--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been very blessed to have worked…" description: "\"I've been very blessed to have worked with two incredible directors - Barry Jenkins on 'Moonlight' and Ted Melfi on 'Hidden Figures' - and it was a col..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d87/janelle-monae-3903_blessed_i-ve-been-very-blessed-to-have-worked-wi_604573.png" --- # I've been very blessed to have worked with two incredible… ![“I've been very blessed to have worked with two incredible directors - Barry Jenkins on 'Moonlight' and Ted Melfi on 'Hidden Figures' - and it was a collaborative effort in shaping my characters, Teresa and Mary.” quote by Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d87/janelle-monae-3903_blessed_i-ve-been-very-blessed-to-have-worked-wi_604573.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d87/janelle-monae-3903_blessed_i-ve-been-very-blessed-to-have-worked-wi_604573.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d87/janelle-monae-3903_blessed_i-ve-been-very-blessed-to-have-worked-wi_604573.png) > “I've been very blessed to have worked with two incredible directors - Barry Jenkins on 'Moonlight' and Ted Melfi on 'Hidden Figures' - and it was a collaborative effort in shaping my characters, Teresa and Mary.” [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist credits collaboration with two directors for shaping her roles, emphasizing teamwork in creative storytelling. **In simple terms:** Working with great directors helped craft her characters. Key Takeaway Seek collaborative partners to enrich your work. Themes collaboration artistic growth film industry Mood grateful enthusiastic Type professional inspirational When to use this quote - film productions - theatre rehearsals - music videos - advertising campaigns Key Concepts directorial influence character development creative synergy Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain your voice in teamwork? - What qualities make a director truly collaborative? A Different Perspective Collaboration may dilute personal vision if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessed/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Collaborative effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collaborative-effort/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Hidden Figures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hidden-figures/) [Moonlight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moonlight/) ## Related quotes > [I can't tell you how many incredible directors I long to work with, but then I look at their IMDb page, and they haven't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/i-can-t-tell-you-how-many-incredible-directors-i-long-to-work-with/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) > [I've gotten scripts over the years, but I believe it was the stories of 'Moonlight' and 'Hidden Figures' that really touched my heart and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-ve-gotten-scripts-over-the-years-but-i-believe-it-was-the-stories/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Go see 'Hidden Figures,' and take a young person! It will give a more positive outlook on what is possible if you work hard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/go-see-hidden-figures-and-take-a-young-person-it-will-give-a-more/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [I wish I watched movies like 'Hidden Figures' when I was a kid, and maybe I would've taken science classes super seriously, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-wright/i-wish-i-watched-movies-like-hidden-figures-when-i-was-a-kid-and/) [Letitia Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-wright/) > [I started to think of 'Hidden Figures' as the first part of a mid-century African-American trilogy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-lee-shetterly/i-started-to-think-of-hidden-figures-as-the-first-part-of-a-mid/) [Margot Lee Shetterly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-lee-shetterly/) > [I feel like, in a lot of ways, 'Hidden Figures' is the book that I wrote and have been waiting to read since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-lee-shetterly/i-feel-like-in-a-lot-of-ways-hidden-figures-is-the-book-that-i-wrote/) [Margot Lee Shetterly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-lee-shetterly/) > [There was an email forwarded to me from a first-grade teacher, and she said she was teaching them civil rights for MLK weekend, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-schroeder/there-was-an-email-forwarded-to-me-from-a-first-grade-teacher-and-she/) [Allison Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-schroeder/) > [There is so much talent among our young people; I hope the women in 'Hidden Figures' inspire them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-lee-shetterly/there-is-so-much-talent-among-our-young-people-i-hope-the-women-in/) [Margot Lee Shetterly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-lee-shetterly/) > [I don't see a lot, but I think what the movie studios know and what they always know but they kind of ignore, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/i-don-t-see-a-lot-but-i-think-what-the-movie-studios-know-and-what/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [The journey of making 'Hidden Figures' has shown me the automatic privilege that all white men are afforded in America in 2017 and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-melfi/the-journey-of-making-hidden-figures-has-shown-me-the-automatic/) [Theodore Melfi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-melfi/) > [The success of 'Hidden Figures' proves that people are interested in, hungry for, stories about transcendent human experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-lee-shetterly/the-success-of-hidden-figures-proves-that-people-are-interested-in/) [Margot Lee Shetterly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-lee-shetterly/) > [I had a strong visceral reaction to the 'Moonlight' script, partly because I felt I knew all of these characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-had-a-strong-visceral-reaction-to-the-moonlight-script-partly/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [You know, making a movie is a collaborative effort and sometimes all the ingredients don't work out. I know that every now and again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-murphy/you-know-making-a-movie-is-a-collaborative-effort-and-sometimes-all/) [Eddie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-murphy/) > [Part of doing mash-ups is getting the legal rights to use the songs. If you're going to do a mash-up with five songs, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mason-jr/part-of-doing-mash-ups-is-getting-the-legal-rights-to-use-the-songs/) [Harvey Mason, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mason-jr/) > [We can all agree that government cant solve the obesity crisis alone. Its an ongoing issue that will require a collaborative effort across private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/we-can-all-agree-that-government-cant-solve-the-obesity-crisis-alone/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) ## More by Janelle Monae > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Perfection is the enemy of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-greatness/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I am going to take art more seriously. I most definitely want to leave behind art, and that does not just mean