--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Working at Pixar has been like my…" description: "\"Working at Pixar has been like my graduate school for screenwriting.\" — Michael Arndt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/michael-arndt-21037_graduate-school_working-at-pixar-has-been-like-my-gradua_3059703.png" --- # Working at Pixar has been like my graduate school for… ![“Working at Pixar has been like my graduate school for screenwriting.” quote by Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/michael-arndt-21037_graduate-school_working-at-pixar-has-been-like-my-gradua_3059703.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/michael-arndt-21037_graduate-school_working-at-pixar-has-been-like-my-gradua_3059703.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/michael-arndt-21037_graduate-school_working-at-pixar-has-been-like-my-gradua_3059703.png) > “Working at Pixar has been like my graduate school for screenwriting.” [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Working at Pixar provides practical, on‑the‑job education equivalent to formal graduate screenwriting studies. **In simple terms:** Pixar is like a screenwriting graduate school. Key Takeaway Treat work as continuous learning. Themes career learning screenwriting experience industry Mood motivational pragmatic Type professional inspirational When to use this quote - career development - writing workshops - industry internships Key Concepts Apprenticeship model learning by doing creative mentorship Questions to Reflect On - How can you structure self‑feedback at work? - What formal skills complement on‑the‑job learning? A Different Perspective Learning on the job may lack structured feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Graduate school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduate-school/) [Graduates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduates/) [Like Graduate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-graduate-906130/) [Pixar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pixar/) [Pixar Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pixar-like-5127031/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School Screenwriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-screenwriting-5076030/) [Screenwriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenwriting/) [Working Pixar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-pixar-657655/) ## Related quotes > [I'm from the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" school of screenwriting. I just like to preserve what works and ignore what doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dominik/i-m-from-the-if-it-ain-t-broke-don-t-fix-it-school-of-screenwriting-i/) [Andrew Dominik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dominik/) > [Working at Pixar you learn the really honest, hard way of making a great movie, which is to surround yourself with people who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-stanton/working-at-pixar-you-learn-the-really-honest-hard-way-of-making-a/) [Andrew Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-stanton/) > [The thing about working at Pixar is that everyone around you is smarter and funnier and cleverer than you and they all think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-stanton/the-thing-about-working-at-pixar-is-that-everyone-around-you-is/) [Andrew Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-stanton/) > [“I’m considered something like a graduate student and we get credits for mentoring incoming students. I definitely got lucky with my first assignment”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-day/i-m-considered-something-like-a-graduate-student-and-we-get-credits/) [Kristen Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-day/) > [I like 'The Graduate.' That's one of my favorites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-gass/i-like-the-graduate-that-s-one-of-my-favorites/) [Kyle Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-gass/) > [Everybody involved in Pixar, I've not met one person who's not incredibly creative and nice and lovely and know what they're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/everybody-involved-in-pixar-i-ve-not-met-one-person-who-s-not/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [All Pixar movies are heartbreaking, aren't they?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/all-pixar-movies-are-heartbreaking-aren-t-they/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [At Pixar, I don't have to compromise at all. When I look at the finished "Toy Story 3," I don't sit and constantly think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-unkrich/at-pixar-i-don-t-have-to-compromise-at-all-when-i-look-at-the/) [Lee Unkrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-unkrich/) > [Why would I ever want to run Disney? Wouldn't it make more sense just to sell them Pixar and retire?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/why-would-i-ever-want-to-run-disney-wouldn-t-it-make-more-sense-just/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [There's always room out there for the hand-drawn image. I personally like the imperfection of hand drawing as opposed to the slick look of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/there-s-always-room-out-there-for-the-hand-drawn-image-i-personally/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [I'm really proud of 'Cars.' 'Cars,' when it first came out, got probably the most mediocre reviews of a Pixar film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/i-m-really-proud-of-cars-cars-when-it-first-came-out-got-probably-the/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Well, we try to - we definitely try to have a balance. And I think things have gotten a lot better at Pixar. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-docter/well-we-try-to-we-definitely-try-to-have-a-balance-and-i-think-things/) [Pete Docter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-docter/) > [A lot of the album 'The Definition' was made from two things: Pixar movies and J. Dilla.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bellion/a-lot-of-the-album-the-definition-was-made-from-two-things-pixar/) [Jon Bellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bellion/) > [The way Pixar has always worked is that we think of an idea and then we make it. We don't develop lots of ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-stanton/the-way-pixar-has-always-worked-is-that-we-think-of-an-idea-and-then/) [Andrew Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-stanton/) > [Oh yeah, I'm still employed at Pixar and I love it here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-bird/oh-yeah-i-m-still-employed-at-pixar-and-i-love-it-here/) [Brad Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-bird/) ## More by Michael Arndt > [If you only know something one way, then you don't really know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/if-you-only-know-something-one-way-then-you-don-t-really-know-it/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) > [I had read enough mediocre scripts and was determined not to inflict another one on the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/i-had-read-enough-mediocre-scripts-and-was-determined-not-to-inflict/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) > [My thing is that most scripts arent bad scripts, theyre just not finished yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/my-thing-is-that-most-scripts-arent-bad-scripts-theyre-just-not/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) > [I like to begin every screenplay with a burst of delusional self-confidence. It tends to fade pretty quickly, but (for me, at least) there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/i-like-to-begin-every-screenplay-with-a-burst-of-delusional-self/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) > [The best writing really does come from the deepest, most private part of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/the-best-writing-really-does-come-from-the-deepest-most-private-part/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) > [The fluidity of thought is based on the flexibility of beliefs and the emotional boundaries surrounding them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/the-fluidity-of-thought-is-based-on-the-flexibility-of-beliefs-and/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) > [My God, there are so many mediocre screenplays out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/my-god-there-are-so-many-mediocre-screenplays-out-there/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) > [Every problem offers