--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a gut reaction to stuff that I…" description: "\"I have a gut reaction to stuff that I read. Either it's a filmmaker that I really want to work with, or it's a story that I really want to be a part of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/james-van-der-beek-14237_character_i-have-a-gut-reaction-to-stuff-that-i-re_213757.png" --- # I have a gut reaction to stuff that I read. Either it's a… ![“I have a gut reaction to stuff that I read. Either it's a filmmaker that I really want to work with, or it's a story that I really want to be a part of and help serve, or there's a character that I feel I can bring something unique to. That's really what it's about. I would go crazy, if I just…” quote by James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/james-van-der-beek-14237_character_i-have-a-gut-reaction-to-stuff-that-i-re_213757.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/james-van-der-beek-14237_character_i-have-a-gut-reaction-to-stuff-that-i-re_213757.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/427/james-van-der-beek-14237_character_i-have-a-gut-reaction-to-stuff-that-i-re_213757.png) > “I have a gut reaction to stuff that I read. Either it's a filmmaker that I really want to work with, or it's a story that I really want to be a part of and help serve, or there's a character that I feel I can bring something unique to. That's really what it's about. I would go crazy, if I just relied on the same tricks and did the same thing, all the time. It was just be no fun, at all. I really do need to try something different, every time out, and do something that scares me, a little bit.” [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative work thrives on fresh inspiration and stepping beyond familiar methods, avoiding stagnation and boredom. **In simple terms:** New ideas need risk and variety. Key Takeaway Embrace novelty and fear. Themes creativity risk growth Mood excited determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - Choosing projects - character development - career pivots - creative brainstorming Key Concepts artistic integrity innovation personal development Questions to Reflect On - What routine limits your creativity? - How can fear be a catalyst? A Different Perspective Overreliance on comfort zones can limit skill evolution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-feel/) [Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Filmmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaker/) [Filmmaker Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaker-really-504810/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Guts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guts/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Reaction Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaction-stuff-2201257/) [Read Filmmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-filmmaker-1621461/) [Scare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scare/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Unique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique/) ## Related quotes > [If you don't read, you will never be a filmmaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/if-you-don-t-read-you-will-never-be-a-filmmaker/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [Read, read, read, read, read, read, read, read, read, read, read, read, read...if you don't read, you will never be a filmmaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/read-read-read-read-read-read-read-read-read-read-read-read-read-if/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [What happened was months and months passed before I read anything where there was a filmmaker I wanted to work with. I wound up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr-2/what-happened-was-months-and-months-passed-before-i-read-anything/) [Cuba Gooding Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr-2/) > [I've ended up as a filmmaker who really loves the movie part of movies. That time in my life was a big influence on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zack-snyder/i-ve-ended-up-as-a-filmmaker-who-really-loves-the-movie-part-of/) [Zack Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zack-snyder/) > [Alejandro Amenábar is a very interesting filmmaker. I had really liked The Others, which was a movie he made with Nicole Kidman a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/alejandro-amen-bar-is-a-very-interesting-filmmaker-i-had-really-liked/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) > [I don't follow anything that's said about him much, but the Uwe Boll that I know is just a really cool guy. He's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eklund/i-don-t-follow-anything-that-s-said-about-him-much-but-the-uwe-boll/) [Michael Eklund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eklund/) > [I don't need to prove that I'm some great international filmmaker. It's not really on my list of goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dermot-mulroney/i-don-t-need-to-prove-that-i-m-some-great-international-filmmaker-it/) [Dermot Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dermot-mulroney/) > [When you're out there trying to still figure things out, it can just slow things down. So you have to kind of think on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-ball/when-you-re-out-there-trying-to-still-figure-things-out-it-can-just/) [Wes Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-ball/) > [I've been involved with violent movies, and then I've also said at a certain point, 'I can't take it anymore. Please cut it.' You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-weinstein/i-ve-been-involved-with-violent-movies-and-then-i-ve-also-said-at-a/) [Harvey Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-weinstein/) > [As a filmmaker, I really want to utilize the tools to carry the voice - my voice, and the voice of the characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-jenkins/as-a-filmmaker-i-really-want-to-utilize-the-tools-to-carry-the-voice/) [Barry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-jenkins/) > [ Quentin \[Tarantino\] is a filmmaker who really dives into things very seriously and deeply. And when he does interviews, he really wears his heart… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kinberg/quentin-tarantino-is-a-filmmaker-who-really-dives-into-things-very/) [Simon Kinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kinberg/) > [I still go see films for entertainment, and I love them, but for me as a filmmaker, I really want to have a purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-mcdowell/i-still-go-see-films-for-entertainment-and-i-love-them-but-for-me-as/) [Charlie McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-mcdowell/) > [The filmmaker is really important to me: it could be their first film; it's not just about their reputation, but I have to really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-dunst/the-filmmaker-is-really-important-to-me-it-could-be-their-first-film/) [Kirsten Dunst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-dunst/) > [If you're not connected emotionally to a story, then you're dead. You're as a filmmaker really just opening the door for people to lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/if-you-re-not-connected-emotionally-to-a-story-then-you-re-dead-you/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [Boy, you better check that tone. (Wulf) Yeah, yeah, ya scare me. I’m even wetting my pants while in your terrifying, gut-wrenching presence. See…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/boy-you-better-check-that-tone-wulf-yeah-yeah-ya-scare-me-i-m-even/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) ## More by James Van Der Beek > [You get a script and you love it. You find a director that you trust, and it becomes all about how do I commit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/you-get-a-script-and-you-love-it-you-find-a-director-that-you-trust/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [You can't really pretend something is rosier than it is and expect people to buy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/you-can-t-really-pretend-something-is-rosier-than-it-is-and-expect/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [The more you make fun of yourself and don't try to go for any kind of respect, the more people seem to respect you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/the-more-you-make-fun-of-yourself-and-don-t-try-to-go-for-any-kind-of/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [The less seriously you take yourself, the better work you're going to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/the-less-seriously-you-take-yourself-the-better-work-you-re-going-to/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [Had my first son this morning... well, actually, my wife had him. I just caught him. Wo. Heart expanding way faster than my brain...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/had-my-first-son-this-morning-well-actually-my-wife-had-him-i-just/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [I love sports and I love sports movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/i-love-sports-and-i-love-sports-movies/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [I was dyslexic, so math and formulas were not necessarily my strong suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/i-was-dyslexic-so-math-and-formulas-were-not-necessarily-my-strong/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [Ultimately, I'd love to be able to work in film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/ultimately-i-d-love-to-be-able-to-work-in-film/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [The film business has changed and society has changed. I started acting before the internet, which is insane to say. That makes me sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/the-film-business-has-changed-and-society-has-changed-i-started/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [Eventually, I think I may end up directing. It would have to be the project where I think that I'm the person to direct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/eventually-i-think-i-may-end-up-directing-it-would-have-to-be-the/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [I've only dyed my hair blond once, after 'Varsity Blues.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/i-ve-only-dyed-my-hair-blond-once-after-varsity-blues/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [I remember one day during my freshman year of high school, when as usual I was obsessively listening to a cast recording: it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/i-remember-one-day-during-my-freshman-year-of-high-school-when-as/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [If a rumor comes out that I'm gay, I could care less. There are so many worse things that they could be saying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/if-a-rumor-comes-out-that-i-m-gay-i-could-care-less-there-are-so-many/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [I figure if you talk about it once, then that's an open invitation for everyone to dig into your personal life even further. So,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/i-figure-if-you-talk-about-it-once-then-that-s-an-open-invitation-for/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [I've never really had a problem with the imagination level of an audience. They're always smarter and savvier than any studio exec will give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/i-ve-never-really-had-a-problem-with-the-imagination-level-of-an/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) [Explore all 47 James Van Der Beek quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have a gut reaction to stuff that I read. Either it's a filmmaker that I really want to work with, or it's a story that I really want to be a part of and help serve, or there's a character that I feel I can bring something unique to. That's really what it's about. I would go crazy, if I just relied on the same tricks and did the same thing, all the time. It was just be no fun, at all. 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