--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the young production assistants…" description: "\"One of the young production assistants (on 'Terminator: Salvation') stepped over to my chair and said, 'Mr. Ironside, are you any relation to the Irons..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/michael-ironside-29536_assistants_one-of-the-young-production-assistants-o_3034836.jpg" --- # One of the young production assistants (on 'Terminator… ![“One of the young production assistants (on 'Terminator: Salvation') stepped over to my chair and said, 'Mr. Ironside, are you any relation to the Ironside who was in 'Top Gun'?' And I said, 'I am, yes.' And she grinned and said, 'I knew it! Talent must run in your family!' And she walked away. And…” quote by Michael Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/michael-ironside-29536_assistants_one-of-the-young-production-assistants-o_3034836.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/michael-ironside-29536_assistants_one-of-the-young-production-assistants-o_3034836.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/michael-ironside-29536_assistants_one-of-the-young-production-assistants-o_3034836.jpg) > “One of the young production assistants (on 'Terminator: Salvation') stepped over to my chair and said, 'Mr. Ironside, are you any relation to the Ironside who was in 'Top Gun'?' And I said, 'I am, yes.' And she grinned and said, 'I knew it! Talent must run in your family!' And she walked away. And all of the producers and directors kind of looked at me uncertainly, and I said, 'What are you guys so uncomfortable for? That's an incredible compliment. I do look like the father of that guy, for Christ's sake!'” [Michael Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A producer made a joke about family resemblance, leading to awkwardness that he turned into a compliment. **In simple terms:** He turned an awkward comment into a positive affirmation. Key Takeaway Own humor in uncomfortable moments. Themes humor identity professional interaction misunderstanding Mood lighthearted defensive Type professional social When to use this quote - film set - producer meetings - career networking - publicity Key Concepts family resemblance industry networking Questions to Reflect On - When did you turn an awkward comment into a compliment? - Do jokes about appearance affect professionalism? A Different Perspective Jokes can reinforce stereotypes; not everyone sees it as flattery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assistants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assistants/) [Assistants Terminator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assistants-terminator-4975281/) [Chairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chairs/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Compliment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliment/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Directors Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors-kind-2715024/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Incredible Compliment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incredible-compliment-4975283/) [Incredibles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incredibles/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mr Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mr-ironside-4975282/) [Our family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-family/) [Producers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/producers/) [Productions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productions/) [Relation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relation/) [Relation Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relation-ironside-4975284/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Sake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sake/) [Salvation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salvation/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [That guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/that-guy/) [Top Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/top-gun/) [Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [I've worked with a lot of first-time directors who kind of look to me for ideas and opinions and stuff, and I'm a team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/i-ve-worked-with-a-lot-of-first-time-directors-who-kind-of-look-to-me/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [There are two kinds of directors: There's the kind where two plus two equals four, and you have to help them figure it out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pitt/there-are-two-kinds-of-directors-there-s-the-kind-where-two-plus-two/) [Michael Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pitt/) > [What you find with really good directors is that they kind of leave you alone. They've hired you because they know the kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/what-you-find-with-really-good-directors-is-that-they-kind-of-leave/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [With directors, some have a kind of in-built ability to just know how to work with actors and get the best out of actors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-considine/with-directors-some-have-a-kind-of-in-built-ability-to-just-know-how/) [Paddy Considine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-considine/) > [I had to sing for the 'Top Gun' audition!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-barbaro/i-had-to-sing-for-the-top-gun-audition/) [Monica Barbaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-barbaro/) > [You know, 'Top Gun' was the movie I saw in high school that made me want to be a filmmaker. I remember very specifically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-derrickson/you-know-top-gun-was-the-movie-i-saw-in-high-school-that-made-me-want/) [Scott Derrickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-derrickson/) > [Somebody asked me what do you regret. I said, well I was offered the role of Maverick in 'Top Gun' and I turned it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-baio/somebody-asked-me-what-do-you-regret-i-said-well-i-was-offered-the/) [Scott Baio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-baio/) > [I was really into 'Cocktail' when I was younger - probably the most - followed by 'Top Gun.