--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have always been a director first and…" description: "\"I have always been a director first and the whole acting thing just happened because none of my friends wanted to be in my videos, so I had to do it my..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/shane-dawson-4664_acting_i-have-always-been-a-director-first-and_680726.jpg" --- # I have always been a director first and the whole acting… ![“I have always been a director first and the whole acting thing just happened because none of my friends wanted to be in my videos, so I had to do it myself and wear a bunch of wigs.” quote by Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/shane-dawson-4664_acting_i-have-always-been-a-director-first-and_680726.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/shane-dawson-4664_acting_i-have-always-been-a-director-first-and_680726.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/shane-dawson-4664_acting_i-have-always-been-a-director-first-and_680726.jpg) > “I have always been a director first and the whole acting thing just happened because none of my friends wanted to be in my videos, so I had to do it myself and wear a bunch of wigs.” [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) ## 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 became a director out of necessity, using creativity and self‑reliance when collaborators were unavailable. **In simple terms:** Self‑made director due to lack of help. Key Takeaway Take initiative and adapt when resources are scarce. Themes creativity self‑reliance resourcefulness Mood inspirational pragmatic Type creative career. When to use this quote - film projects - online content - DIY videos - educational tutorials Key Concepts media production collaboration personal branding Questions to Reflect On - How can you seek collaboration without losing control? - What skills can you develop to complement your vision? A Different Perspective Reliance on oneself can limit perspective and skill diversity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Video](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/video/) ## Related quotes > [I think it makes such a huge difference when the director has acting experience as well because it just means that he not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-boynton/i-think-it-makes-such-a-huge-difference-when-the-director-has-acting/) [Lucy Boynton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-boynton/) > [I'm not a huge kind of visual director. For me, it's all about the acting. There's no greater buzz than working with actors and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mullan/i-m-not-a-huge-kind-of-visual-director-for-me-it-s-all-about-the/) [Peter Mullan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mullan/) > [I think what makes a good actor's director is the same thing that makes a good director. Acting is just one of the trades…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/i-think-what-makes-a-good-actor-s-director-is-the-same-thing-that/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [I learn a lot as a director from acting in other people's films and just in general. I want to try and be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-swanberg/i-learn-a-lot-as-a-director-from-acting-in-other-people-s-films-and-2/) [Joe Swanberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-swanberg/) > [When I make a movie, I don't break it down and analyze it. I could but it would get in the way of doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/when-i-make-a-movie-i-don-t-break-it-down-and-analyze-it-i-could-but/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [I learn a lot as a director from acting in other people's films and just in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-swanberg/i-learn-a-lot-as-a-director-from-acting-in-other-people-s-films-and/) [Joe Swanberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-swanberg/) > [Every director should take an acting class. At least one. You know, you panic with actors. It's like, "Okay, this is back in college,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-black/every-director-should-take-an-acting-class-at-least-one-you-know-you/) [Shane Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-black/) > [Every director should take an acting class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/every-director-should-take-an-acting-class/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > ['The Movie' is something that I made with some friends of mine in L.A. My friend, Luke Eberl, is the filmmaker. He shot this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/the-movie-is-something-that-i-made-with-some-friends-of-mine-in-l-a/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > [My friends are trying to get me to go out on blind dates. Big 'NO' to that because all my friends are a bunch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-posehn/my-friends-are-trying-to-get-me-to-go-out-on-blind-dates-big-no-to/) [Brian Posehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-posehn/) > [When I was growing up skateboarding, a bunch of friends and I went to this thrift store and as we were leaving I jumped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/when-i-was-growing-up-skateboarding-a-bunch-of-friends-and-i-went-to/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [I decided to go to school for advertising and graphic design. That was what I was gonna do but acting is that thing, its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dayo-okeniyi/i-decided-to-go-to-school-for-advertising-and-graphic-design-that-was/) [Dayo Okeniyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dayo-okeniyi/) > [I played sports. The acting thing was just a direct blessing from the Lord, because I lost my discipline to play sports, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-benson-miller/i-played-sports-the-acting-thing-was-just-a-direct-blessing-from-the/) [Omar Benson Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-benson-miller/) > [Acting was the first thing that obsessed me when I was 8-9 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepti-naval/acting-was-the-first-thing-that-obsessed-me-when-i-was-8-9-years-old/) [Deepti Naval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepti-naval/) > [I've become really aware since putting out music that some people can't get past the acting thing. But acting was never what I meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-anderson/i-ve-become-really-aware-since-putting-out-music-that-some-people-can/) [Jacob Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-anderson/) ## More by Shane Dawson > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [Kinda over boybands. Anyone else agree?