--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I used to work in special effects at…" description: "\"When I used to work in special effects at the model shop, I couldn't imagine having a better job. We made spaceships and miniature cities and I was wor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01d/grant-imahara-13149_better_when-i-used-to-work-in-special-effects-a_615311.png" --- # When I used to work in special effects at the model shop… ![“When I used to work in special effects at the model shop, I couldn't imagine having a better job. We made spaceships and miniature cities and I was working on robots. Then the 'MythBusters' opportunity came along.” quote by Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01d/grant-imahara-13149_better_when-i-used-to-work-in-special-effects-a_615311.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01d/grant-imahara-13149_better_when-i-used-to-work-in-special-effects-a_615311.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01d/grant-imahara-13149_better_when-i-used-to-work-in-special-effects-a_615311.png) > “When I used to work in special effects at the model shop, I couldn't imagine having a better job. We made spaceships and miniature cities and I was working on robots. Then the 'MythBusters' opportunity came along.” [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Working in model making felt ideal until a new, more exciting opportunity arose, showing that career satisfaction can evolve with fresh challenges. **In simple terms:** A great job can become even better with new chances. Key Takeaway Embrace new opportunities that expand your skills. Themes career growth creativity technology Mood excited curious optimistic Type inspirational career. When to use this quote - film production - engineering projects - public demonstrations - team collaborations Key Concepts special effects hands‑on learning media exposure Questions to Reflect On - What new skill could revitalize your current role? - How do you balance passion with emerging opportunities? A Different Perspective Transitioning may require learning new formats and public scrutiny. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Robotics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robotics/) [Robots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robots/) [Special effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-effects/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Back when I was a professional model-maker at Industrial Light & Magic, my specialty was hard-edged construction - spaceships, miniature sets, and architectural stuff.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-savage/back-when-i-was-a-professional-model-maker-at-industrial-light-magic/) [Adam Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-savage/) > [In special effects, you can cheat to make it look good. In real science, you have to have results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/in-special-effects-you-can-cheat-to-make-it-look-good-in-real-science/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [When I started Battle Bots in 1999, the guy sitting next to me was a high school teacher with no robotics experience at all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/when-i-started-battle-bots-in-1999-the-guy-sitting-next-to-me-was-a/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [I feel that contemporary music, with very few exceptions, is missing the voice. You see an award show, you see a hundred extras on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/i-feel-that-contemporary-music-with-very-few-exceptions-is-missing/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [“He was astonished to discover that I actually preferred the Special Edition version of the original Star Wars trilogy. He shook his head, eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenna-aubrey/he-was-astonished-to-discover-that-i-actually-preferred-the-special/) [Brenna Aubrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenna-aubrey/) > [All the green-screen stuff - all the special effects stuff - I shot right there in my house, in the basement in my theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vickie-winans/all-the-green-screen-stuff-all-the-special-effects-stuff-i-shot-right/) Vickie Winans > [I think that in big-budget movies there's a lot of other stuff going on besides acting, like special effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-think-that-in-big-budget-movies-there-s-a-lot-of-other-stuff-going/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [Talking with most people usually involves a search for truth. Talking with congressmen is strictly special effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/talking-with-most-people-usually-involves-a-search-for-truth-talking/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [“Minus the adverts of TV, the special effects of movies, and the trash of the Internet, live theatre is a personal means to connect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jalio/minus-the-adverts-of-tv-the-special-effects-of-movies-and-the-trash/) Tom Jalio > [I don't do special effects. I do characters. I do creatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-winston/i-don-t-do-special-effects-i-do-characters-i-do-creatures/) Stan Winston > [Who can now deny the loss of natural light, of skin tones, of real place, and common but precious things in our movies, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-jay-epstein/who-can-now-deny-the-loss-of-natural-light-of-skin-tones-of-real/) [Edward Jay Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-jay-epstein/) > [You don't want people to look at something and think that was a fantastic special effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-anne-hurd/you-don-t-want-people-to-look-at-something-and-think-that-was-a/) [Gale Anne Hurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-anne-hurd/) > [I wanted to play this role because I thought the story was so incredible and so fascinating that it's almost unbelievable, which is exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/i-wanted-to-play-this-role-because-i-thought-the-story-was-so/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [With war and famine and flood and special effects films, when you do somebody under duress, you have to be really be inventive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-weir/with-war-and-famine-and-flood-and-special-effects-films-when-you-do/) [Peter Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-weir/) > [I've always thought that the most extraordinary special effect you could do is to buy a child at the moment of its birth, sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-most-extraordinary-special-effect-you/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) ## More by Grant Imahara > [The people who are changing our world are starting from an idea and bringing it all the way through to finished product with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/the-people-who-are-changing-our-world-are-starting-from-an-idea-and/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > ['MythBusters' sounded like such an incredible opportunity. Where else might I be paid to make robots blow things up?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/mythbusters-sounded-like-such-an-incredible-opportunity-where-else/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [I have a secret weapon. And it could have something to do with special robot knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/i-have-a-secret-weapon-and-it-could-have-something-to-do-with-special/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [As a former competitor, robot combat is near and dear to my heart. I enjoy the mix of creativity and mayhem that are essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/as-a-former-competitor-robot-combat-is-near-and-dear-to-my-heart-i/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [First career I had right out of engineering school was at Lucas film, not working in the movies but working in home theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/first-career-i-had-right-out-of-engineering-school-was-at-lucas-film/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [There's nothing like experiencing the sights and sounds of a live robot combat event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/there-s-nothing-like-experiencing-the-sights-and-sounds-of-a-live/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [People always ask why I would leave ILM, and it's because 'Mythbusters' sounded like fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/people-always-ask-why-i-would-leave-ilm-and-it-s-because-mythbusters/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [I think we're on too many government watch lists. We'd better let this one go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/i-think-we-re-on-too-many-government-watch-lists-we-d-better-let-this/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [Walking the streets of Porto and speaking with the top engineers at Veniam, I am struck by the passion that they bring to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/walking-the-streets-of-porto-and-speaking-with-the-top-engineers-at/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [I wasn't in the AV club. I was the AV club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/i-wasn-t-in-the-av-club-i-was-the-av-club/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [I worked at ILM the same time Masi Oka was there. Who would have thought that two Asian-American nerds from ILM would be on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/i-worked-at-ilm-the-same-time-masi-oka-was-there-who-would-have/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [Everybody has stories about using duct tape. Of course, most don't try to lift a car with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/everybody-has-stories-about-using-duct-tape-of-course-most-don-t-try/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [There are plenty of myths out there that are either really expensive to do or incredibly difficult or complicated to execute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/there-are-plenty-of-myths-out-there-that-are-either-really-expensive/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [Not only will innovative technology create a more connected human race; it will normalize access to our most basic needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/not-only-will-innovative-technology-create-a-more-connected-human/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [Engineers are great at many things. They're not necessarily great at recognizing basic human psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/engineers-are-great-at-many-things-they-re-not-necessarily-great-at/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) [Explore all 51 Grant Imahara quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) ## More Better quotes > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. 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I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The Little you Give !! The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/) [Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/) > [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/) [Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/) > [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/) [Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/) > [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/) [Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/) > [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/) [Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/) > [Cara Delevingne and I took an eyebrow selfie. We both have prominent eyebrows, but hers are much better than mine. Maybe we should do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/cara-delevingne-and-i-took-an-eyebrow-selfie-we-both-have-prominent/) [Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/) > [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/) [Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/) Browse all 17,085 Better quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I used to work in special effects at the model shop, I couldn't imagine having a better job. We made spaceships and miniature cities and I was working on robots. 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