--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started writing and acting in these…" description: "\"I started writing and acting in these little plays and then I was discovered by Dustin Hoffman. He got me my first audition for a film he was in, calle..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b62/jonah-hill-3023_acting_i-started-writing-and-acting-in-these-li_1959152.png" --- # I started writing and acting in these little plays and… ![“I started writing and acting in these little plays and then I was discovered by Dustin Hoffman. He got me my first audition for a film he was in, called 'I Heart Huckabees.'” quote by Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b62/jonah-hill-3023_acting_i-started-writing-and-acting-in-these-li_1959152.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b62/jonah-hill-3023_acting_i-started-writing-and-acting-in-these-li_1959152.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b62/jonah-hill-3023_acting_i-started-writing-and-acting-in-these-li_1959152.png) > “I started writing and acting in these little plays and then I was discovered by Dustin Hoffman. He got me my first audition for a film he was in, called 'I Heart Huckabees.'” [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early career breakthroughs often come from small, self‑initiated projects that attract the right attention. **In simple terms:** Small projects can lead to big opportunities. Key Takeaway Keep creating and sharing your work. Themes career opportunity creativity networking Mood optimistic determined Type inspirational career‑advice When to use this quote - indie theater - film auditions - online showcases - collaborative workshops Key Concepts self‑initiative serendipity industry connections Questions to Reflect On - What small project could you start today? - How can you showcase it to reach influential people? A Different Perspective Success may still depend on luck and who you know. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Audition Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audition-film-2054425/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Dustin hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dustin-hoffman/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Plays Discovered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays-discovered-3224456/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-acting-284615/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think people realize what it's like for people of color to audition for film and TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/i-don-t-think-people-realize-what-it-s-like-for-people-of-color-to/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [ I never thought I'd get \[a 'Pitch Perfect 2'\] audition because the film was just so massive. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-fit/i-never-thought-i-d-get-a-pitch-perfect-2-audition-because-the-film/) [Chrissie Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-fit/) > [When I said I was going to audition for a film, I got a hearty laugh from all my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-abril/when-i-said-i-was-going-to-audition-for-a-film-i-got-a-hearty-laugh/) [Victoria Abril](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-abril/) > [I guess, in a sense, 'Audition' was a film that gave me an opportunity that I hadn't had up until that point. So that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-miike/i-guess-in-a-sense-audition-was-a-film-that-gave-me-an-opportunity/) [Takashi Miike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-miike/) > [I ran away from my house when I was about 12 years old to audition for a film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-kapoor/i-ran-away-from-my-house-when-i-was-about-12-years-old-to-audition/) [Anil Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-kapoor/) > [My heroes are Bill Murray and Dustin Hoffman. Those are the two actors that both do comedies and dramas, seamlessly. Also John C. Reilly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/my-heroes-are-bill-murray-and-dustin-hoffman-those-are-the-two-actors/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [When you have somebody writing or acting for you, you have to be free to have them hate you so you can get your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-heckerling/when-you-have-somebody-writing-or-acting-for-you-you-have-to-be-free/) [Amy Heckerling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-heckerling/) > [I take talking as seriously as I do writing, acting and stand-up. Not everybody is good at talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robby-hoffman/i-take-talking-as-seriously-as-i-do-writing-acting-and-stand-up-not/) [Robby Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robby-hoffman/) > [I think there is a lot of overexplaining both in writing and acting. People don't need to be hit on the head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/i-think-there-is-a-lot-of-overexplaining-both-in-writing-and-acting/) [Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/) > [I didn't always want to act. My passion was writing, and it still is one of my primary passions to this day, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-dallas-howard/i-didn-t-always-want-to-act-my-passion-was-writing-and-it-still-is/) [Bryce Dallas Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-dallas-howard/) > [I want to use things I learn about writing in my acting, and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-chang/i-want-to-use-things-i-learn-about-writing-in-my-acting-and-vice-versa/) [Katie Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-chang/) > [I don't have the desire to be the best standup in the UK but I do have the desire to be the best at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-brown/i-don-t-have-the-desire-to-be-the-best-standup-in-the-uk-but-i-do/) [Doc Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-brown/) > [Writing, of course, is writing, acting comes from the theater, and cinematography comes from photography. Editing is unique to film. You can see something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/writing-of-course-is-writing-acting-comes-from-the-theater-and/) [Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/) > [Actually, I was writing as I was acting - it was kind of simultaneous. I wrote on 'E20', which started this whole 'EastEnders' journey.