--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wasn't trying to be different; I just…" description: "\"I wasn't trying to be different; I just did what I liked. Don't misunderstand when I say I really had no particular DP I was aspiring to be. I really f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/gordon-willis-29103_aspiring_i-wasn-t-trying-to-be-different-i-just-d_2259658.jpg" --- # I wasn't trying to be different; I just did what I liked… ![“I wasn't trying to be different; I just did what I liked. Don't misunderstand when I say I really had no particular DP I was aspiring to be. I really fell in love with the movies as I was growing up, and I must say, I was emulating things that I saw others doing, that’s how you learn, but you soon…” quote by Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/gordon-willis-29103_aspiring_i-wasn-t-trying-to-be-different-i-just-d_2259658.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/gordon-willis-29103_aspiring_i-wasn-t-trying-to-be-different-i-just-d_2259658.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/gordon-willis-29103_aspiring_i-wasn-t-trying-to-be-different-i-just-d_2259658.jpg) > “I wasn't trying to be different; I just did what I liked. Don't misunderstand when I say I really had no particular DP I was aspiring to be. I really fell in love with the movies as I was growing up, and I must say, I was emulating things that I saw others doing, that’s how you learn, but you soon have to push past that, and do things that you feel are right… or better.” [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative growth requires imitation then personal innovation. **In simple terms:** Copy, then create your own style. Key Takeaway Start by learning, then diverge. Themes creativity learning individuality Mood inspirational reflective Type artistic personal When to use this quote - film school - career mentorship - art workshops Key Concepts artistic development influence originality Questions to Reflect On - Who inspires your work? - When did you first break away? A Different Perspective Originality may be stifled by over‑imitation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspiring/) [Aspiring Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspiring-really-5193692/) [Did Liked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-liked-1042369/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Dp Aspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dp-aspiring-5193691/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Saws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saws/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-different/) ## Related quotes > [“He had been so friendly, and he had shown clearly that he did not think me in the least stupid--or, if he did, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-plaidy/he-had-been-so-friendly-and-he-had-shown-clearly-that-he-did-not/) [Jean Plaidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-plaidy/) > [“Skylar, you have to understand... All the things I did... I did it for me. I liked it. I was good at it. And...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-gilligan/skylar-you-have-to-understand-all-the-things-i-did-i-did-it-for-me-i/) [Vince Gilligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-gilligan/) > [“Was it only because he happened to be the one who came along when he did? Could it have been anyone? Or was there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-zarr/was-it-only-because-he-happened-to-be-the-one-who-came-along-when-he/) [Sara Zarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-zarr/) > [“I always did whatever I liked," she said, "but now I really can do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-milne-2/i-always-did-whatever-i-liked-she-said-but-now-i-really-can-do-it/) [A.A. Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-milne-2/) > [When you see your ex and you're like Why did I ever liked that guy..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-see-your-ex-and-you-re-like-why-did-i-ever-liked-that-guy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What Metallica always tries to do, as we go around and play a lot of the same cities, over and over again, year after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/what-metallica-always-tries-to-do-as-we-go-around-and-play-a-lot-of/) [Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/) > [“Somewhere along the way of trying different things that we think will help change us, we may be misunderstood to be trying too hard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najwa-zebian/somewhere-along-the-way-of-trying-different-things-that-we-think-will/) [Najwa Zebian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najwa-zebian/) > [In my career, I'm always trying to do something different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/in-my-career-i-m-always-trying-to-do-something-different/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [I just try to put myself in the sense of being a character, sometimes male. I suppose I just like the idea of trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bush/i-just-try-to-put-myself-in-the-sense-of-being-a-character-sometimes/) [Kate Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bush/) > [More and more people seem to be separating from nature. I'm trying to go in a different direction. I'm getting closer and closer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-potter/more-and-more-people-seem-to-be-separating-from-nature-i-m-trying-to/) [Dean Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-potter/) > [I spent my whole life trying to be different, only to realise everyone else was doing the same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-pomroy/i-spent-my-whole-life-trying-to-be-different-only-to-realise-everyone/) [Charlie Pomroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-pomroy/) > [I would love to continue to challenge myself by trying different things. Action, Drama, Comedy... I would be grateful to do any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-holt/i-would-love-to-continue-to-challenge-myself-by-trying-different/) [Claire Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-holt/) > [I like challenges, and thus, I keep trying something different and new every time. And these challenges and interests turn into passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaheer-sheikh/i-like-challenges-and-thus-i-keep-trying-something-different-and-new/) [Shaheer Sheikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaheer-sheikh/) > [I was one of those kids who kept trying on different skins in high school. I was very afraid to be myself around all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-gavaris/i-was-one-of-those-kids-who-kept-trying-on-different-skins-in-high/) [Jordan Gavaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-gavaris/) > [I'm not a 'Yes Man,' and I've always preferred to go back and forth and find something we both agree on so I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-mcintyre/i-m-not-a-yes-man-and-i-ve-always-preferred-to-go-back-and-forth-and/) [Drew McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-mcintyre/) ## More by Gordon Willis > [Good films are not made by accident, nor is good photography. You can have good things happen, on occasion, by accident that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/good-films-are-not-made-by-accident-nor-is-good-photography-you-can/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [I hate when somebody says, "This may not work." You'll never get anywhere with that. I've pushed a lot of people out of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/i-hate-when-somebody-says-this-may-not-work-you-ll-never-get-anywhere/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [Complexity is not good. People don't understand the elegance of simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/complexity-is-not-good-people-don-t-understand-the-elegance-of/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [I don't really like directing. I've had a good relationship with actors, but I can do what I do and back off. