--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought I was going to be a serious…" description: "\"I thought I was going to be a serious screenwriter and produce serious films. It was going to be 'American Beauty' and very important work.\" — Phoebe R..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/phoebe-robinson-4844_american_i-thought-i-was-going-to-be-a-serious-sc_2057694.jpg" --- # I thought I was going to be a serious screenwriter and… ![“I thought I was going to be a serious screenwriter and produce serious films. It was going to be 'American Beauty' and very important work.” quote by Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/phoebe-robinson-4844_american_i-thought-i-was-going-to-be-a-serious-sc_2057694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/phoebe-robinson-4844_american_i-thought-i-was-going-to-be-a-serious-sc_2057694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/phoebe-robinson-4844_american_i-thought-i-was-going-to-be-a-serious-sc_2057694.jpg) > “I thought I was going to be a serious screenwriter and produce serious films. It was going to be 'American Beauty' and very important work.” [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She reflects on early ambitions for serious cinema, acknowledging the gap between idealistic goals and industry reality. **In simple terms:** She wanted to make serious films but faced reality. Key Takeaway Align aspirations with realistic pathways. Themes career film ambition Mood motivational realistic Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - film school - screenwriting courses - indie film projects - networking events Key Concepts artistic integrity industry constraints personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to bridge dream and market? - How do you balance artistic vision with commercial demands? A Different Perspective Success may require compromise, not just idealism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-beauty-386064/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Going Screenwriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-screenwriter-3908668/) [Important work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-work/) [Screenwriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenwriter/) [Screenwriter Produce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenwriter-produce-3908669/) [Serious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serious/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [There is no one American beauty or just one beautiful color in the pantheon, especially in regards to black people - there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latanya-richardson/there-is-no-one-american-beauty-or-just-one-beautiful-color-in-the/) [LaTanya Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latanya-richardson/) > [I'd like to make really important movies, like American Beauty. I was really proud to be a part of that movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/i-d-like-to-make-really-important-movies-like-american-beauty-i-was/) [Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/) > [If 'American Beauty' came out today, it wouldn't make nearly as much money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-wright/if-american-beauty-came-out-today-it-wouldn-t-make-nearly-as-much/) [Robin Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-wright/) > [Every time I go back to Paris, I'm so amazed by how little makeup French women wear. The approach to beauty there is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-martin/every-time-i-go-back-to-paris-i-m-so-amazed-by-how-little-makeup/) [Stacy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-martin/) > [There was a courtroom scene where my son is convicted of killing Kevin Spacey's character. I find the bloody T-shirt and realize my husband…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/there-was-a-courtroom-scene-where-my-son-is-convicted-of-killing/) [Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/) > [“ Titanic I thought was the most dreadful piece of work I've ever seen in my entire life. Another film that I think is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/titanic-i-thought-was-the-most-dreadful-piece-of-work-i-ve-ever-seen/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [Annette Bening should've won Oscar for American Beauty. I mean, I know Hilary Swank was there, she was so great too... Annette deserves one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/annette-bening-should-ve-won-oscar-for-american-beauty-i-mean-i-know/) [Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/) > [Among today's directors I'm of course impressed by Steven Spielberg and Scorsese, and Coppola, even if he seems to have ceased making films, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingmar-bergman/among-today-s-directors-i-m-of-course-impressed-by-steven-spielberg/) [Ingmar Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingmar-bergman/) > [It's good to have some kind of California in there. It's almost always appropriate. It's appropriate on a sunny day or late at night.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-finn/it-s-good-to-have-some-kind-of-california-in-there-it-s-almost-always/) [Craig Finn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-finn/) > [For some strange reason we don't go to charming, light movies anymore. People expect a movie to be heavy and turgid, like "American Beauty."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/for-some-strange-reason-we-don-t-go-to-charming-light-movies-anymore/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [A British director directed 'American Beauty,' an important film about American life, and it didn't matter. What only mattered was everyone's sensibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/a-british-director-directed-american-beauty-an-important-film-about/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [I enjoy films like 'American Beauty' and want to do similar films that reflect our culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhay-deol/i-enjoy-films-like-american-beauty-and-want-to-do-similar-films-that/) [Abhay Deol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhay-deol/) > [One of my favourites is 'American Beauty.' Spacey is so good in that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mintz-plasse/one-of-my-favourites-is-american-beauty-spacey-is-so-good-in-that/) [Christopher Mintz-Plasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mintz-plasse/) > [The American Beauty Rose can be produced in the splendor and fragrance which bring cheer to its beholder only by sacrificing the early buds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/the-american-beauty-rose-can-be-produced-in-the-splendor-and/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [I like a film such as 'American Beauty,' and I like 'Spider-Man.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/i-like-a-film-such-as-american-beauty-and-i-like-spider-man/) [Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/) ## More by Phoebe Robinson > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [I think that comfort is underrated in a lot of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/i-think-that-comfort-is-underrated-in-a-lot-of-ways/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [I don't have a stylist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/i-don-t-have-a-stylist/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [There's so many careers that didn't happen because women are like, 'I can't deal with this harassment. I'm going to leave this industry.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/there-s-so-many-careers-that-didn-t-happen-because-women-are-like-i/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [Normally, I'd believe that the saying 'There's no small parts, only small actors' is a load of crock because, more often than not, actors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/normally-i-d-believe-that-the-saying-there-s-no-small-parts-only/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [I'm easily frightened and am somewhat of a squeamish person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/i-m-easily-frightened-and-am-somewhat-of-a-squeamish-person/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [There are just so many brilliant voices out there. I'm not the funniest person out there, I'm not the best interviewer. I'm not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/there-are-just-so-many-brilliant-voices-out-there-i-m-not-the/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [Any joke can be funny, but not any joke is funny. Any joke has the potential to be hilarious to you, but more importantly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/any-joke-can-be-funny-but-not-any-joke-is-funny-any-joke-has-the/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [Like lots of people, I really love Roxane Gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/like-lots-of-people-i-really-love-roxane-gay/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [I'll be the first to admit it: I love fluff. Whether it's watching 'America's Next Top Model' or listening to dance pop like Rihanna's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/i-ll-be-the-first-to-admit-it-i-love-fluff-whether-it-s-watching/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [Sometimes when people start dating a hot piece, they take on some of their boo's characteristics unintentionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/sometimes-when-people-start-dating-a-hot-piece-they-take-on-some-of/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [I have watched every single season of 'American Idol' since the beginning, when Ryan Seacrest co-hosted with Brian Dunkleman. Brian who? Exactly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/i-have-watched-every-single-season-of-american-idol-since-the/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [I'm a very business-minded person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/i-m-a-very-business-minded-person/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [People like to pretend that all women have the same experience or that all gay people have the same experience. But everyone's life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/people-like-to-pretend-that-all-women-have-the-same-experience-or/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [I've experienced harassment. I've had male comedians be very inappropriate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/i-ve-experienced-harassment-i-ve-had-male-comedians-be-very/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) [Explore all 106 Phoebe Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) [Browse all 7,717 American quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought I was going to be a serious screenwriter and produce serious films. 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