--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That period, doing 'Angels in America' in…" description: "\"That period, doing 'Angels in America' in '94 and then filming with 'Basquiat' in '95, those were gateway years for me as an artist. Two gateways, one ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/jeffrey-wright-14855_america_that-period-doing-angels-in-america-in-9_1696695.jpg" --- # That period, doing 'Angels in America' in '94 and then… ![“That period, doing 'Angels in America' in '94 and then filming with 'Basquiat' in '95, those were gateway years for me as an artist. Two gateways, one into the film industry and one into the world of theater, each formative to me in different, equally essential ways.” quote by Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/jeffrey-wright-14855_america_that-period-doing-angels-in-america-in-9_1696695.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/jeffrey-wright-14855_america_that-period-doing-angels-in-america-in-9_1696695.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/jeffrey-wright-14855_america_that-period-doing-angels-in-america-in-9_1696695.jpg) > “That period, doing 'Angels in America' in '94 and then filming with 'Basquiat' in '95, those were gateway years for me as an artist. Two gateways, one into the film industry and one into the world of theater, each formative to me in different, equally essential ways.” [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An artist’s early experiences in both film and theater opened distinct yet complementary creative pathways. **In simple terms:** Early work in two arts shaped his career. Key Takeaway Embrace diverse artistic opportunities. Themes artistic development career pathways interdisciplinary growth Mood inspired reflective optimistic Type personal career inspirational When to use this quote - theatre productions - indie film sets - art workshops Key Concepts creative identity professional evolution Questions to Reflect On - Which medium best expresses your voice? - How can cross‑disciplinary work enrich your art? A Different Perspective Balancing multiple mediums can dilute focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Angels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angels/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-industry/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Our high school offered a comprehensive drama department where I was doing 'Angels in America' at 14.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/our-high-school-offered-a-comprehensive-drama-department-where-i-was/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [In this there is no measuring with time, a year doesn’t matter, and ten years are nothing. Being an artist means: not numbering and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/in-this-there-is-no-measuring-with-time-a-year-doesn-t-matter-and-ten/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“There is here no measuring with time, no year matters, and ten years are nothing. Being an artist means, not reckoning and counting, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/there-is-here-no-measuring-with-time-no-year-matters-and-ten-years/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [Today they forget you in five years. They give an artist nowadays four or five years and that's it. Some of them don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jones/today-they-forget-you-in-five-years-they-give-an-artist-nowadays-four/) [George Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jones/) > [“Everything is gestation and then bringing forth. To let each impression and each germ of feeling come to completion wholly in itself, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-m-rilke/everything-is-gestation-and-then-bringing-forth-to-let-each/) Rainer M. Rilke > [I wanted to work in the Hindi film industry much more than what I was offered. But if you are a grain of rice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soni-razdan/i-wanted-to-work-in-the-hindi-film-industry-much-more-than-what-i-was/) [Soni Razdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soni-razdan/) > [At the age of 16, I ran from my house, did odd jobs till l landed work on television and then in film industry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harshvardhan-rane/at-the-age-of-16-i-ran-from-my-house-did-odd-jobs-till-l-landed-work/) [Harshvardhan Rane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harshvardhan-rane/) > [In the Indian film industry, especially those of us who are in mainstream cinema, we invariably play a typical hero's role. More often than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-bachchan/in-the-indian-film-industry-especially-those-of-us-who-are-in/) [Abhishek Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-bachchan/) > [In Hollywood there's a great openness, almost a voracious appetite for new people. In England there's a great suspicion of the new. In cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/in-hollywood-there-s-a-great-openness-almost-a-voracious-appetite-for/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [I always think the really unfortunate thing about the Australian film industry is its lack of momentum. And I don't mean this in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-pearce/i-always-think-the-really-unfortunate-thing-about-the-australian-film/) [Guy Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-pearce/) > [In the (film) industry, body size doesn't matter. What matters is how much an actor contributes through his performance and not his body size.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/in-the-film-industry-body-size-doesn-t-matter-what-matters-is-how/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) > [It was very hard breaking into the film industry in Britain. I had been to art school, and I was painting and doing commercials.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-scott/it-was-very-hard-breaking-into-the-film-industry-in-britain-i-had/) [Tony Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-scott/) > [You're not insulting my character. Being a woman, especially in this business, it's so thrilling to get to do that. It's so rare, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/you-re-not-insulting-my-character-being-a-woman-especially-in-this/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [If I was not allowed to mention that I was in the film industry, I could go six months without getting a kiss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-farrelly/if-i-was-not-allowed-to-mention-that-i-was-in-the-film-industry-i/) [Peter Farrelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-farrelly/) > [It's hard not to get a big head in the film industry, there are people on a set paid to cater to your every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/it-s-hard-not-to-get-a-big-head-in-the-film-industry-there-are-people/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) ## More by Jeffrey Wright > [The line between being a nurturing parent and an over-bearing, damaging parent is one that's very delicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/the-line-between-being-a-nurturing-parent-and-an-over-bearing/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [For me, an actor is a person who makes characters like a cobbler makes shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/for-me-an-actor-is-a-person-who-makes-characters-like-a-cobbler-makes/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [Having been born and raised in Washington, D.C., you kind of absorb politics when you grow up. And it continues to be a focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/having-been-born-and-raised-in-washington-d-c-you-kind-of-absorb/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [I do a little Reddit, yeah! I pop in every now and again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/i-do-a-little-reddit-yeah-i-pop-in-every-now-and-again/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [I like to do theater and hopefully be effective. Most actors, at least contemporary actors of my generation, can't do it. They don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/i-like-to-do-theater-and-hopefully-be-effective-most-actors-at-least/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [I find that the work I do as an actor that's most challenging commands an athleticism or, certainly, a physicality. And also a rigor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/i-find-that-the-work-i-do-as-an-actor-that-s-most-challenging/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [I do have characters who are more well known than I am, which suits me fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/i-do-have-characters-who-are-more-well-known-than-i-am-which-suits-me/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [Some of my earliest heroes were congresswomen like Shirley Chisholm and Barbara Jordan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/some-of-my-earliest-heroes-were-congresswomen-like-shirley-chisholm/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [I started acting when I was at Amherst my junior year, and my lacrosse career kind of started to flop sideways after that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/i-started-acting-when-i-was-at-amherst-my-junior-year-and-my-lacrosse/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [I like New York because you're kind of forced to smell everybody else's funk. So it keeps you biologically attached to the world around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/i-like-new-york-because-you-re-kind-of-forced-to-smell-everybody-else/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [I'm gonna be on the Hawaiian beaches when I'm old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/i-m-gonna-be-on-the-hawaiian-beaches-when-i-m-old/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [New York is the greatest character actor ever. Any film that is shot in New York is elevated by the city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/new-york-is-the-greatest-character-actor-ever-any-film-that-is-shot/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [I'm not sure whether Los Angeles borders on the ocean or on oblivion. I always feel that I'm two steps away from the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/i-m-not-sure-whether-los-angeles-borders-on-the-ocean-or-on-oblivion/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [Some musicians play blues, others classical jazz or bluegrass. I like to play political roles because I can merge my political interests with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/some-musicians-play-blues-others-classical-jazz-or-bluegrass-i-like/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [Shaft was a pop culture figure along t he lines of, I guess, Dirty Harry - except that he wasn't as much of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/shaft-was-a-pop-culture-figure-along-t-he-lines-of-i-guess-dirty/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) [Explore all 45 Jeffrey Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That period, doing 'Angels in America' in '94 and then filming with 'Basquiat' in '95, those were gateway years for me as an artist. 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