--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I worked on a show called 'West Wing'…" description: "\"I worked on a show called 'West Wing' before. I didn't work with Aaron Sorkin, but he created the show and set the tenor of the show, which was you fol..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/jimmy-smits-3297_behind_i-worked-on-a-show-called-west-wing-befo_2754979.jpg" --- # I worked on a show called 'West Wing' before. I didn't… ![“I worked on a show called 'West Wing' before. I didn't work with Aaron Sorkin, but he created the show and set the tenor of the show, which was you follow the words of the script perfectly because there's a dramaturgical thing behind it.” quote by Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/jimmy-smits-3297_behind_i-worked-on-a-show-called-west-wing-befo_2754979.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/jimmy-smits-3297_behind_i-worked-on-a-show-called-west-wing-befo_2754979.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/jimmy-smits-3297_behind_i-worked-on-a-show-called-west-wing-befo_2754979.jpg) > “I worked on a show called 'West Wing' before. I didn't work with Aaron Sorkin, but he created the show and set the tenor of the show, which was you follow the words of the script perfectly because there's a dramaturgical thing behind it.” [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The creator’s vision shapes a show’s tone, demanding precise script delivery to capture its intended drama. **In simple terms:** The show’s style requires actors to follow the script exactly. Key Takeaway Respect the writer’s intent. Themes acting script fidelity creative vision Mood focused professional Type instructional reflective When to use this quote - theatre - television - performance - production - rehearsal Key Concepts dramaturgy authorial control Questions to Reflect On - How does script fidelity affect performance authenticity? - When is improvisation appropriate? A Different Perspective Strict adherence may limit improvisation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aaron-sorkin/) [Behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behind/) [Dramaturgical Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dramaturgical-thing-3127936/) [Follow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow/) [Perfectly Dramaturgical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectly-dramaturgical-3127937/) [Show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/show/) [Sorkin Created](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorkin-created-3127935/) [West wing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west-wing/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-aaron-3127938/) ## Related quotes > [I'd love to work with Aaron Sorkin on something. Just the way he writes, he has no fear in writing people that are fiercely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tennant/i-d-love-to-work-with-aaron-sorkin-on-something-just-the-way-he/) [David Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tennant/) > [When you get a chance to work with Aaron Sorkin, you don't say no. You drop everything you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-hirsch/when-you-get-a-chance-to-work-with-aaron-sorkin-you-don-t-say-no-you/) [Judd Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-hirsch/) > [My experience on 'The West Wing' was, I think, now rare in that I was pretty young, and I walked into this environment where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-graves/my-experience-on-the-west-wing-was-i-think-now-rare-in-that-i-was/) [Alex Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-graves/) > [It was terrifying when Aaron Sorkin announced that he was leaving West Wing, he and Tommy Schlamme. We felt like our parents were abandoning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/it-was-terrifying-when-aaron-sorkin-announced-that-he-was-leaving/) [Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/) > [Aaron Sorkin was completely unable to understand the actual psychology of Mark or of Facebook. He can't conceive of a world where social status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andreessen/aaron-sorkin-was-completely-unable-to-understand-the-actual/) [Marc Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andreessen/) > [Aaron Sorkin has been incredibly good to me; I don't know that I would have an acting career without him. Thanks to him, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/aaron-sorkin-has-been-incredibly-good-to-me-i-don-t-know-that-i-would/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [I don't claim to be some Aaron Sorkin expert, but it is like a Camelot. His shows are a place where people are trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dule-hill/i-don-t-claim-to-be-some-aaron-sorkin-expert-but-it-is-like-a-camelot/) [Dule Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dule-hill/) > [I think Aaron Sorkin is like Shakespeare. When you go through it, there is a rhythm and clues all over the place of how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-messina/i-think-aaron-sorkin-is-like-shakespeare-when-you-go-through-it-there/) [Chris Messina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-messina/) > [I did not always agree, personally, on the positions that Bartlet, character from the West Wing, took and I argued against them on many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-whitford/i-did-not-always-agree-personally-on-the-positions-that-bartlet/) [Bradley Whitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-whitford/) > [I am an old, old friend of Aaron Sorkin's, who is the executive producer and writer. He had been talking about doing a political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-whitford/i-am-an-old-old-friend-of-aaron-sorkin-s-who-is-the-executive/) [Bradley Whitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-whitford/) > [I remember running into Aaron's Sorkin office and going "The show's West Wing going to work! I know it's going to work!" And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-schlamme/i-remember-running-into-aaron-s-sorkin-office-and-going-the-show-s/) [Thomas Schlamme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-schlamme/) > ['West Wing' was huge. Like 'Hamilton,' it pulls back the curtain on how decision-making happens at the highest level, or at least how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/west-wing-was-huge-like-hamilton-it-pulls-back-the-curtain-on-how/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) > [I am lucky enough to have Aaron Sorkin write what I have to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/i-am-lucky-enough-to-have-aaron-sorkin-write-what-i-have-to-say/) [Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/) > [My joke about Aaron Sorkin is that The West Wing was a great show about democracy, run by Kim Jong-Il!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-whitford/my-joke-about-aaron-sorkin-is-that-the-west-wing-was-a-great-show/) [Bradley Whitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-whitford/) > [The script was given to me by one of my agents and they didn't tell me anything about it. My first reaction was, "The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/the-script-was-given-to-me-by-one-of-my-agents-and-they-didn-t-tell/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) ## More by Jimmy Smits > [Growing up in New York, we lived all around the city depending on our economic circumstance. I also lived in Puerto Rico for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/growing-up-in-new-york-we-lived-all-around-the-city-depending-on-our/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I left 'L.A. Law' after five years when my contract was up because I felt I had done all I could do with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-left-l-a-law-after-five-years-when-my-contract-was-up-because-i/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I don't feel I have to acknowledge how I'm doing by an award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-don-t-feel-i-have-to-acknowledge-how-i-m-doing-by-an-award/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [People