--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a whole other way of working when…" description: "\"It's a whole other way of working when you work in films: You know exactly the arc of your character.\" — Sissy Spacek" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/sissy-spacek-3393_arcs_it-s-a-whole-other-way-of-working-when-y_605075.png" --- # It's a whole other way of working when you work in films… ![“It's a whole other way of working when you work in films: You know exactly the arc of your character.” quote by Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/sissy-spacek-3393_arcs_it-s-a-whole-other-way-of-working-when-y_605075.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/sissy-spacek-3393_arcs_it-s-a-whole-other-way-of-working-when-y_605075.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/sissy-spacek-3393_arcs_it-s-a-whole-other-way-of-working-when-y_605075.png) > “It's a whole other way of working when you work in films: You know exactly the arc of your character.” [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Working in film provides a clear character arc, unlike other jobs. **In simple terms:** Film acting offers a defined character journey. Key Takeaway Embrace roles with clear development. Themes acting film character development storytelling Mood reflective analytical Type creative professional When to use this quote - theatre - television - indie cinema Key Concepts narrative structure role immersion creative process Questions to Reflect On - How does a clear arc affect performance? - Can other fields create similar narrative structures? A Different Perspective Not all professions have such arcs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [For me, one thing I love is having an arc for a character. I love being able to see a character go through something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-whitman/for-me-one-thing-i-love-is-having-an-arc-for-a-character-i-love-being/) [Mae Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-whitman/) > [What's great in theater is that you can sustain the arc of a character for a full three hours, whereas in film or TV,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dae-kim/what-s-great-in-theater-is-that-you-can-sustain-the-arc-of-a/) [Daniel Dae Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dae-kim/) > [For me, one thing I love is having an arc for a character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-whitman/for-me-one-thing-i-love-is-having-an-arc-for-a-character/) [Mae Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-whitman/) > [Filmmaking is always sort of building a mosaic of this arc of what the character is going through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/filmmaking-is-always-sort-of-building-a-mosaic-of-this-arc-of-what/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I've done some of my best work in films that fell right through the cracks, so I try to not make career moves but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/i-ve-done-some-of-my-best-work-in-films-that-fell-right-through-the/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [This is why every actor wants to get a script - they want to see what the arc of the character is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-raci/this-is-why-every-actor-wants-to-get-a-script-they-want-to-see-what/) [Paul Raci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-raci/) > [I really think that I don't mind people sleeping during my films, because I know that some very good films might prepare you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-really-think-that-i-don-t-mind-people-sleeping-during-my-films-2/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [I feel like, on a more macro scale, there's started to be a relationship between filmmakers and people who watch their films - you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-trevorrow/i-feel-like-on-a-more-macro-scale-there-s-started-to-be-a/) [Colin Trevorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-trevorrow/) > [We know what kind of music people want to listen and we are doing the same with films. We know what kind of stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhushan-kumar/we-know-what-kind-of-music-people-want-to-listen-and-we-are-doing-the/) [Bhushan Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhushan-kumar/) > [I really think that I don't mind people sleeping during my films, because I know that some very good films might prepare you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-really-think-that-i-don-t-mind-people-sleeping-during-my-films/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [Education lays a strong foundation. I was keen on films, but my mother insisted on me finding all about the line I was planning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaani-kapoor/education-lays-a-strong-foundation-i-was-keen-on-films-but-my-mother/) [Vaani Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaani-kapoor/) > [Films are all I know. I wouldn't know what to do with a day off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-gopal-varma/films-are-all-i-know-i-wouldn-t-know-what-to-do-with-a-day-off/) [Ram Gopal Varma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-gopal-varma/) > [The good thing about films is, you never know how good they will be. If there was a formula, there would only be good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/udo-kier/the-good-thing-about-films-is-you-never-know-how-good-they-will-be-if/) [Udo Kier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/udo-kier/) > [I mean, I love action films, you know, good action films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-scott/i-mean-i-love-action-films-you-know-good-action-films/) [Adam Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-scott/) > [There are so many