music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-am-going-to-take-art-more-seriously-i-most-definitely-want-to-leave/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [ It's hard for me to be serious. I can't really rub oil on me and go all the way with it \[laughs\]. I hear… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-hard-for-me-to-be-serious-i-can-t-really-rub-oil-on-me-and-go/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [People don't ask Jay-Z to take his shirt off when he rhymes,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/people-don-t-ask-jay-z-to-take-his-shirt-off-when-he-rhymes/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I hope women feel confident with themselves and realize that we don't all have to look alike or be the same size to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-hope-women-feel-confident-with-themselves-and-realize-that-we-don-t/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I feel myself becoming the fearless person I have dreamt of being. Have I arrived? No. But I'm constantly evolving and challenging myself to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-feel-myself-becoming-the-fearless-person-i-have-dreamt-of-being/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I was made to believe there's something wrong with me,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-was-made-to-believe-there-s-something-wrong-with-me/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I spend a lot of time in the future, But to help the future, sometimes you got to go back to the past, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-in-the-future-but-to-help-the-future-sometimes/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I have worn a tuxedo, but I have never covered up for respectability politics or to shame other women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-have-worn-a-tuxedo-but-i-have-never-covered-up-for-respectability/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [You are only as beautiful as the many beautiful things you do for others without expectation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/you-are-only-as-beautiful-as-the-many-beautiful-things-you-do-for/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Beauty is about enhancing what you have. Let yourself shine through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/beauty-is-about-enhancing-what-you-have-let-yourself-shine-through/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I'm always thinking about that young girl or young boy who doesn't quite know if their music, their messaging, their imaging, their voice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-m-always-thinking-about-that-young-girl-or-young-boy-who-doesn-t/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I've cried over string arrangements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-ve-cried-over-string-arrangements/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) [Explore all 119 Janelle Monae quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) ## More Blessed quotes > [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. But if I had to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/and-i-have-been-very-blessed-having-coached-some-of-the-greatest-that/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. In the same way, you all must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/as-in-any-machine-all-the-wires-must-be-connected-to-the-mains/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [Literally every person in my life is so amazing. I even don't understand how I am so blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/literally-every-person-in-my-life-is-so-amazing-i-even-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I had a very blessed journey with the upbringing I had. When you're working on sets as a stuntman, you have a firsthand account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-roman-waugh/i-had-a-very-blessed-journey-with-the-upbringing-i-had-when-you-re/) [Ric Roman Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-roman-waugh/) > [You know, I'm blessed. 'Blessed' is a better way of saying 'rich.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/you-know-i-m-blessed-blessed-is-a-better-way-of-saying-rich/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [I've been blessed to have a body that's durable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-millsap/i-ve-been-blessed-to-have-a-body-that-s-durable/) [Paul Millsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-millsap/) > [I feel that I'm very blessed. But with great blessings come great responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-feel-that-i-m-very-blessed-but-with-great-blessings-come-great/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Benny Carter came up to me and said to me, "You know, in the whole history of the alto, I think Phil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/benny-carter-came-up-to-me-and-said-to-me-you-know-in-the-whole/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [I feel as if I have been blessed to undergo a transformation from 'gangster' to 'redeemed sinner with gangster proclivities.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-feel-as-if-i-have-been-blessed-to-undergo-a-transformation-from/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [“The blood of Jesus Christ is as blessed and divine a payment for the transgressions of blaspheming Peter as for the shortcomings of loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/the-blood-of-jesus-christ-is-as-blessed-and-divine-a-payment-for-the/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [Without a trace of irony I can say I have been blessed with brilliant enemies. I owe them a great debt, because they redoubled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/without-a-trace-of-irony-i-can-say-i-have-been-blessed-with-brilliant/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) [Browse all 4,183 Blessed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've been very blessed to have worked with two incredible directors - Barry Jenkins on 'Moonlight' and Ted Melfi on 'Hidden Figures' - and it was a collaborative effort in shaping my characters, Teresa and Mary.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Janelle Monae" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-ve-been-very-blessed-to-have-worked-with-two-incredible-directors/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blessed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-ve-been-very-blessed-to-have-worked-with-two-incredible-directors/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d87/janelle-monae-3903_blessed_i-ve-been-very-blessed-to-have-worked-wi_604573.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d87/janelle-monae-3903_blessed_i-ve-been-very-blessed-to-have-worked-wi_604573.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d87/janelle-monae-3903_blessed_i-ve-been-very-blessed-to-have-worked-wi_604573.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've been very blessed to have worked with two incredible directors - Barry Jenkins on 'Moonlight' and Ted…” — Janelle Monae", "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": "Janelle Monae", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've been very blessed to have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-ve-been-very-blessed-to-have-worked-with-two-incredible-directors/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-ve-been-very-blessed-to-have-worked-with-two-incredible-directors/#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 } } ] } ```