--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, it was interesting because when I…" description: "\"Well, it was interesting because when I was going to do it the first time in my head was Leonardo DiCaprio [for Chris] and Marlon Brando was going to p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/sean-penn-3005_actors_well-it-was-interesting-because-when-i-w_2958785.jpg" --- # Well, it was interesting because when I was going to do it… ![“Well, it was interesting because when I was going to do it the first time in my head was Leonardo DiCaprio [for Chris] and Marlon Brando was going to play the character that Hal Holbrook eventually played. But then when it wasn't to be and there was no promise that it ever would be I think some…” quote by Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/sean-penn-3005_actors_well-it-was-interesting-because-when-i-w_2958785.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/sean-penn-3005_actors_well-it-was-interesting-because-when-i-w_2958785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/sean-penn-3005_actors_well-it-was-interesting-because-when-i-w_2958785.jpg) > “Well, it was interesting because when I was going to do it the first time in my head was Leonardo DiCaprio \[for Chris\] and Marlon Brando was going to play the character that Hal Holbrook eventually played. But then when it wasn't to be and there was no promise that it ever would be I think some part of me didn't want to attach specifics to it anymore - actors or anything else - because I wanted to see it made that much more badly.” [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes how initial mental images of actors faded, allowing a deeper desire for the project’s realization without specific attachments. **In simple terms:** Letting go of specifics can intensify commitment to a goal. Key Takeaway Focus on the vision, not the details. Themes creativity commitment detachment Mood reflective determined Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - film production - personal projects - creative brainstorming Key Concepts visualization psychology motivation Questions to Reflect On - How does detaching from specifics affect your motivation? - What benefits arise from focusing on the essence rather than details? A Different Perspective Relying solely on mental images may limit openness to better alternatives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Brando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brando/) [Brando Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brando-going-4495600/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Eventually Played](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eventually-played-4495601/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Leonardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leonardo/) [Leonardo dicaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leonardo-dicaprio/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Marlon brando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marlon-brando/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Specifics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/specifics/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Badly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-badly-311967/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [Have you ever wanted something so badly that you would do anything, believe anything in order to acquire it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/have-you-ever-wanted-something-so-badly-that-you-would-do-anything/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [“He wanted Ty with him, wanted him badly. Needed him as a partner, and not just at work. Craved him as a lover more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/he-wanted-ty-with-him-wanted-him-badly-needed-him-as-a-partner-and/) [Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/) > [Why is it that you wanted me to be yours so badly, then walked away without looking back and have never remembered me since?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troublemaker/why-is-it-that-you-wanted-me-to-be-yours-so-badly-then-walked-away/) [Troublemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troublemaker/) > [“This isn't love. It's something broken and ugly. I wanted it so badly I didn't care what it looked like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-grace/this-isn-t-love-it-s-something-broken-and-ugly-i-wanted-it-so-badly-i/) [Amanda Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-grace/) > [“I’ve never wanted anything as badly as I want you. 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I didn’t expect him, never even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lunderman/i-just-wanted-so-badly-to-start-over-be-someone-new-and-then-he-came/) [Amy Lunderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lunderman/) > [“I wanted so badly to believe, but the fear felt as great and overwhelming as the desire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cohn/i-wanted-so-badly-to-believe-but-the-fear-felt-as-great-and/) [Rachel Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cohn/) > [Can't Hardly Wait was a movie everyone wanted. I wanted the lead girl sooo badly, I think it was Lauren Ambrose. I wanted it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-blair/can-t-hardly-wait-was-a-movie-everyone-wanted-i-wanted-the-lead-girl/) [Selma Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-blair/) > [And I can remember just sitting there staring at you staring at me and I wanted to cry so badly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-i-can-remember-just-sitting-there-staring-at-you-staring-at-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“No, if I knew my girl, she was fuming on the other end, because nobody held her back from doing what she wanted. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-kestwick/no-if-i-knew-my-girl-she-was-fuming-on-the-other-end-because-nobody/) [Stacy Kestwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-kestwick/) ## More by Sean Penn > [A SWAT team surrounded my house and came in every door. But it happened because on the day that we split up, Madonna developed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/a-swat-team-surrounded-my-house-and-came-in-every-door-but-it/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [The advice you give to young directors for sure is to go out and become some version of a successful movie actor. Do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/the-advice-you-give-to-young-directors-for-sure-is-to-go-out-and/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [A clearer and more conventional narrative would have helped the film without, in my opinion, lessening its beauty and its impact. Frankly, I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/a-clearer-and-more-conventional-narrative-would-have-helped-the-film/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [I think that people like the Howard Sterns, the Bill O'Reillys and to a lesser degree the bin Ladens of the world are making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/i-think-that-people-like-the-howard-sterns-the-bill-o-reillys-and-to/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [That on a romantic level, if you feel it about somebody and it's pure, it means that they do too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/that-on-a-romantic-level-if-you-feel-it-about-somebody-and-it-s-pure/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [In between, I go broke because I seem to do movies where you're not paid a lot as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/in-between-i-go-broke-because-i-seem-to-do-movies-where-you-re-not/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [It has nothing to do with the emotional demands of a role; I've done comedies that are as draining to me as any drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/it-has-nothing-to-do-with-the-emotional-demands-of-a-role-i-ve-done/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [Marriage ain't easy, but it's great most of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/marriage-ain-t-easy-but-it-s-great-most-of-the-time/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [Well, look at all of these summer blockbusters. You can't help but laugh a little, because you've already seen a lot of these movies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/well-look-at-all-of-these-summer-blockbusters-you-can-t-help-but/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [I don't see myself as a different guy than I was ten years ago. I don't have aspirations to be. 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Good movie, bad movie, it doesn't matter - I just like his movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/i-m-a-huge-woody-allen-fan-good-movie-bad-movie-it-doesn-t-matter-i/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [Sacrificing American soldiers or innocent civilians in an unprecedented preemptive attack on a separate sovereign nation may well prove itself a most temporary medicine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/sacrificing-american-soldiers-or-innocent-civilians-in-an/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [There is no shame in my saying that we all want to be loved by someone. 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There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [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/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. 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We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Well, it was interesting because when I was going to do it the first time in my head was Leonardo DiCaprio [for Chris] and Marlon Brando was going to play the character that Hal Holbrook eventually played. 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