--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In my sort of young, idealistic mind, I…" description: "\"In my sort of young, idealistic mind, I was just like, 'Well, it's either theater or film for me, and that will be that!'\" — Gillian Jacobs" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/gillian-jacobs-1832_cinema_in-my-sort-of-young-idealistic-mind-i-wa_3154682.jpg" --- # In my sort of young, idealistic mind, I was just like… ![“In my sort of young, idealistic mind, I was just like, 'Well, it's either theater or film for me, and that will be that!'” quote by Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/gillian-jacobs-1832_cinema_in-my-sort-of-young-idealistic-mind-i-wa_3154682.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/gillian-jacobs-1832_cinema_in-my-sort-of-young-idealistic-mind-i-wa_3154682.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/gillian-jacobs-1832_cinema_in-my-sort-of-young-idealistic-mind-i-wa_3154682.jpg) > “In my sort of young, idealistic mind, I was just like, 'Well, it's either theater or film for me, and that will be that!'” [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A young idealist sees a binary choice between theater and film, believing it will define their future. **In simple terms:** Idealistic view of career choice. Key Takeaway Embrace flexibility, explore beyond initial assumptions. Themes career art identity choice Mood hopeful determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - acting auditions - film school applications - career counseling Key Concepts binary thinking passion self‑discovery Questions to Reflect On - What other artistic avenues could you consider? - How might early certainty hinder growth? A Different Perspective Life paths often intersect; limiting options can close opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Either](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/either/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Idealistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idealistic/) [Idealistic Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idealistic-mind-5678103/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Like Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-theater/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Sort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sort/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theater Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater-film-232941/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young Idealistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-idealistic-1962974/) ## Related quotes > [I think what you are supposed to be when you are young is idealistic and passionate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-grenell/i-think-what-you-are-supposed-to-be-when-you-are-young-is-idealistic/) [Richard Grenell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-grenell/) > [When you're young and idealistic, you don't care: you'll play to no one, in your bedroom - like kids with football - you'll play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-doherty/when-you-re-young-and-idealistic-you-don-t-care-you-ll-play-to-no-one/) [Pete Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-doherty/) > [I started out young and idealistic, and it was all about social justice and fair distribution of resources. I didn't understand why everybody couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mackey/i-started-out-young-and-idealistic-and-it-was-all-about-social/) [John Mackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mackey/) > [When you find theater writing like in the theater on film but it's realistic, it doesn't matter who the character is, you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-gyllenhaal/when-you-find-theater-writing-like-in-the-theater-on-film-but-it-s/) [Jake Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-gyllenhaal/) > [You deserve someone better than me. Someone young and idealistic…someone who can experience things for the first time along with you. I'm not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/you-deserve-someone-better-than-me-someone-young-and-idealistic/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [The thing about the four-camera shows is that it's kind of a great combo of theater and film. You have an audience, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/the-thing-about-the-four-camera-shows-is-that-it-s-kind-of-a-great/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [I knew I wanted to be involved with theater or film in any way I could, either as a writer or director or actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-involved-with-theater-or-film-in-any-way-i/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [The difference between film and theater is that in film, an actor is sort of under a magnifying glass and everything that they do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/the-difference-between-film-and-theater-is-that-in-film-an-actor-is/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > [People often ask me whether I prefer theater or film, and the answer is that I prefer the one I'm not doing: The grass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/people-often-ask-me-whether-i-prefer-theater-or-film-and-the-answer/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [I had a grandmother who would always encourage me to learn about theater and film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romany-malco/i-had-a-grandmother-who-would-always-encourage-me-to-learn-about/) [Romany Malco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romany-malco/) > [Because of the power of television, I was visible to everybody all over the world. But there are many things in the theater that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-rae/because-of-the-power-of-television-i-was-visible-to-everybody-all/) [Charlotte Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-rae/) > [Theater and film are essentially the same - just different kinds of storytelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-shore/theater-and-film-are-essentially-the-same-just-different-kinds-of/) [Howard Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-shore/) > [I've always