Freedom Quote by Gena Rowlands
![“It was more freedom than I think most people get when they're starting out - or even when they're not starting out. He [John Cassavetes] did his thing and I did whatever I thought.” quote by Gena Rowlands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fb7/gena-rowlands-15239_freedom_it-was-more-freedom-than-i-think-most-pe_2110721.jpg)
“It was more freedom than I think most people get when they're starting out - or even when they're not starting out. He [John Cassavetes] did his thing and I did whatever I thought.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: John Cassavetes documentary, 1990s
Freedom in creative work comes from personal authenticity, not from external expectations or conventional paths.
In simple terms: Be true to yourself, not to norms.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize authenticity over approval.
Themes
creativity
freedom
authenticity
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- starting a career
- artistic projects
- personal decisions
Key Concepts
existentialism
artistic integrity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does authenticity affect collaboration?
- When is it okay to follow norms?
A Different Perspective
It may ignore practical constraints of collaboration.
![“He[John Cassavetes] was just being an actor. A very successful actor, especially in live TV. He did many wonderful performances.” quote by Gena Rowlands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d83/gena-rowlands-15239_actors_he-john-cassavetes-was-just-being-an-act_2407874.jpg)
![“John [Cassavetes] had shot a great deal of Shadows and I had to go fulfill my contract in California, so he and all the rest of the Shadows cast came out to California and they finished it off and he cut it. He turned the garage into an editing room and he was by then a director of Shadows. That's…” quote by Gena Rowlands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac3/gena-rowlands-15239_california_john-cassavetes-had-shot-a-great-deal-of_2280824.jpg)
![“John [Cassavetes] loved actors. He gave them a lot of freedom. So if something came up that a certain actor just felt at the moment and said - that kind of improvisation he would accept. He gave very little direction.” quote by Gena Rowlands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dd6/gena-rowlands-15239_accepting_john-cassavetes-loved-actors-he-gave-the_1891504.jpg)
![“So many people mistakenly think that the rest of his [John Cassavetes] pictures and the ones we did were improvised, which isn't true. He wrote all the rest of them.” quote by Gena Rowlands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/78b/gena-rowlands-15239_people_so-many-people-mistakenly-think-that-the_896716.jpg)
![“John Cassavetes was there at night while I was working. After they [with his friends] discussed as much live TV as they felt they needed to, they started improvising scenes just for the fun of it and one of those scenes everybody got very interested in and it turned into Shadows [1959]. That movie…” quote by Gena Rowlands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8fc/gena-rowlands-15239_felt_john-cassavetes-was-there-at-night-while_425534.jpg)
![“It was a very hard play [Woman Under the Influence] to do every night. And John Cassavetes said, "Don't worry. Don't even think about it, you're right. I hadn't thought of that." He said, "Just forget it."” quote by Gena Rowlands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d9a/gena-rowlands-15239_every-night_it-was-a-very-hard-play-woman-under-the_196187.jpg)
![“I'd wanted to be [an actress] all my life.” quote by Gena Rowlands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/82a/gena-rowlands-15239_actor_i-d-wanted-to-be-an-actress-all-my-life_375002.jpg)
