffmann", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I didn't even realize that I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/i-didn-t-even-realize-that-i-was-interested-in-film-until-i-was-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/i-didn-t-even-realize-that-i-was-interested-in-film-until-i-was-in/#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 } } ] } ```