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobie-smulders/i-was-really-into-cocktail-when-i-was-younger-probably-the-most/) [Cobie Smulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobie-smulders/) > [I loved 'Top Gun.' I watched it all growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/i-loved-top-gun-i-watched-it-all-growing-up/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [I wanted to look like Kelly McGillis in 'Top Gun.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-ball/i-wanted-to-look-like-kelly-mcgillis-in-top-gun/) [Zoe Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-ball/) > [There is no 'Top Gun 2' in which Maverick is not the starring role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mcquarrie/there-is-no-top-gun-2-in-which-maverick-is-not-the-starring-role/) [Christopher McQuarrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mcquarrie/) > [I like stuff like 'Top Gun.' I like horror films. I love them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lewis/i-like-stuff-like-top-gun-i-like-horror-films-i-love-them/) [Adrian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lewis/) > [My boyfriend and I just got a projector, so we've been screening movies on the roof and projecting them against the wall next door.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/my-boyfriend-and-i-just-got-a-projector-so-we-ve-been-screening/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > [I didn't really want to be an actor when I was growing up - I wanted to be whatever I was reading about or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-sudeikis/i-didn-t-really-want-to-be-an-actor-when-i-was-growing-up-i-wanted-to/) [Jason Sudeikis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-sudeikis/) > [As a kid, the first thing you got was your military men. You set yourself up in the sandbox and go to war. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-foxx/as-a-kid-the-first-thing-you-got-was-your-military-men-you-set/) [Jamie Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-foxx/) ## More by Michael Ironside > [I ended up an actor, did my first professional union gig in 1974, and I've been doing it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/i-ended-up-an-actor-did-my-first-professional-union-gig-in-1974-and-i/) [Michael Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/) > [I'm never going to be the lead actor guy. I'm real quiet and real happy and real fortunate to keep working. It's what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/i-m-never-going-to-be-the-lead-actor-guy-i-m-real-quiet-and-real/) [Michael Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/) > [People who get involved with the success of something have to be given at least some share of that success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/people-who-get-involved-with-the-success-of-something-have-to-be/) [Michael Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/) > [I'm a director's actor; I'm a storyteller's actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/i-m-a-director-s-actor-i-m-a-storyteller-s-actor/) [Michael Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/) > [People are either enamored with me or wonder if they can take me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/people-are-either-enamored-with-me-or-wonder-if-they-can-take-me/) [Michael Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/) > [When I was in art college, I would be painting, and I would create something on a canvas that was actually quite attractive. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/when-i-was-in-art-college-i-would-be-painting-and-i-would-create/) [Michael Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/) > [My M.O. over the years is that I make things better, where people give me that freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/my-m-o-over-the-years-is-that-i-make-things-better-where-people-give/) [Michael Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/) > [I mean, I've been in a hundred and fifty films; I don't want to just sit around and talk about things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/i-mean-i-ve-been-in-a-hundred-and-fifty-films-i-don-t-want-to-just/) [Michael Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/) > [I'm totally anonymous until I open my bloody mouth and people recognize the voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/i-m-totally-anonymous-until-i-open-my-bloody-mouth-and-people/) [Michael Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/) > [I basically was a precocious little kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/i-basically-was-a-precocious-little-kid/) [Michael Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/) > [I took acting lessons when I was 19, 20, and I had my writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/i-took-acting-lessons-when-i-was-19-20-and-i-had-my-writing/) [Michael Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/) > [Figuring things out for yourself is practically the only freedom anyone really has nowadays. Use that freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/figuring-things-out-for-yourself-is-practically-the-only-freedom/) [Michael Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/) > [If anything, I want to bring television back up to where it will entertain and engage a gamer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/if-anything-i-want-to-bring-television-back-up-to-where-it-will/) [Michael Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/) > [Figuring things out for yourself is the only freedom anyone really has. Use that freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/figuring-things-out-for-yourself-is-the-only-freedom-anyone-really/) [Michael Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/) > [I like to play bad guys, since good guys are always beaten up several times during the movie. Bad guys