become actors because they want to hide, and it's not easy to talk about myself. I accept that a certain responsibility goes with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/people-become-actors-because-they-want-to-hide-and-it-s-not-easy-to/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [What struck me more than anything is how the people that are involved in government start out from a place of really wanting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/what-struck-me-more-than-anything-is-how-the-people-that-are-involved/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [As an actor, you think to yourself, 'I want to do good work,' but you also want the work that you do to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/as-an-actor-you-think-to-yourself-i-want-to-do-good-work-but-you-also/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I have no tattoos at all - it was a huge undertaking for me in the '80s to let my parents know I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-have-no-tattoos-at-all-it-was-a-huge-undertaking-for-me-in-the-80s/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [It just makes you feel proud, more than anything else, that the work has in some way transcended itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/it-just-makes-you-feel-proud-more-than-anything-else-that-the-work/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [The most obvious thing that comes to mind is the loss of one's privacy. Your life becomes an open book, but I've found ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/the-most-obvious-thing-that-comes-to-mind-is-the-loss-of-one-s/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [Michael C. Hall is an incredibly detailed actor who can convey so much with just an eyebrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/michael-c-hall-is-an-incredibly-detailed-actor-who-can-convey-so-much/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [The Fourth of July concert is invigorating in so many ways, in terms of what it feels like to be an American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/the-fourth-of-july-concert-is-invigorating-in-so-many-ways-in-terms/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [You have to be like a sponge and use what you can and how it relates because TV is fluid. Things change on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/you-have-to-be-like-a-sponge-and-use-what-you-can-and-how-it-relates/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [California has been very good to me in terms of the professional arena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/california-has-been-very-good-to-me-in-terms-of-the-professional-arena/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I save the rage for the stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-save-the-rage-for-the-stage/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I almost feel like sometimes when I'm on location, you miss your home and your family and all that stuff, but it keeps you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-almost-feel-like-sometimes-when-i-m-on-location-you-miss-your-home/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) [Explore all 134 Jimmy Smits quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) ## More Behind quotes > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [I'm not the type of player that's going to run in behind or go past three and score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/i-m-not-the-type-of-player-that-s-going-to-run-in-behind-or-go-past/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [I hadn't been to drama school. I hadn't been to university and acted there. I had no qualifications behind me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/i-hadn-t-been-to-drama-school-i-hadn-t-been-to-university-and-acted/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [For girls who want to get their waistline down a little bit and don't have any weights in the house, they can actually use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepa/for-girls-who-want-to-get-their-waistline-down-a-little-bit-and-don-t/) [Pepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepa/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [I'm not on any social media; I don't even know what things are. I'm so behind the times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemarie-dewitt/i-m-not-on-any-social-media-i-don-t-even-know-what-things-are-i-m-so/) [Rosemarie DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemarie-dewitt/) > [I think we were raised in a nice Texas Jewish family where education was the most important thing, and close behind that was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-loeb/i-think-we-were-raised-in-a-nice-texas-jewish-family-where-education/) [Lisa Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-loeb/) > [I am hands-on in any project that I am associated with. I just don't want to put my face or name and lend it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-kardashian/i-am-hands-on-in-any-project-that-i-am-associated-with-i-just-don-t/) [Kim Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-kardashian/) > [I don't really have loads of friends - three or four who are close. The thing that I love the most is playing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-odell/i-don-t-really-have-loads-of-friends-three-or-four-who-are-close-the/) [Tom Odell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-odell/) > [There's something about the superheroes and the idea behind their relationship with humans, whether it's a metaphor for the better part of ourselves, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-gregg/there-s-something-about-the-superheroes-and-the-idea-behind-their/) [Clark Gregg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-gregg/) > [I refuse to say things behind people's backs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/i-refuse-to-say-things-behind-people-s-backs/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [There's a lot of mountain climbers trapped inside of bodies of people behind the counter at Kinko's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/there-s-a-lot-of-mountain-climbers-trapped-inside-of-bodies-of-people/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [From every little territory I've been, I've picked something up, things that I could use to better my game, to take with me, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-babel/from-every-little-territory-i-ve-been-i-ve-picked-something-up-things/) [Ryan Babel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-babel/) > [I was a photographer. That's how I began my career, behind the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shweta-tripathi/i-was-a-photographer-that-s-how-i-began-my-career-behind-the-camera/) [Shweta Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shweta-tripathi/) [Browse all 1,625 Behind quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behind/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I worked on a show called 'West Wing' before. I didn't work with Aaron Sorkin, but he created the show and set the tenor of the show, which was you follow the words of the script perfectly because there's a dramaturgical thing behind it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jimmy Smits" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-worked-on-a-show-called-west-wing-before-i-didn-t-work-with-aaron/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behind" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-worked-on-a-show-called-west-wing-before-i-didn-t-work-with-aaron/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/jimmy-smits-3297_behind_i-worked-on-a-show-called-west-wing-befo_2754979.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/jimmy-smits-3297_behind_i-worked-on-a-show-called-west-wing-befo_2754979.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/jimmy-smits-3297_behind_i-worked-on-a-show-called-west-wing-befo_2754979.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I worked on a show called 'West Wing' before. 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