--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been writing plays since the…" description: "\"I've been writing plays since the seventies and only came to moviemaking when I basically realized that I needed some money to pay the rent. I started ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/john-patrick-shanley-13888_basically_i-ve-been-writing-plays-since-the-sevent_2777915.jpg" --- # I've been writing plays since the seventies and only came… ![“I've been writing plays since the seventies and only came to moviemaking when I basically realized that I needed some money to pay the rent. I started to watch films with an eye to figuring out how to write them.” quote by John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/john-patrick-shanley-13888_basically_i-ve-been-writing-plays-since-the-sevent_2777915.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/john-patrick-shanley-13888_basically_i-ve-been-writing-plays-since-the-sevent_2777915.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/john-patrick-shanley-13888_basically_i-ve-been-writing-plays-since-the-sevent_2777915.jpg) > “I've been writing plays since the seventies and only came to moviemaking when I basically realized that I needed some money to pay the rent. I started to watch films with an eye to figuring out how to write them.” [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He turned to filmmaking for practical reasons after years of playwriting, using it to fund his livelihood. **In simple terms:** He started making movies to pay rent after writing plays. Key Takeaway Leverage new skills to meet financial needs. Themes career shift pragmatism creativity Mood pragmatic inspirational Type career creative When to use this quote - career transition - budget constraints - creative industries - learning new crafts Key Concepts adaptation resourcefulness Questions to Reflect On - What motivated your shift to film? - How do you balance art and income? A Different Perspective Risk of compromising artistic vision for money. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/films/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Moviemaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moviemaking/) [Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays/) [Rent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rent/) [Seventies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seventies/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [You have to live in order to have something to write about - you get caught up in moviemaking and celebrities and money, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/you-have-to-live-in-order-to-have-something-to-write-about-you-get/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [In the end, you as a director, of course, are the captain on the ship. 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