been an actor who works in every medium - I've worked in theater and film and television - I've never seen any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/i-ve-always-been-an-actor-who-works-in-every-medium-i-ve-worked-in/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [Music is very influential to my writing, as are theater and film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-hagedorn/music-is-very-influential-to-my-writing-as-are-theater-and-film/) [Jessica Hagedorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-hagedorn/) > [I love doing theater. Despite the fact that out of theater, film, and TV, theater is the hardest thing to do. It's the least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-love-doing-theater-despite-the-fact-that-out-of-theater-film-and-tv/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) ## More by Gillian Jacobs > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [I want there to be tons and tons and tons and tons of movies starring women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/i-want-there-to-be-tons-and-tons-and-tons-and-tons-of-movies-starring/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [I've gotten 'a blond Liv Tyler' a lot but I'd never gotten an 'Elisabeth Shue,' But I was happy to get the compliment. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/i-ve-gotten-a-blond-liv-tyler-a-lot-but-i-d-never-gotten-an-elisabeth/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [I've definitely run from the cops in the New York City subways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/i-ve-definitely-run-from-the-cops-in-the-new-york-city-subways/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [Accept your failure, move on, and don't torture yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/accept-your-failure-move-on-and-don-t-torture-yourself/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [My mom wouldn't let me buy clothes she didn't like, so I dressed like a middle-aged woman in high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/my-mom-wouldn-t-let-me-buy-clothes-she-didn-t-like-so-i-dressed-like/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [I've been in a lot of indie movies, where we didn't necessarily have permits or permission. I've even run from the cops in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/i-ve-been-in-a-lot-of-indie-movies-where-we-didn-t-necessarily-have/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [I try to have a very well-rounded group of friends that did a lot of different things and weren't just performers. Because I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/i-try-to-have-a-very-well-rounded-group-of-friends-that-did-a-lot-of/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [I've always wanted to work with Elizabeth Banks. She's so talented and funny, and she's become this force of nature - directing, producing. Being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/i-ve-always-wanted-to-work-with-elizabeth-banks-she-s-so-talented-and/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [I used to babysit. And the kids I babysat were huge Hilary Duff fans, and so we used to have dance parties every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/i-used-to-babysit-and-the-kids-i-babysat-were-huge-hilary-duff-fans/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [My grandfather can barely even hear, and Chevy Chase makes a face, and he laughs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/my-grandfather-can-barely-even-hear-and-chevy-chase-makes-a-face-and/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [I also have learned as an actor, this ties in the principles of improv, sometimes someone gives a piece of instruction and my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/i-also-have-learned-as-an-actor-this-ties-in-the-principles-of-improv/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A man walking around with an unlit cigar in his mouth is the human equivalent of a dog proudly running around the house with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/a-man-walking-around-with-an-unlit-cigar-in-his-mouth-is-the-human/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [No one in my school liked me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-one-in-my-school-liked-me/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [I wasn't necessarily looking to do comedy on TV, but I don't think it's an accident that I ended up on 'Community.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/i-wasn-t-necessarily-looking-to-do-comedy-on-tv-but-i-don-t-think-it/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) [Explore all 203 Gillian Jacobs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) ## 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": "In my sort of young, idealistic mind, I was just like, 'Well, it's either theater or film for me, and that will be that!'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gillian Jacobs" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/in-my-sort-of-young-idealistic-mind-i-was-just-like-well-it-s-either/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/in-my-sort-of-young-idealistic-mind-i-was-just-like-well-it-s-either/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/gillian-jacobs-1832_cinema_in-my-sort-of-young-idealistic-mind-i-wa_3154682.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/gillian-jacobs-1832_cinema_in-my-sort-of-young-idealistic-mind-i-wa_3154682.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/gillian-jacobs-1832_cinema_in-my-sort-of-young-idealistic-mind-i-wa_3154682.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In my sort of young, idealistic mind, I was just like, 'Well, it's either theater or film for me, and that…” — Gillian Jacobs", "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": "Gillian Jacobs", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In my sort of young, idealistic...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/in-my-sort-of-young-idealistic-mind-i-was-just-like-well-it-s-either/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/in-my-sort-of-young-idealistic-mind-i-was-just-like-well-it-s-either/#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 } } ] } ```