--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I'm reading a script, and I'm not…" description: "\"If I'm reading a script, and I'm not buying it, I need to be able to relate to the character on some level, and they need to have more than one dimensi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d1/rory-culkin-38430_able_if-i-m-reading-a-script-and-i-m-not-buyi_831245.jpg" --- # If I'm reading a script, and I'm not buying it, I need to… ![“If I'm reading a script, and I'm not buying it, I need to be able to relate to the character on some level, and they need to have more than one dimension. I need to have an idea of what this guy's thinking about when he's taking a shower not on camera. And if I can't picture him taking a shower…” quote by Rory Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d1/rory-culkin-38430_able_if-i-m-reading-a-script-and-i-m-not-buyi_831245.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d1/rory-culkin-38430_able_if-i-m-reading-a-script-and-i-m-not-buyi_831245.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d1/rory-culkin-38430_able_if-i-m-reading-a-script-and-i-m-not-buyi_831245.jpg) > “If I'm reading a script, and I'm not buying it, I need to be able to relate to the character on some level, and they need to have more than one dimension. I need to have an idea of what this guy's thinking about when he's taking a shower not on camera. And if I can't picture him taking a shower and getting dressed, then he's not a real person.” [Rory Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-culkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors must find believable, multi‑dimensional motivations for characters, even in mundane actions, to make them feel real. **In simple terms:** Characters need relatable, detailed motivations. Key Takeaway Add depth to every character detail. Themes acting character development authenticity Mood thoughtful analytical Type craft creative When to use this quote - rehearsals - character workshops - script analysis Key Concepts method acting psychology storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How do you discover hidden motivations? - What mundane details reveal character? A Different Perspective Time constraints can limit deep character work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/) [Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picture/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Admit it...You walk past a good looking guy thinking, 'Why can't I be his girlfriend?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/admit-it-you-walk-past-a-good-looking-guy-thinking-why-can-t-i-be-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Staring at a hot guy and thinking...We are going to make beautiful babies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/staring-at-a-hot-guy-and-thinking-we-are-going-to-make-beautiful/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Looking at the birds together in the same moment was the conversation. I mean, if you’re with a guy who is thinking that each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-lane/looking-at-the-birds-together-in-the-same-moment-was-the-conversation/) Lindsey Lane > [In Jarasandha,' I can relate to my character pretty well, considering it is about a progressive and smart girl. She is a small time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pranitha-subhash/in-jarasandha-i-can-relate-to-my-character-pretty-well-considering-it/) [Pranitha Subhash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pranitha-subhash/) > [I feel like there are things I can relate to in every character. But I feel like when you read a script, you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-starr/i-feel-like-there-are-things-i-can-relate-to-in-every-character-but-i/) [Martin Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-starr/) > [It is how you approach the role given to you, and how you relate to that character and then how you adapt and gel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/it-is-how-you-approach-the-role-given-to-you-and-how-you-relate-to/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [Because I relate to the character a lot, my personality has changed after playing the role of Kang Dong-goo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-je-hoon/because-i-relate-to-the-character-a-lot-my-personality-has-changed/) [Lee Je-hoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-je-hoon/) > [I tend to relate to a character in terms of the arc: what's interesting is where he starts versus where he ends up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-tend-to-relate-to-a-character-in-terms-of-the-arc-what-s/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I really felt good after working in a film like 'Piku,' as many people could relate to my character. I got letters from my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amitabh-bachchan/i-really-felt-good-after-working-in-a-film-like-piku-as-many-people/) [Amitabh Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amitabh-bachchan/) > [I can obviously relate to a character who is an artist, because the creative process is a big part of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-can-obviously-relate-to-a-character-who-is-an-artist-because-the/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [You relate to a character and you find that character within yourself. It's all parts of me. I don't leave characters behind. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/you-relate-to-a-character-and-you-find-that-character-within-yourself/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [Certainly as a kid, I grew up with Batman, Superman, whoever - they didn't need to be black for me to relate to them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/certainly-as-a-kid-i-grew-up-with-batman-superman-whoever-they-didn-t/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [I always want the audience to identify with my character in some way. I mean, sometimes you'll get characters that aren't very identifiable. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liana-liberato/i-always-want-the-audience-to-identify-with-my-character-in-some-way/) [Liana Liberato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liana-liberato/) > [Your job as an actor, I guess, is just to make people relate to the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/your-job-as-an-actor-i-guess-is-just-to-make-people-relate-to-the/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [I just always want to play people. I don't want it to be necessarily that you relate to the character as female or male,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-just-always-want-to-play-people-i-don-t-want-it-to-be-necessarily/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) ## More by Rory Culkin > [I grew up on a set and saw my family doing it and thought, 'I can do that too.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-culkin/i-grew-up-on-a-set-and-saw-my-family-doing-it-and-thought-i-can-do/) [Rory Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-culkin/) > [John Hawkes is amazing. I really want to meet that man; he's so good. Him and Ben Foster, and I'm a big fan of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-culkin/john-hawkes-is-amazing-i-really-want-to-meet-that-man-he-s-so-good/) [Rory Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-culkin/) > [People who work with me think I should cut my hair. They say casting directors are less likely to hire me with long hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-culkin/people-who-work-with-me-think-i-should-cut-my-hair-they-say-casting/) [Rory Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-culkin/) > [I think we all miss our childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-culkin/i-think-we-all-miss-our-childhood/) [Rory Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-culkin/) > [I only work once or twice a year for about a month, so I have a lot of free time. But I'm good at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-culkin/i-only-work-once-or-twice-a-year-for-about-a-month-so-i-have-a-lot-of/) [Rory Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-culkin/) > [Just live life. That's the best way to learn how to act. Just live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-culkin/just-live-life-that-s-the-best-way-to-learn-how-to-act-just-live/) [Rory Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-culkin/) > [When I was younger, I actually had a ghost face mask, and I stood in my sister's room in the corner for, like, half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-culkin/when-i-was-younger-i-actually-had-a-ghost-face-mask-and-i-stood-in-my/) [Rory Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-culkin/) > [When I was little, acting opportunities were always proposed to me as 'a favour.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-culkin/when-i-was-little-acting-opportunities-were-always-proposed-to-me-as/) [Rory Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-culkin/) > [I did this movie called 'Lymelife' when I was 18, and you know, it was the first time I was working as an adult,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-culkin/i-did-this-movie-called-lymelife-when-i-was-18-and-you-know-it-was/) [Rory Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-culkin/) > [I'm not a solid enough actor to have techniques.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-culkin/i-m-not-a-solid-enough-actor-to-have-techniques/) [Rory Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-culkin/) > [I was the ghost-faced killer for Halloween in the third or fourth grade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-culkin/i-was-the-ghost-faced-killer-for-halloween-in-the-third-or-fourth/) [Rory Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-culkin/) [Explore all 12 Rory Culkin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-culkin/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I'm reading a script, and I'm not buying it, I need to be able to relate to the character on some level, and they need to have more than one dimension. I need to have an idea of what this guy's thinking about when he's taking a shower not on camera. 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