--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was a time - before I made movies…" description: "\"There was a time - before I made movies - when I was more forgiving, but now that I've learned as much as I have, I want to do movies that I want to se..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/ryan-phillippe-10783_film_there-was-a-time-before-i-made-movies-wh_2709043.png" --- # There was a time - before I made movies - when I was more… ![“There was a time - before I made movies - when I was more forgiving, but now that I've learned as much as I have, I want to do movies that I want to see, that have their own unique flavor.” quote by Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/ryan-phillippe-10783_film_there-was-a-time-before-i-made-movies-wh_2709043.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/ryan-phillippe-10783_film_there-was-a-time-before-i-made-movies-wh_2709043.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/ryan-phillippe-10783_film_there-was-a-time-before-i-made-movies-wh_2709043.png) > “There was a time - before I made movies - when I was more forgiving, but now that I've learned as much as I have, I want to do movies that I want to see, that have their own unique flavor.” [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early forgivingness gave way to a desire for personal, distinctive cinema after gaining experience. **In simple terms:** Experience shifts focus to personal, unique films. Key Takeaway Create movies that reflect your vision. Themes film creativity personal growth authenticity artistic vision Mood reflective ambitious Type cinematic philosophical When to use this quote - movie production - script development - festival circuits - audience engagement Key Concepts independent cinema authorial voice Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay true to your style? - What compromises are acceptable for broader appeal? A Different Perspective Balancing personal vision with market demands is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I genuinely try to make movies I'd want to go and see, movies that are a bit more challenging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-wheatley/i-genuinely-try-to-make-movies-i-d-want-to-go-and-see-movies-that-are/) [Ben Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-wheatley/) > [I want to be a part of movies that I want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-glusman/i-want-to-be-a-part-of-movies-that-i-want-to-see/) [Karl Glusman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-glusman/) > [As you grow up and get educated in the business, you go from, 'I want to do movies' to 'I want to work. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-huffman/as-you-grow-up-and-get-educated-in-the-business-you-go-from-i-want-to/) [Felicity Huffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-huffman/) > [I just want to do movies, and I want to sell them. I don't want to link up with some product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/i-just-want-to-do-movies-and-i-want-to-sell-them-i-don-t-want-to-link/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I want to do movies, but I want to do something that's good. I don't want to make any more films until I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-faithfull/i-want-to-do-movies-but-i-want-to-do-something-that-s-good-i-don-t/) [Marianne Faithfull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-faithfull/) > [I get a lot of action scripts. I get low-budget vehicles that will end up right on the video shelf. I want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cain/i-get-a-lot-of-action-scripts-i-get-low-budget-vehicles-that-will-end/) [Dean Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cain/) > [I was always flattered, but I just want my movies to make money. I want to be commercial. I'm never the person who says,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-was-always-flattered-but-i-just-want-my-movies-to-make-money-i-want/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I don't want to just do movies to do movies. I want to do movies that inspire, motivate, and change lives. And as long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/i-don-t-want-to-just-do-movies-to-do-movies-i-want-to-do-movies-that/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [We don't just want what we want because we want it; we want what we want because that's what we've learned to want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanne-blank/we-don-t-just-want-what-we-want-because-we-want-it-we-want-what-we/) [Hanne Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanne-blank/) > [I only want to make movies I want to see. That may mean my career is somewhat limited, but that is my version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/i-only-want-to-make-movies-i-want-to-see-that-may-mean-my-career-is/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [I've finally learned not to want things I cannot have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-howard/i-ve-finally-learned-not-to-want-things-i-cannot-have/) [Maureen Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-howard/) > [I definitely learned that when I want something done, I'm very tunnel-visioned out. I don't come out of the house. I beat myself up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mya/i-definitely-learned-that-when-i-want-something-done-i-m-very-tunnel/) [Mya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mya/) > [I made up my mind that I'd get out of that place and I didI learned that if you want to get somewhere, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-made-up-my-mind-that-i-d-get-out-of-that-place-and-i-didi-learned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I learned that if you want to get somewhere, you just make up your mind and work like hell til you get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/i-learned-that-if-you-want-to-get-somewhere-you-just-make-up-your/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [I have learned that you can go anywhere you want to go and do anything you want to do and buy all the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c-2/i-have-learned-that-you-can-go-anywhere-you-want-to-go-and-do/) [C JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c-2/) ## More by Ryan Phillippe > [To me, White Boy Shuffle is sort of like Catcher