--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a kid, my dad would take me to see…" description: "\"As a kid, my dad would take me to see indie films when I would visit him in New York. Films that I just wouldn't see growing up in the Bay Area.\" — Mah..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/mahershala-ali-6687_bay-area_as-a-kid-my-dad-would-take-me-to-see-ind_1705359.jpg" --- # As a kid, my dad would take me to see indie films when I… ![“As a kid, my dad would take me to see indie films when I would visit him in New York. Films that I just wouldn't see growing up in the Bay Area.” quote by Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/mahershala-ali-6687_bay-area_as-a-kid-my-dad-would-take-me-to-see-ind_1705359.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/mahershala-ali-6687_bay-area_as-a-kid-my-dad-would-take-me-to-see-ind_1705359.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/mahershala-ali-6687_bay-area_as-a-kid-my-dad-would-take-me-to-see-ind_1705359.jpg) > “As a kid, my dad would take me to see indie films when I would visit him in New York. Films that I just wouldn't see growing up in the Bay Area.” [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker recalls unique cultural exposure through indie films in New York, contrasting it with his hometown's limited offerings. **In simple terms:** Seeing diverse movies broadened his perspective. Key Takeaway Seek varied cultural experiences. Themes culture family film growth Mood nostalgic reflective Type personal anecdote cultural commentary When to use this quote - family trips - film festivals - educational outings - expanding horizons Key Concepts cultural exposure personal development Questions to Reflect On - How did those films shape your worldview? - What other experiences could you seek? A Different Perspective Limited access to such films may still restrict exposure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bay area](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bay-area/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Dad Indie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad-indie-1191718/) [Films Visit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/films-visit-1191717/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Indie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indie/) [Indie films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indie-films/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) ## Related quotes > [I was never really a child actor. I was working sporadically in indie films in Pennsylvania, but I was still living at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-mcdermott/i-was-never-really-a-child-actor-i-was-working-sporadically-in-indie/) [Charlie McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-mcdermott/) > [I would love to dive into an indie film based on the streets of East Los Angeles where I grew up. If that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-trevino/i-would-love-to-dive-into-an-indie-film-based-on-the-streets-of-east/) [Michael Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-trevino/) > [I do indie films for the sense of fulfillment and to achieve my goals as an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-martin/i-do-indie-films-for-the-sense-of-fulfillment-and-to-achieve-my-goals/) [Coco Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-martin/) > [I'd like to do interesting indie films mixed with big, high-paying commercial blockbusters. 'One for you, one for me,' is what they say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-wakefield/i-d-like-to-do-interesting-indie-films-mixed-with-big-high-paying/) [Rhys Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-wakefield/) > [The gritty indie films are a lot rarer than the films that aspire to fill multiplexes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tennant/the-gritty-indie-films-are-a-lot-rarer-than-the-films-that-aspire-to/) [David Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tennant/) > [I don't understand indie films. So, I won't do such films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taapsee-pannu/i-don-t-understand-indie-films-so-i-won-t-do-such-films/) [Taapsee Pannu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taapsee-pannu/) > [I really feel like indie films are where I learn to be a better actor, especially because they always give you a bit more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-bautista/i-really-feel-like-indie-films-are-where-i-learn-to-be-a-better-actor/) [Dave Bautista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-bautista/) > [I think indie films have more of a fresh, experimental vibe about them, whereas studio films know what they want and can basically get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/i-think-indie-films-have-more-of-a-fresh-experimental-vibe-about-them/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [Somehow, even though you have less time and less money, the thing about making indie films is somehow you have another kind of resource:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karyn-kusama/somehow-even-though-you-have-less-time-and-less-money-the-thing-about/) [Karyn Kusama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karyn-kusama/) > [I love going to theatres and seeing honest little indie films I know nothing about... being surprised by a beautiful film I had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mennell/i-love-going-to-theatres-and-seeing-honest-little-indie-films-i-know/) [Laura Mennell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mennell/) > [I think people are willing to take more of a risk on an indie film, about character, etc...but at the same time, when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/i-think-people-are-willing-to-take-more-of-a-risk-on-an-indie-film/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [I'm a very independent girl. I have a backpack and I think I've always loved indie films. There's something real special and sweet about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-villasenor/i-m-a-very-independent-girl-i-have-a-backpack-and-i-think-i-ve-always/) [Melissa Villasenor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-villasenor/) > [When I lived in New York, there wasn't as much TV or film around. I got asked to do a couple of indie films,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-iha/when-i-lived-in-new-york-there-wasn-t-as-much-tv-or-film-around-i-got/) [James Iha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-iha/) > [I wouldn't be where I am right now, and have the right work ethic and discipline, if it weren't for all the indie films…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-martin/i-wouldn-t-be-where-i-am-right-now-and-have-the-right-work-ethic-and/) [Coco Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-martin/) > [I started with commercials - for shampoo, pancakes, insurance, Volvo. I did a Lux soap commercial with Sarah Jessica Parker. And I got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-szostak/i-started-with-commercials-for-shampoo-pancakes-insurance-volvo-i-did/) [Stephanie Szostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-szostak/) ## More by Mahershala Ali > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [I grew up in church. My mom's a minister, and my grandmother was an ordained minister. I was always very mindful of the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-grew-up-in-church-my-mom-s-a-minister-and-my-grandmother-was-an/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [Like so many families, we were dealing with limited means. We weren't poor at all, but we had some challenging times financially. When my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/like-so-many-families-we-were-dealing-with-limited-means-we-weren-t/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [I think how strict my mother's home could be with my mom and my stepfather, there was a fluidity and freedom in my dad's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-think-how-strict-my-mother-s-home-could-be-with-my-mom-and-my/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [My mother is an ordained minister. I'm a Muslim. She didn't do backflips when I called her to tell her I converted 17 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/my-mother-is-an-ordained-minister-i-m-a-muslim-she-didn-t-do/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [My experiences growing up - my father lived in New York, so I was going out there in the summers and meeting really interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/my-experiences-growing-up-my-father-lived-in-new-york-so-i-was-going/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [I'm not shy about trying to find what truth there is in any genre, whether that be an action piece, a sci-fi piece, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-m-not-shy-about-trying-to-find-what-truth-there-is-in-any-genre/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [You are an American, so you're hurt that other American citizens have been hurt, but you end up having to shoulder the shame for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/you-are-an-american-so-you-re-hurt-that-other-american-citizens-have/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [My parents were in high school when I was born. My mom was 16, my dad was 17. They were kids, at the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/my-parents-were-in-high-school-when-i-was-born-my-mom-was-16-my-dad/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [Because on that watch list, they would be like, yeah, your name - they told me like, yeah, your name matches the name of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/because-on-that-watch-list-they-would-be-like-yeah-your-name-they/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [I started traveling by myself as early as 5 to see my dad. I'd go to Toronto or Los Angeles, depending on what show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-started-traveling-by-myself-as-early-as-5-to-see-my-dad-i-d-go-to/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [One thing that the audience, and perhaps critics, aren't aware of is that, especially in a film like 'Moonlight,' you always shoot a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/one-thing-that-the-audience-and-perhaps-critics-aren-t-aware-of-is/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [I think in some ways, I would go back home, and I didn't really quite fit in and couldn't - didn't have a person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-think-in-some-ways-i-would-go-back-home-and-i-didn-t-really-quite/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [I remember clearly, when I was about 4, my Aunt Linda said, 'I'm not babysitting him no more. He's bad.' It was one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-remember-clearly-when-i-was-about-4-my-aunt-linda-said-i-m-not/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [Theater will cast in a more open way; Denzel Washington might play Richard III. Television and film don't really cast openly like that. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/theater-will-cast-in-a-more-open-way-denzel-washington-might-play/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) [Explore all 98 Mahershala Ali quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) ## More Bay area quotes > [Most of the time, I get around perfectly well on my bike and public transportation, even in spite of the Bay Area's almost comically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/most-of-the-time-i-get-around-perfectly-well-on-my-bike-and-public/) [Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/) > [“For several months they'd been drifting toward political involvement, but the picture was hazy and one of the most confusing elements was their geographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/for-several-months-they-d-been-drifting-toward-political-involvement/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [I like beating the Bay Area traffic by getting into the office early, plus I get at least an hour most mornings to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baiju-bhatt/i-like-beating-the-bay-area-traffic-by-getting-into-the-office-early/) [Baiju Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baiju-bhatt/) > [The Bay Area is so beautiful, I hesitate to preach about heaven while I'm here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/the-bay-area-is-so-beautiful-i-hesitate-to-preach-about-heaven-while/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [The teams in the Bay Area have created a culture of winning, but the Cubs and Metsneed to learn how to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-byrnes/the-teams-in-the-bay-area-have-created-a-culture-of-winning-but-the/) [Eric Byrnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-byrnes/) > [I have been interested in the dialogue of abstraction and modernist painting - and the rich history of the grid. I also think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-beal/i-have-been-interested-in-the-dialogue-of-abstraction-and-modernist/) [Stephen Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-beal/) > [I'm going to go back to the Bay Area, this is my thing, and I'm just going to open my own school of baseball.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-bonds/i-m-going-to-go-back-to-the-bay-area-this-is-my-thing-and-i-m-just/) [Barry Bonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-bonds/) > [I love the Bay Area and I'm excited to play there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-bosa/i-love-the-bay-area-and-i-m-excited-to-play-there/) [Nick Bosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-bosa/) > [From the small town in Iowa where I grew up, to Chapel Hill where I went to college, to the Bay Area and now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/from-the-small-town-in-iowa-where-i-grew-up-to-chapel-hill-where-i/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [Caen's San Francisco may not be the city we remember, but it is the city we want to remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-brown/caen-s-san-francisco-may-not-be-the-city-we-remember-but-it-is-the/) [Willie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-brown/) > [I was at Stanford University up in the West Coast Bay Area, so the biggest song of my freshman year was 'I Got 5…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/i-was-at-stanford-university-up-in-the-west-coast-bay-area-so-the/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [“McDonald's, meanwhile, continues busily to harass small shopkeepers and restaurateurs of Scottish descent for that nationality's uncompetitive predisposition toward the Mc prefix on its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/mcdonald-s-meanwhile-continues-busily-to-harass-small-shopkeepers-and/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [San Francisco has only one drawback—‘tis hard to leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/san-francisco-has-only-one-drawback-tis-hard-to-leave/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Sometimes you hear about people who can't wait to leave their hometown. I did not have that feeling at all. I love San Jose,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjelah-johnson/sometimes-you-hear-about-people-who-can-t-wait-to-leave-their/) [Anjelah Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjelah-johnson/) > [For 30 years I wrote for newspapers and magazines, wrote books on the Dallas Cowboys' dynasties of the '70s and '90s, wrote about Michael…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skip-bayless/for-30-years-i-wrote-for-newspapers-and-magazines-wrote-books-on-the/) [Skip Bayless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skip-bayless/) [Browse all 167 Bay area quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bay-area/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a kid, my dad would take me to see indie films when I would visit him in New York. 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