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/i-don-t-really-like-directing-i-ve-had-a-good-relationship-with/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [The lack of perfection, that's the hardest quality of all, because you're fighting your instincts. You're trained to want to do things perfectly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/the-lack-of-perfection-that-s-the-hardest-quality-of-all-because-you/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [A huge problem in movies or with people who work on movies is that two people can look at the same thing but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/a-huge-problem-in-movies-or-with-people-who-work-on-movies-is-that/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [Don't get simple mixed up with simplistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/don-t-get-simple-mixed-up-with-simplistic/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [If you take a sophisticated idea, reduce it to the simplest possible terms so that it’s accessible to everybody, and don’t get simple mixed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/if-you-take-a-sophisticated-idea-reduce-it-to-the-simplest-possible/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [I don't believe in doing thousands of cuts, then giving it to the editor to make the movie. 'Dump-truck directing' is my reference to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/i-don-t-believe-in-doing-thousands-of-cuts-then-giving-it-to-the/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [There are a lot of cameramen but not so many photographers. And a lot of cameramen attack from a technical approach without much imagination.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/there-are-a-lot-of-cameramen-but-not-so-many-photographers-and-a-lot/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [A cinematographer is a visual psychiatrist - moving an audience through a movie ... making them think the way you want them to think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/a-cinematographer-is-a-visual-psychiatrist-moving-an-audience-through/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [I'm a minimalist. I see things in simple ways...It's human nature to define complexity as better. Well, it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/i-m-a-minimalist-i-see-things-in-simple-ways-it-s-human-nature-to/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [Grips and electricians have done more to help me shoot good movies than any other craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/grips-and-electricians-have-done-more-to-help-me-shoot-good-movies/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [Zooms are lazy closeups. And too many people hang their hats on video assist; it's a way to avoid too much. Video assist helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/zooms-are-lazy-closeups-and-too-many-people-hang-their-hats-on-video/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [A cinematographer is a visual psychiatrist, moving an audience... making them think the way you want them to think, painting pictures in the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/a-cinematographer-is-a-visual-psychiatrist-moving-an-audience-making/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) [Explore all 18 Gordon Willis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) ## More Aspiring quotes > [I made a lot of mistakes along the way, but feel incredibly lucky to be in the position I am now and to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/i-made-a-lot-of-mistakes-along-the-way-but-feel-incredibly-lucky-to/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [“Everything you say and do...it all sparkles so brightly. It's too blinding for me, and I end up closing my eyes. But I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arima-kousei/everything-you-say-and-do-it-all-sparkles-so-brightly-it-s-too/) [Arima Kousei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arima-kousei/) > [Heaven and God are not high above us, far away; they are deep within us. Heaven is not a distant country where there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/heaven-and-god-are-not-high-above-us-far-away-they-are-deep-within-us/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [What I want is to live of that initial and primordial something that was what made some things reach the point of aspiring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarice-lispector/what-i-want-is-to-live-of-that-initial-and-primordial-something-that/) [Clarice Lispector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarice-lispector/) > [In many ways, a degree in the history of ideas is the ideal training for an aspiring writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fortier/in-many-ways-a-degree-in-the-history-of-ideas-is-the-ideal-training/) [Anne Fortier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fortier/) > [“Stop aspiring and start being. The world needs you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/stop-aspiring-and-start-being-the-world-needs-you/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Stop aspiring. Start doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lowell/stop-aspiring-start-doing/) [Nathan Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lowell/) > [Anyone aspiring to literary greatness should read 'New Grub Street' and weep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-brown/anyone-aspiring-to-literary-greatness-should-read-new-grub-street-and/) [Tina Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-brown/) > [Tis immortality to die aspiring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-chapman/tis-immortality-to-die-aspiring/) [George Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-chapman/) > [For aspiring actors out there, I would say stay focused and don't let anyone pull you away from your goals. Shoot for the stars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-guzman/for-aspiring-actors-out-there-i-would-say-stay-focused-and-don-t-let/) [Ryan Guzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-guzman/) > [I have been aspiring to write some sort of literature for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-have-been-aspiring-to-write-some-sort-of-literature-for-a-long-time/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [I would tell any aspiring designer to take the time to experience everything they can to really get a feel for what direction they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabal-gurung/i-would-tell-any-aspiring-designer-to-take-the-time-to-experience/) [Prabal Gurung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabal-gurung/) > [Everyone's path is completely different. I could give an aspiring artist my timeline and every phone number and contact person along the way, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cook/everyone-s-path-is-completely-different-i-could-give-an-aspiring/) [Elizabeth Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cook/) > [I've never really thought of myself as just an actor; I always thought of myself as aspiring to be an artist, and an artist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leguizamo/i-ve-never-really-thought-of-myself-as-just-an-actor-i-always-thought/) [John Leguizamo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leguizamo/) > [The soul aspiring pants its source to mount,As streams meander level with their fount.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-montgomery/the-soul-aspiring-pants-its-source-to-mount-as-streams-meander-level/) [Robert Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-montgomery/) [Browse all 106 Aspiring quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspiring/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wasn't trying to be different; I just did what I liked. 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