in the Rye, the story is so universal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/to-me-white-boy-shuffle-is-sort-of-like-catcher-in-the-rye-the-story/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [If a woman is funny, that will leave an impression and stay on my brain. A girl should do something, anything, to make me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/if-a-woman-is-funny-that-will-leave-an-impression-and-stay-on-my/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [There are a lot of good stories out there, but I haven't found too many great scripts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/there-are-a-lot-of-good-stories-out-there-but-i-haven-t-found-too/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [The idea of doing something that you've seen a thousand times before doesn't appeal to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/the-idea-of-doing-something-that-you-ve-seen-a-thousand-times-before/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [Granted, there are times when, for business reasons, you do something that's more mainstream. But even then, I try to find something that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/granted-there-are-times-when-for-business-reasons-you-do-something/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [It's nice that people want to compliment you in some superficial way, but I've never considered that that's how I might be categorized. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/it-s-nice-that-people-want-to-compliment-you-in-some-superficial-way/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [The point is to expand the scope of what a movie can possibly mean or be, to get people involved because they're artistic or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/the-point-is-to-expand-the-scope-of-what-a-movie-can-possibly-mean-or/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [I have a huge CD collection. Music is an obsession of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/i-have-a-huge-cd-collection-music-is-an-obsession-of-mine/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [Over the past 10 years of being famous, my relationship with the camera has not been a pleasant one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/over-the-past-10-years-of-being-famous-my-relationship-with-the/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [Where you raise your children isn't as important as how you raise your children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/where-you-raise-your-children-isn-t-as-important-as-how-you-raise/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [It just makes so many other things insignificant. It is the most incredible thing that has happened to me, and I feel so lucky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/it-just-makes-so-many-other-things-insignificant-it-is-the-most/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [My sisters are my favorite people on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/my-sisters-are-my-favorite-people-on-earth/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [I will no longer be an actor to hire, I have a passion for producing and making films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/i-will-no-longer-be-an-actor-to-hire-i-have-a-passion-for-producing/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [But in a broader sense, when I have more control, I want to expose people to new ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/but-in-a-broader-sense-when-i-have-more-control-i-want-to-expose/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [I want my work to be fulfilling and interesting, and that's it. It's not about chasing a pay cheque, or chasing the lights. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/i-want-my-work-to-be-fulfilling-and-interesting-and-that-s-it-it-s/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) [Explore all 63 Ryan Phillippe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) ## More Film quotes > [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/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/) [David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [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/) > [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [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 started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [Pakistan now is like a horror film franchise. You know, it's 'Friday the 13th, Episode 63: The Terrorist from Pakistan.' And each time we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/pakistan-now-is-like-a-horror-film-franchise-you-know-it-s-friday-the/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) [Browse all 32,254 Film quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There was a time - before I made movies - when I was more forgiving, but now that I've learned as much as I have, I want to do movies that I want to see, that have their own unique flavor.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ryan Phillippe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/there-was-a-time-before-i-made-movies-when-i-was-more-forgiving-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Film" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/there-was-a-time-before-i-made-movies-when-i-was-more-forgiving-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/ryan-phillippe-10783_film_there-was-a-time-before-i-made-movies-wh_2709043.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/ryan-phillippe-10783_film_there-was-a-time-before-i-made-movies-wh_2709043.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/ryan-phillippe-10783_film_there-was-a-time-before-i-made-movies-wh_2709043.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There was a time - before I made movies - when I was more forgiving, but now that I've learned as much as I…” — Ryan Phillippe", "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": "Ryan Phillippe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There was a time - before...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/there-was-a-time-before-i-made-movies-when-i-was-more-forgiving-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/there-was-a-time-before-i-made-movies-when-i-was-more-forgiving-but/#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 } } ] } ```