--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Watching 'West Side Story' and old MGM…" description: "\"Watching 'West Side Story' and old MGM films in the basement as a boy was a huge part of why I wanted to get into performing in the first place.\" — Mik..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/mike-faist-5915_cinema_watching-west-side-story-and-old-mgm-fil_1167328.jpg" --- # Watching 'West Side Story' and old MGM films in the… ![“Watching 'West Side Story' and old MGM films in the basement as a boy was a huge part of why I wanted to get into performing in the first place.” quote by Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/mike-faist-5915_cinema_watching-west-side-story-and-old-mgm-fil_1167328.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/mike-faist-5915_cinema_watching-west-side-story-and-old-mgm-fil_1167328.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/mike-faist-5915_cinema_watching-west-side-story-and-old-mgm-fil_1167328.jpg) > “Watching 'West Side Story' and old MGM films in the basement as a boy was a huge part of why I wanted to get into performing in the first place.” [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early exposure to classic films sparked a passion for performance, showing how childhood experiences shape career aspirations. **In simple terms:** Watching classic movies inspired a performance career. Key Takeaway Seek inspiration from early passions. Themes inspiration career childhood art Mood nostalgic enthusiastic Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - acting - creative pursuits - education Key Concepts cinema storytelling identity Questions to Reflect On - What early experiences shaped you? - How can you honor them now? A Different Perspective Early influences may not predict future success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) ## Related quotes > [Maybe this is so pretentious, but 'West Side Story' was everything I had ever hoped to accomplish as an actor. It's really crazy, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/maybe-this-is-so-pretentious-but-west-side-story-was-everything-i-had/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > ['West Side Story' I used to watch all the time - I don't know why. Well, I do - it's a great movie. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-rowe/west-side-story-i-used-to-watch-all-the-time-i-don-t-know-why-well-i/) [Charlie Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-rowe/) > [Oh yes, I've been approached to do all sorts of nonsense. How about a remake of 'West Side Story?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-zwigoff/oh-yes-i-ve-been-approached-to-do-all-sorts-of-nonsense-how-about-a/) [Terry Zwigoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-zwigoff/) > [My first big role was when I was 17 and I got the part playing Maria in 'West Side Story' in my school production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-cooke/my-first-big-role-was-when-i-was-17-and-i-got-the-part-playing-maria/) [Olivia Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-cooke/) > [I don't regret 'West Side Story' one bit. It was an incredible movie full of young people with amazing rapport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-chakiris/i-don-t-regret-west-side-story-one-bit-it-was-an-incredible-movie/) [George Chakiris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-chakiris/) > [West Side Story' was a very integral part of my upbringing. It was the first time I had seen my culture represented in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-zegler/west-side-story-was-a-very-integral-part-of-my-upbringing-it-was-the/) [Rachel Zegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-zegler/) > [I don't believe I was jinxed or hexed by winning an Academy Award in my first picture, 'West Side Story.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-chakiris/i-don-t-believe-i-was-jinxed-or-hexed-by-winning-an-academy-award-in/) [George Chakiris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-chakiris/) > [In 1957, 'West Side Story' had introduced the musical to the reckless dark side of teen-age life; 'Bye Bye Birdie,' set in Sweet Apple,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lahr/in-1957-west-side-story-had-introduced-the-musical-to-the-reckless/) [John Lahr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lahr/) > ['West Side Story' was one of the high points of my career. 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It's emotional, theatrical and technical.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/along-with-its-enchanting-and-exquisite-melodies-west-side-story-has/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I danced in a company of 'West Side Story' when I was very young. It was most of the original cast - Larry Kert,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teri-garr/i-danced-in-a-company-of-west-side-story-when-i-was-very-young-it-was/) [Teri Garr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teri-garr/) > [Like the tail fins on fifties American cars or the parabolic shapes of Populuxe furniture, 'West Side Story' incarnates the dream of momentum in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lahr/like-the-tail-fins-on-fifties-american-cars-or-the-parabolic-shapes/) [John Lahr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lahr/) ## More by Mike Faist > [Right before the pandemic, 'Past Lives' came across to me as something to read and possibly put myself on tape for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/right-before-the-pandemic-past-lives-came-across-to-me-as-something/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [It's such a weird thing, because you have a whole crew of people standing over there, on the other side. There's a camera pointing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/it-s-such-a-weird-thing-because-you-have-a-whole-crew-of-people/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [When you're doing eight shows a week, it very much turns into relying on your technique and the job of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/when-you-re-doing-eight-shows-a-week-it-very-much-turns-into-relying/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [People, as they get older, start to learn this lesson, but if you determine your worth or your self-value based on what you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/people-as-they-get-older-start-to-learn-this-lesson-but-if-you/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [I'm learning not to take myself too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/i-m-learning-not-to-take-myself-too-seriously/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [After a few nonunion shows, I got booked as the understudy for the lead of 'Newsies.' 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It's really crazy, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/maybe-this-is-so-pretentious-but-west-side-story-was-everything-i-had/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [Life is weird. People are weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/life-is-weird-people-are-weird/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [Along this crazy journey of life, there are hills and valleys. Everyone experiences them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/along-this-crazy-journey-of-life-there-are-hills-and-valleys-everyone/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [There are some fun things about being an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/there-are-some-fun-things-about-being-an-actor/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [Not everybody gets the ability to pursue work that's joyful all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/not-everybody-gets-the-ability-to-pursue-work-that-s-joyful-all-the/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [There's no better feeling in the world than being a part of something that's bigger than yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/there-s-no-better-feeling-in-the-world-than-being-a-part-of-something/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [Well, you know, I think the way to approach any character is just with a deep sense of empathy for whoever it is, whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/well-you-know-i-think-the-way-to-approach-any-character-is-just-with/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) [Explore all 100 Mike Faist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. 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