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emer-kenny/actually-i-was-writing-as-i-was-acting-it-was-kind-of-simultaneous-i/) [Emer Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emer-kenny/) > [After graduating from University, I began directing in theatre too, and I've been directing, writing and acting ever since, which has allowed me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pollyanna-mcintosh/after-graduating-from-university-i-began-directing-in-theatre-too-and/) [Pollyanna McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pollyanna-mcintosh/) ## More by Jonah Hill > [It wasn't like, 'I'ma lose weight and start doing dramas.' I wanted to be healthier, and that was the impetus for wanting to lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/it-wasn-t-like-i-ma-lose-weight-and-start-doing-dramas-i-wanted-to-be/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [Is it weird that I think of myself as a 'Gary Oldman in True Romance' type?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/is-it-weird-that-i-think-of-myself-as-a-gary-oldman-in-true-romance/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [It's always better to shock people and change people's expectations than to give them exactly what they think you can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/it-s-always-better-to-shock-people-and-change-people-s-expectations/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I mostly like documentaries, so I always think things that happened in real life are so astounding that why would you make a movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-mostly-like-documentaries-so-i-always-think-things-that-happened-in/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [You guys called the cops to get your frisbee out of the pond? Is this really a police matter?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/you-guys-called-the-cops-to-get-your-frisbee-out-of-the-pond-is-this/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [It's almost like, when someone plays poker for the first time, they might be a professional poker player out of ignorance, just accidentally winning.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/it-s-almost-like-when-someone-plays-poker-for-the-first-time-they/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I think what he means is that he will punch you so many times around the genital region that your dick will fall off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-think-what-he-means-is-that-he-will-punch-you-so-many-times-around-2/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [Every time you're directing a movie you're kind of building a temporary business. You're hiring all these heads of departments, and it definitely feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/every-time-you-re-directing-a-movie-you-re-kind-of-building-a/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I always wanted to be a film-maker when I was younger, not an actor. I was an eight-year-old who dreamed of being a writer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-film-maker-when-i-was-younger-not-an-actor-i/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I want to meet the man who saw a turtle and said, "People will LOVE the ninja version of that."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-want-to-meet-the-man-who-saw-a-turtle-and-said-people-will-love-the/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [It's harder to be funny if you're handsome than if you're very normal-looking. It's just more relatable. You're the underdog. I mean it's funny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/it-s-harder-to-be-funny-if-you-re-handsome-than-if-you-re-very-normal/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [You DO have the right to be an attorney, if you want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/you-do-have-the-right-to-be-an-attorney-if-you-want-to/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I think a lot of actors, sometimes what happens I think is that actors finish a movie and they go, 'Oh my god, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-think-a-lot-of-actors-sometimes-what-happens-i-think-is-that-actors/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I mean, being shot in slow motion doing cocaine by Martin Scorsese is, like, maybe every actor's dream. Nothing will compare to it. Except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-mean-being-shot-in-slow-motion-doing-cocaine-by-martin-scorsese-is/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > ['Funny People' is my favorite performance of myself to date. Even though it's a comedy and there are serious moments, I really felt like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/funny-people-is-my-favorite-performance-of-myself-to-date-even-though/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) [Explore all 142 Jonah Hill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started writing and acting in these little plays and then I was discovered by Dustin Hoffman. 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