an opportunity for a solution. if you are in the right frame of mind to find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/every-problem-offers-an-opportunity-for-a-solution-if-you-are-in-the/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) > [The number one metaphor I have in my mind for writing a screenplay is that...you're trying to climb a mountain blindfolded. And the funny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/the-number-one-metaphor-i-have-in-my-mind-for-writing-a-screenplay-is/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) > [I can write two scripts concurrently, but I usually prefer to do one at a time. However, I also usually have 5 or 6…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/i-can-write-two-scripts-concurrently-but-i-usually-prefer-to-do-one/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) > [I figured I’d probably write 50 scripts in my life. Out of those 50, I figured maybe five would be produced, and that maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/i-figured-i-d-probably-write-50-scripts-in-my-life-out-of-those-50-i/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) > [We have the freedom to excel or inhibit our potential. You are the grand designer of your thoughts and emotions. At some level or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/we-have-the-freedom-to-excel-or-inhibit-our-potential-you-are-the/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) > [If you write a bunch of different characters with a bunch of different opinions, you end up with these long scenes of everyone standing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/if-you-write-a-bunch-of-different-characters-with-a-bunch-of/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) > [Adversity challenges the masks we hide behind, revealing sides of ourselves we have not yet comfortably with the world outside. It is why we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/adversity-challenges-the-masks-we-hide-behind-revealing-sides-of/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) > [You never want your second act or the whole movie to just be this relentless march towards its goal. You want things to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/you-never-want-your-second-act-or-the-whole-movie-to-just-be-this/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) [Explore all 30 Michael Arndt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) ## More Graduate school quotes > [I went back to graduate school with the clear intention that what I wanted to do with my life was to improve societies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglass-north/i-went-back-to-graduate-school-with-the-clear-intention-that-what-i/) [Douglass North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglass-north/) > [I was a 36C or D, and at 5' 1'', I knew that being a small person with big boobs standing in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-was-a-36c-or-d-and-at-5-1-i-knew-that-being-a-small-person-with-big/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [You don't go to school to become the best chef in the world right after you graduate. School is always a starting point so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-yamaguchi/you-don-t-go-to-school-to-become-the-best-chef-in-the-world-right/) [Roy Yamaguchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-yamaguchi/) > [“What I have said about the newspapers and the movies applies equally to the radio, to television, and even to bookselling. Thus we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norbert-wiener/what-i-have-said-about-the-newspapers-and-the-movies-applies-equally/) [Norbert Wiener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norbert-wiener/) > [I think there's just been this "thing" that's developed, this way that we have of talking about our music that alienates people. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missy-mazzoli/i-think-there-s-just-been-this-thing-that-s-developed-this-way-that/) [Missy Mazzoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/missy-mazzoli/) > [When I finished graduate school, the first George Bush was president, and I really wanted to get out of the country. We'd just gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-king/when-i-finished-graduate-school-the-first-george-bush-was-president/) [Lily King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-king/) > [“Graduate school introduces student to extensive knowledge search.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/graduate-school-introduces-student-to-extensive-knowledge-search/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Through high school, college, graduate school and beyond, I had a number of relationships that were wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/through-high-school-college-graduate-school-and-beyond-i-had-a-number/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I ended up doing four or five plays in college and being an English major with my thesis in language acquisition, which I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-coon/i-ended-up-doing-four-or-five-plays-in-college-and-being-an-english/) [Carrie Coon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-coon/) > [Probably the first time I was a boss was when I was associate dean of the graduate school at the University of Southern California.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/probably-the-first-time-i-was-a-boss-was-when-i-was-associate-dean-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Unfortunately, the Bible won't tell you directly, "Thou shalt take the new job in marketing..." or "Thou shalt go directly from undergraduate school to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/unfortunately-the-bible-won-t-tell-you-directly-thou-shalt-take-the/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [I was always very aware of the nature of the place where I was growing up in Gulfport, Mississippi, how that place was shaping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-trethewey/i-was-always-very-aware-of-the-nature-of-the-place-where-i-was/) [Natasha Trethewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-trethewey/) > [After graduate school, I joined Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island as an assistant professor, but I continued to program in addition to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mason/after-graduate-school-i-joined-johnson-wales-university-in-rhode/) [Hilary Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mason/) > [If my life is any example, the work that youth workers are doing is very, very important. 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Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [I'd studied English literature and American history, but the English literature, which I thought was going to be helpful to me in an immediate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-tillman/i-d-studied-english-literature-and-american-history-but-the-english/) [Lynne Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-tillman/) [Browse all 200 Graduate school quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduate-school/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Working at Pixar has been like my graduate school for screenwriting.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Arndt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/working-at-pixar-has-been-like-my-graduate-school-for-screenwriting/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Graduate school" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/working-at-pixar-has-been-like-my-graduate-school-for-screenwriting/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/michael-arndt-21037_graduate-school_working-at-pixar-has-been-like-my-gradua_3059703.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/michael-arndt-21037_graduate-school_working-at-pixar-has-been-like-my-gradua_3059703.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/michael-arndt-21037_graduate-school_working-at-pixar-has-been-like-my-gradua_3059703.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Working at Pixar has been like my graduate school for screenwriting.” — Michael Arndt", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michael Arndt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Working at Pixar has been like...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/working-at-pixar-has-been-like-my-graduate-school-for-screenwriting/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/working-at-pixar-has-been-like-my-graduate-school-for-screenwriting/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```