are beaten only once,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/i-like-to-play-bad-guys-since-good-guys-are-always-beaten-up-several/) [Michael Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/) [Explore all 18 Michael Ironside quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/) ## More Assistants quotes > [I'm a good assistant. That's why I don't have an assistant, because I'm so on it that no one can be as on it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-dunst/i-m-a-good-assistant-that-s-why-i-don-t-have-an-assistant-because-i-m/) [Kirsten Dunst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-dunst/) > [Since, however, it is immaterial whether the work is done by assistants or a machine, I decided to build a machine equivalent to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/since-however-it-is-immaterial-whether-the-work-is-done-by-assistants/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My dad's a prominent theatre director in Toronto, so I grew up in that world, directing and producing theater since I was a teenager.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gass-donnelly/my-dad-s-a-prominent-theatre-director-in-toronto-so-i-grew-up-in-that/) [Ed Gass-Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gass-donnelly/) > [To this day, I've never had an assistant. I really insist on doing everything myself because I value the role of the artist's hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-robleto/to-this-day-i-ve-never-had-an-assistant-i-really-insist-on-doing/) [Dario Robleto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-robleto/) > [ Well, that would be a title \[the busiest guy in Hollywood\] still reserved for Ryan Seacrest. I have one assistant; he has about nine.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/well-that-would-be-a-title-the-busiest-guy-in-hollywood-still/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [Everyone believed the Senate could not really be led. It used to take so long to rise up through seniority. In two years Lyndon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/everyone-believed-the-senate-could-not-really-be-led-it-used-to-take/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [I know that you observe Christmas Day as you learned it at home. I do not observe it. However, as assistant director of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odilo-globocnik/i-know-that-you-observe-christmas-day-as-you-learned-it-at-home-i-do/) [Odilo Globocnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odilo-globocnik/) > [Hollywood is a whole other level of crazy. I've never met so many assistants who have assistants. It's a stratified society on its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/hollywood-is-a-whole-other-level-of-crazy-i-ve-never-met-so-many/) [Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/) > [Photoshop is useful in many ways but must NEVER be used for the altering of photographs. 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I used quite of number of Kurosawa's crew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boorman/i-was-in-japan-and-my-assistant-director-had-worked-with-kurosawa-i/) [John Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boorman/) > [It's one of the most beautiful memories of my life. Not everyone has a chance to meet Greta Garbo! I was so in awe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanna-cau/it-s-one-of-the-most-beautiful-memories-of-my-life-not-everyone-has-a/) [Giovanna Cau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanna-cau/) > [Think like a head coach, but act like an assistant coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-amaker/think-like-a-head-coach-but-act-like-an-assistant-coach/) [Tommy Amaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-amaker/) > [I must have assistants who will solve their own problems and tell me later what they've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-marshall/i-must-have-assistants-who-will-solve-their-own-problems-and-tell-me/) [George C. Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-marshall/) [Browse all 322 Assistants quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assistants/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of the young production assistants (on 'Terminator: Salvation') stepped over to my chair and said, 'Mr. Ironside, are you any relation to the Ironside who was in 'Top Gun'?' And I said, 'I am, yes.' And she grinned and said, 'I knew it! Talent must run in your family!' And she walked away. And all of the producers and directors kind of looked at me uncertainly, and I said, 'What are you guys so uncomfortable for? That's an incredible compliment. I do look like the father of that guy, for Christ's sake!'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Ironside" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/one-of-the-young-production-assistants-on-terminator-salvation/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assistants" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/one-of-the-young-production-assistants-on-terminator-salvation/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/michael-ironside-29536_assistants_one-of-the-young-production-assistants-o_3034836.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/michael-ironside-29536_assistants_one-of-the-young-production-assistants-o_3034836.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/michael-ironside-29536_assistants_one-of-the-young-production-assistants-o_3034836.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One of the young production assistants (on 'Terminator: Salvation') stepped over to my chair and said, 'Mr…” — Michael Ironside", "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 Ironside", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One of the young production assistants...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/one-of-the-young-production-assistants-on-terminator-salvation/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/one-of-the-young-production-assistants-on-terminator-salvation/#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 } } ] } ```