--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is not a tough job. You read a…" description: "\"This is not a tough job. You read a script. If you like the part and the money is O.K., you do it. Then you remember your lines. You show up on time. Y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/robert-mitchum-19313_cinema_this-is-not-a-tough-job-you-read-a-scrip_2744483.jpg" --- # This is not a tough job. You read a script. If you like… ![“This is not a tough job. You read a script. If you like the part and the money is O.K., you do it. Then you remember your lines. You show up on time. You do what the director tells you to do. When you finish, you rest and then go on to the next part. That's it.” quote by Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/robert-mitchum-19313_cinema_this-is-not-a-tough-job-you-read-a-scrip_2744483.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/robert-mitchum-19313_cinema_this-is-not-a-tough-job-you-read-a-scrip_2744483.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/robert-mitchum-19313_cinema_this-is-not-a-tough-job-you-read-a-scrip_2744483.jpg) > “This is not a tough job. You read a script. If you like the part and the money is O.K., you do it. Then you remember your lines. You show up on time. You do what the director tells you to do. When you finish, you rest and then go on to the next part. That's it.” [Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting is a practical job: follow the script, get paid, show up, do what you're told, then move on. **In simple terms:** Acting is straightforward work. Key Takeaway Treat each role methodically. Themes work discipline routine Mood pragmatic matter‑of‑fact Type instructional realistic When to use this quote - film set - theatre - commercial shoots - TV series - voiceover work Key Concepts professionalism craft efficiency Questions to Reflect On - Do you find satisfaction in routine tasks? - How does this view affect artistic growth? A Different Perspective May overlook creative depth and personal fulfillment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Director Tells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director-tells-1012574/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-on/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Money Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money-remember-1024205/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Read Script](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-script/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Script](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/script/) [Scripts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripts/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough/) [Tough job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough-job/) ## Related quotes > [ Richard Jenkins read the script \[The Hollars\] and really liked it, but he said, 'If you can get Margo Martindale, I'll do it. Otherwise,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/richard-jenkins-read-the-script-the-hollars-and-really-liked-it-but/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [Honestly, the two main things that I always look for is, when I read the script for the first time, do I read it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-hanks/honestly-the-two-main-things-that-i-always-look-for-is-when-i-read/) [Colin Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-hanks/) > [I always want to read the script before I totally commit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-always-want-to-read-the-script-before-i-totally-commit/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [If a good visionary wants to jump on board with that and I see their vision correctly and I like it and I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-carano/if-a-good-visionary-wants-to-jump-on-board-with-that-and-i-see-their/) [Gina Carano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-carano/) > [I usually read a script from an audience perspective first, and then look more closely at the character only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-meaney/i-usually-read-a-script-from-an-audience-perspective-first-and-then/) [Colm Meaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-meaney/) > [ Whether I'm interested \[in something\] or not, step one is read the script and figure out if a character is someone I'd want to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-skarsgard/whether-i-m-interested-in-something-or-not-step-one-is-read-the/) [Alexander Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-skarsgard/) > [Sometimes I will read the whole script just to see what my character is doing, but I won't touch a script that I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-dennis/sometimes-i-will-read-the-whole-script-just-to-see-what-my-character/) [Gabrielle Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-dennis/) > [Rip Torn had, like, lessons in everything he said, and one of them was, "I know that an actor can undermine anything a director…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/rip-torn-had-like-lessons-in-everything-he-said-and-one-of-them-was-i/) [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) > [Everyone can do a character the way they want to do it, unless the director tells them not to, which isn't very common. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barret-oliver/everyone-can-do-a-character-the-way-they-want-to-do-it-unless-the/) [Barret Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barret-oliver/) > [The director is the one who tells the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harshvardhan-kapoor/the-director-is-the-one-who-tells-the-story/) [Harshvardhan Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harshvardhan-kapoor/) > [It all depends on the directors. Working closely with a director is the main job of a film composer. Interpreting what he perceives as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-elfman/it-all-depends-on-the-directors-working-closely-with-a-director-is/) [Danny Elfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-elfman/) > [I think I've learned a lot working with actors as experienced as Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. They taught me that whatever happens during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dakota-blue-richards/i-think-i-ve-learned-a-lot-working-with-actors-as-experienced-as/) [Dakota Blue Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dakota-blue-richards/) > [My