--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before 'Dancing with the Stars,' I'd…" description: "\"Before 'Dancing with the Stars,' I'd directed a short called 'Man vs. Monday' that I sent out to all the festivals just to show I can direct and produc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/ian-ziering-7744_dancing-with-the-sta_before-dancing-with-the-stars-i-d-direct_1073577.png" --- # Before 'Dancing with the Stars,' I'd directed a short… ![“Before 'Dancing with the Stars,' I'd directed a short called 'Man vs. Monday' that I sent out to all the festivals just to show I can direct and produce. It was also a template to launch a movie or a TV series.” quote by Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/ian-ziering-7744_dancing-with-the-sta_before-dancing-with-the-stars-i-d-direct_1073577.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/ian-ziering-7744_dancing-with-the-sta_before-dancing-with-the-stars-i-d-direct_1073577.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/ian-ziering-7744_dancing-with-the-sta_before-dancing-with-the-stars-i-d-direct_1073577.png) > “Before 'Dancing with the Stars,' I'd directed a short called 'Man vs. Monday' that I sent out to all the festivals just to show I can direct and produce. It was also a template to launch a movie or a TV series.” [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He created a short film to prove his directing and producing abilities and to serve as a launchpad for larger projects. **In simple terms:** He used a small project to showcase talent and attract bigger opportunities. Key Takeaway Leverage small works to demonstrate capability. Themes career development self‑promotion creative strategy Mood ambitious strategic Type professional motivational When to use this quote - film festivals - TV pilot development - seeking investors Key Concepts portfolio building industry networking project pitching Questions to Reflect On - How can a short film open doors? - What elements make a demo reel compelling? A Different Perspective Success depends on audience reception and industry connections. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dancing Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing-stars-253995/) [Dancing with the stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing-with-the-stars/) [Directed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directed/) [Directed Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directed-short-989242/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Monday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monday/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Stars Directed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars-directed-2686377/) [Tv series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tv-series/) [Vs Monday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vs-monday-2686376/) ## Related quotes > [I majored in screenwriting and playwriting in school - and wanted to make films as a career. But when I directed my first short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/i-majored-in-screenwriting-and-playwriting-in-school-and-wanted-to/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [When I directed my first short - 'American Virgin' - I had no idea if I could actually do it. Like, I might just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamzin-merchant/when-i-directed-my-first-short-american-virgin-i-had-no-idea-if-i/) [Tamzin Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamzin-merchant/) > ['Dancing With the Stars' has become a phenomenon, and when I look at that type of reality show, it's like a variety show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/dancing-with-the-stars-has-become-a-phenomenon-and-when-i-look-at/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [All due respect and trying to be as modest as I can be, I am a dancer. But I don't think I would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/all-due-respect-and-trying-to-be-as-modest-as-i-can-be-i-am-a-dancer/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > ['Dancing with The Stars' is like learning a new sport with lots of bumps and bruises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dancing-with-the-stars-is-like-learning-a-new-sport-with-lots-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Kit Wilder did not have moves like Jagger. Quite the contrary, she fully recognized that her moves were more of the Elaine from Seinfeld…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keeley-bates/kit-wilder-did-not-have-moves-like-jagger-quite-the-contrary-she/) [Keeley Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keeley-bates/) > [They did ask me to do 'Dancing With The Stars;' I said I can do one show, but on that show you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/they-did-ask-me-to-do-dancing-with-the-stars-i-said-i-can-do-one-show/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I've completely changed the way I eat since doing 'Dancing With The Stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-osbourne/i-ve-completely-changed-the-way-i-eat-since-doing-dancing-with-the/) [Kelly Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-osbourne/) > [I would like to be on 'Dancing With the Stars' because I want to be a star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirai-nagasu/i-would-like-to-be-on-dancing-with-the-stars-because-i-want-to-be-a/) [Mirai Nagasu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirai-nagasu/) > [Going from 'The Bachelorette' to being on 'Dancing with the Stars,' I'm having to work through some things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-brown/going-from-the-bachelorette-to-being-on-dancing-with-the-stars-i-m/) [Hannah Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-brown/) > [With 'Dancing with the Stars,' they miraculously send your dance teacher with you wherever you need to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-lucci/with-dancing-with-the-stars-they-miraculously-send-your-dance-teacher/) [Susan Lucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-lucci/) > [I have always had an ambition to do 'Dancing with the Stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-ferrigno/i-have-always-had-an-ambition-to-do-dancing-with-the-stars/) [Lou Ferrigno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-ferrigno/) > [I feel fairly certain that my painting skills might not be best shown on 'Dancing with the Stars.' I'll have to come up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/i-feel-fairly-certain-that-my-painting-skills-might-not-be-best-shown/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [I would never do 'Dancing With The Stars,' because it's just not fair. I am too good of a dancer. It would be like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-crews/i-would-never-do-dancing-with-the-stars-because-it-s-just-not-fair-i/) [Terry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-crews/) > ['Dancing with the Stars' is awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-bryan/dancing-with-the-stars-is-awesome/) [Sabrina Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-bryan/) ## More by Ian Ziering > [Like every audition I go on, I do my best, but after that, I let it go because, you know, the rejection rate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/like-every-audition-i-go-on-i-do-my-best-but-after-that-i-let-it-go/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [As an actor, you know that every act has a closing curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/as-an-actor-you-know-that-every-act-has-a-closing-curtain/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [There was such mass appeal for 'Sharknado.' It went over so well - not just here in the United States but globally - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/there-was-such-mass-appeal-for-sharknado-it-went-over-so-well-not/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > ['Dancing With the Stars' has become a phenomenon, and when I look at that type of reality show, it's like a variety show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/dancing-with-the-stars-has-become-a-phenomenon-and-when-i-look-at/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [Dancing isn't easy, and to just jump into three to four hours of rehearsals a day is a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/dancing-isn-t-easy-and-to-just-jump-into-three-to-four-hours-of/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [At my pregnant wife's behest, I took the job for the paycheck and the health insurance, and it turned into 'Sharknado.' I couldn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/at-my-pregnant-wife-s-behest-i-took-the-job-for-the-paycheck-and-the/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [There are so many people that say they are actors and they don't spend for 5 minutes a day working on their craft. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/there-are-so-many-people-that-say-they-are-actors-and-they-don-t/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [There's all these summer blockbusters out there, but nobody's talking about them... they're talking about 'Sharknado.' It's amazing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/there-s-all-these-summer-blockbusters-out-there-but-nobody-s-talking/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [I've managed to catch lightning in a bottle a couple times. I'm very lucky. But I want to do this forever. I enjoy it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/i-ve-managed-to-catch-lightning-in-a-bottle-a-couple-times-i-m-very/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [The opening scene from 'Sharknado' I think was better than the original 'Jaws' movie. It was scarier, it was bloodier, and it had more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/the-opening-scene-from-sharknado-i-think-was-better-than-the-original/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [Everyone wanted to be eaten. It seems like it's a badge of honor to have that on your IMDb account when it says, 'Man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/everyone-wanted-to-be-eaten-it-seems-like-it-s-a-badge-of-honor-to/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [I'm a dad, and that's a job you can't fail at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/i-m-a-dad-and-that-s-a-job-you-can-t-fail-at/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [I like the fact that I'm involved in a career that gives me so many different mediums to perform in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/i-like-the-fact-that-i-m-involved-in-a-career-that-gives-me-so-many/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [I've always been a fan of Fran Drescher!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/i-ve-always-been-a-fan-of-fran-drescher/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [I can't tell you the deluge of images that were sent to me through all the different social media platforms of families partying together...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/i-can-t-tell-you-the-deluge-of-images-that-were-sent-to-me-through/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) [Explore all 88 Ian Ziering quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) ## More Dancing with the stars quotes > ['Dancing with the Stars' is awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-bryan/dancing-with-the-stars-is-awesome/) [Sabrina Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-bryan/) > [I would never do 'Dancing With The Stars,' because it's just not fair. I am too good of a dancer. It would be like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-crews/i-would-never-do-dancing-with-the-stars-because-it-s-just-not-fair-i/) [Terry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-crews/) > [I feel fairly certain that my painting skills might not be best shown on 'Dancing with the Stars.' I'll have to come up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/i-feel-fairly-certain-that-my-painting-skills-might-not-be-best-shown/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [I have always had an ambition to do 'Dancing with the Stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-ferrigno/i-have-always-had-an-ambition-to-do-dancing-with-the-stars/) [Lou Ferrigno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-ferrigno/) > [With 'Dancing with the Stars,' they miraculously send your dance teacher with you wherever you need to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-lucci/with-dancing-with-the-stars-they-miraculously-send-your-dance-teacher/) [Susan Lucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-lucci/) > [Going from 'The Bachelorette' to being on 'Dancing with the Stars,' I'm having to work through some things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-brown/going-from-the-bachelorette-to-being-on-dancing-with-the-stars-i-m/) [Hannah Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-brown/) > [I would like to be on 'Dancing With the Stars' because I want to be a star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirai-nagasu/i-would-like-to-be-on-dancing-with-the-stars-because-i-want-to-be-a/) [Mirai Nagasu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirai-nagasu/) > ['Dancing With the Stars' has become a phenomenon, and when I look at that type of reality show, it's like a variety show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/dancing-with-the-stars-has-become-a-phenomenon-and-when-i-look-at/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [I've completely changed the way I eat since doing 'Dancing With The Stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-osbourne/i-ve-completely-changed-the-way-i-eat-since-doing-dancing-with-the/) [Kelly Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-osbourne/) > [They did ask me to do 'Dancing With The Stars;' I said I can do one show, but on that show you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/they-did-ask-me-to-do-dancing-with-the-stars-i-said-i-can-do-one-show/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [“Kit Wilder did not have moves like Jagger. Quite the contrary, she fully recognized that her moves were more of the Elaine from Seinfeld…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keeley-bates/kit-wilder-did-not-have-moves-like-jagger-quite-the-contrary-she/) [Keeley Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keeley-bates/) > [Dance till the stars come down from the rafters Dance, Dance, Dance 'till you drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/dance-till-the-stars-come-down-from-the-rafters-dance-dance-dance/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > ['Dancing with The Stars' is like learning a new sport with lots of bumps and bruises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dancing-with-the-stars-is-like-learning-a-new-sport-with-lots-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All due respect and trying to be as modest as I can be, I am a dancer. But I don't think I would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/all-due-respect-and-trying-to-be-as-modest-as-i-can-be-i-am-a-dancer/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [I flew home to Pittsburgh, and my management called me to ask if I wanted to perform on 'Dancing With the Stars' with Charlie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/i-flew-home-to-pittsburgh-and-my-management-called-me-to-ask-if-i/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) [Browse all 141 Dancing with the stars quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing-with-the-stars/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before 'Dancing with the Stars,' I'd directed a short called 'Man vs. Monday' that I sent out to all the festivals just to show I can direct and produce. 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