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/kinda-over-boybands-anyone-else-agree/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [Throughout whatever I do, I always just say "Director" first. I am directing the storylines and I'm creating what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/throughout-whatever-i-do-i-always-just-say-director-first-i-am/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [I didn't think I could pull off a novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/i-didn-t-think-i-could-pull-off-a-novel/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [I hate when people cheat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/i-hate-when-people-cheat/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [I love podcasts, so I thought I'd try one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/i-love-podcasts-so-i-thought-i-d-try-one/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [The only time I ever think about making a Vine video is when I'm pooping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/the-only-time-i-ever-think-about-making-a-vine-video-is-when-i-m/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [I get it, okay? I shouldn't be doing this. I shouldn't be giving Jake Paul a platform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/i-get-it-okay-i-shouldn-t-be-doing-this-i-shouldn-t-be-giving-jake/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [On YouTube, you know, if you say something, you know, that triggers somebody, it becomes a whole controversy, a whole thing - and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/on-youtube-you-know-if-you-say-something-you-know-that-triggers/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [Make the videos that you want to watch. Don't think about who is going to be upset or offended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/make-the-videos-that-you-want-to-watch-don-t-think-about-who-is-going/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [I was not really worried about what people thought of me or how offensive my jokes were. I was just kind of saying whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/i-was-not-really-worried-about-what-people-thought-of-me-or-how/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [“To everyone who gets me, thank you. To everyone who doesn't, thank you too. You give me the motivation to keep succeeding just to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/to-everyone-who-gets-me-thank-you-to-everyone-who-doesn-t-thank-you/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [My new nightly routine...get a bowl of ice cream, sit on the couch, and get caught up on all the Amanda Bynes news from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/my-new-nightly-routine-get-a-bowl-of-ice-cream-sit-on-the-couch-and/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [I've always just wanted to tell stories, and create stuff, and I think "Creator" or "Director" would probably be the two words that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/i-ve-always-just-wanted-to-tell-stories-and-create-stuff-and-i-think/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [To me, YouTube isn't just, 'Watch my videos!' It's, 'Let's have a conversation and get involved in each other's lives.' I want to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/to-me-youtube-isn-t-just-watch-my-videos-it-s-let-s-have-a/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) [Explore all 107 Shane Dawson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [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/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have always been a director first and the whole acting thing just happened because none of my friends wanted to be in my videos, so I had to do it myself and wear a bunch of wigs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shane Dawson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/i-have-always-been-a-director-first-and-the-whole-acting-thing-just/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/i-have-always-been-a-director-first-and-the-whole-acting-thing-just/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/shane-dawson-4664_acting_i-have-always-been-a-director-first-and_680726.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/shane-dawson-4664_acting_i-have-always-been-a-director-first-and_680726.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/shane-dawson-4664_acting_i-have-always-been-a-director-first-and_680726.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have always been a director first and the whole acting thing just happened because none of my friends…” — Shane Dawson", "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": "Shane Dawson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have always been a director...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/i-have-always-been-a-director-first-and-the-whole-acting-thing-just/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/i-have-always-been-a-director-first-and-the-whole-acting-thing-just/#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 } } ] } ```