mantra when it comes to money is always remember that money doesn't make you. You make the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuel-aa/my-mantra-when-it-comes-to-money-is-always-remember-that-money-doesn/) [Anuel AA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuel-aa/) > [There are two things that are important in politics. The first is money and I can’t remember what the second one is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hanna/there-are-two-things-that-are-important-in-politics-the-first-is/) [Mark Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hanna/) > [It's money. I remember it from when I was single](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/it-s-money-i-remember-it-from-when-i-was-single/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) ## More by Robert Mitchum > [Every two or three years I knock off for a while. That way I'm constantly the new girl in the whorehouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/every-two-or-three-years-i-knock-off-for-a-while-that-way-i-m/) [Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) > [Every two or three years, I knock off for a while. That way I'm always the new girl in the whorehouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/every-two-or-three-years-i-knock-off-for-a-while-that-way-i-m-always/) [Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) > [“The way I figure it when a man's in love with a girl, He's got a right to ask her to marry him. Any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/the-way-i-figure-it-when-a-man-s-in-love-with-a-girl-he-s-got-a-right/) [Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) > [Listen. I got three expressions: looking left, looking right and looking straight ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/listen-i-got-three-expressions-looking-left-looking-right-and-looking/) [Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) > [I've still got the same attitude I had when I started. I haven't changed anything but my underwear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/i-ve-still-got-the-same-attitude-i-had-when-i-started-i-haven-t/) [Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) > [The only difference between me and my fellow actors is that I've spent more time in jail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/the-only-difference-between-me-and-my-fellow-actors-is-that-i-ve/) [Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) > [I think when producers have a part that's hard to cast, they say, 'Send for Mitchum; he'll do anything.' I don't care what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/i-think-when-producers-have-a-part-that-s-hard-to-cast-they-say-send/) [Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) > [Stars today are just masturbation images.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/stars-today-are-just-masturbation-images/) [Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) > [How do I keep fit? I lay down a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/how-do-i-keep-fit-i-lay-down-a-lot/) [Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) > [Maybe love is like luck. You have to go all the way to find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/maybe-love-is-like-luck-you-have-to-go-all-the-way-to-find-it/) [Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) > [Only difference between me and other actors is Ive spent more time in jail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/only-difference-between-me-and-other-actors-is-ive-spent-more-time-in/) [Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) > [I started out to be a sex fiend, but I couldn't pass the physical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/i-started-out-to-be-a-sex-fiend-but-i-couldn-t-pass-the-physical/) [Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) > [After the war, suddenly there was this thing for ugly heroes, so I started going around in profile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/after-the-war-suddenly-there-was-this-thing-for-ugly-heroes-so-i/) [Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) > [There are all kinds of rumors about me and theyre all true, every one of them. You can make some up if you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/there-are-all-kinds-of-rumors-about-me-and-theyre-all-true-every-one/) [Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) > [The only effect that I ever noticed from smoking marijuana was a sort of mild sedative, a release of tension when I was overworking.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/the-only-effect-that-i-ever-noticed-from-smoking-marijuana-was-a-sort/) [Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) [Explore all 33 Robert Mitchum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [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/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This is not a tough job. You read a script. If you like the part and the money is O.K., you do it. Then you remember your lines. You show up on time. You do what the director tells you to do. When you finish, you rest and then go on to the next part. That's it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Mitchum" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/this-is-not-a-tough-job-you-read-a-script-if-you-like-the-part-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/this-is-not-a-tough-job-you-read-a-script-if-you-like-the-part-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/robert-mitchum-19313_cinema_this-is-not-a-tough-job-you-read-a-scrip_2744483.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/robert-mitchum-19313_cinema_this-is-not-a-tough-job-you-read-a-scrip_2744483.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/robert-mitchum-19313_cinema_this-is-not-a-tough-job-you-read-a-scrip_2744483.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This is not a tough job. You read a script. If you like the part and the money is O.K., you do it. Then you…” — Robert Mitchum", "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": "Robert Mitchum", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "This is not a tough job....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/this-is-not-a-tough-job-you-read-a-script-if-you-like-the-part-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/this-is-not-a-tough-job-you-read-a-script-if-you-like-the-part-and/#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 } } ] } ```