films now where you know the story is a supporting role to the visual effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/there-are-so-many-films-now-where-you-know-the-story-is-a-supporting/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) ## More by Sissy Spacek > [I'm not Meryl Streep. My God - she's the greatest actor that ever lived. It's sad that ordinary actors like me are compared to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/i-m-not-meryl-streep-my-god-she-s-the-greatest-actor-that-ever-lived/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [One day, it just dawned on me that I'm from Texas, and that's what I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/one-day-it-just-dawned-on-me-that-i-m-from-texas-and-that-s-what-i-am/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [Just about every town in Texas has a beauty pageant. Ours was called The Dogwood Fiesta. I was in one of those. I played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/just-about-every-town-in-texas-has-a-beauty-pageant-ours-was-called/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [Jingle taps on the majorette boots were an important part of a little girl growing up in the South.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/jingle-taps-on-the-majorette-boots-were-an-important-part-of-a-little/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [I feel like if I don't get a film and somebody else does, then that film never belonged to me. The ones I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/i-feel-like-if-i-don-t-get-a-film-and-somebody-else-does-then-that/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [There's something about Southern characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/there-s-something-about-southern-characters/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [Film is an amazing art form, but so is life. When your career and your life can work together, and one can support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/film-is-an-amazing-art-form-but-so-is-life-when-your-career-and-your/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [You get angry and frustrated wondering, 'Are there enough parts for women?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/you-get-angry-and-frustrated-wondering-are-there-enough-parts-for/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [I studied homeopathy for years and years. Herbs and all kinds of acupuncture, acupressure, alternative medicine. I think it's just better to treat the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/i-studied-homeopathy-for-years-and-years-herbs-and-all-kinds-of/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [My roots allow me to let go of the fear of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/my-roots-allow-me-to-let-go-of-the-fear-of-failure/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [I think that we all fantasize about that teeny tiny time in the film industry when women ruled, back in the '40s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/i-think-that-we-all-fantasize-about-that-teeny-tiny-time-in-the-film/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [Texas is just so rich with characters. Women who live alone in a little house on a thousand acres with nothing but cattle and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/texas-is-just-so-rich-with-characters-women-who-live-alone-in-a/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [I think the movie business, you meet people, and you work intensely with them, and you have these relationships - there's an intimacy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/i-think-the-movie-business-you-meet-people-and-you-work-intensely/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [Music is my thing. In fact, that's what I wanted to do. I thought of myself as a musician. I had never thought about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/music-is-my-thing-in-fact-that-s-what-i-wanted-to-do-i-thought-of/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [The name Sissy came because my brothers called me that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/the-name-sissy-came-because-my-brothers-called-me-that/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) [Explore all 132 Sissy Spacek quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) ## More Arcs quotes > [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [Through the music I hope to give it an arc that gives it a greater sense of a journey through the set rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gotye/through-the-music-i-hope-to-give-it-an-arc-that-gives-it-a-greater/) [Gotye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gotye/) > [Because we grew up surrounded by big dramatic story arcs in books and movies, we think our lives are supposed to be filled with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/because-we-grew-up-surrounded-by-big-dramatic-story-arcs-in-books-and/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Joan of Arc should be played as a "pain in the ass" and how do I know she was a "pain in the ass"?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-clurman/joan-of-arc-should-be-played-as-a-pain-in-the-ass-and-how-do-i-know/) [Harold Clurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-clurman/) > [When in doubt, the rule of threes is a rule that plays well with all of storytelling. When describing a thing? No more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-wendig/when-in-doubt-the-rule-of-threes-is-a-rule-that-plays-well-with-all/) [Chuck Wendig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-wendig/) > [Sanchez looked at me and we locked eyes a second too long. There was nothing I could do about it. The signal went out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/sanchez-looked-at-me-and-we-locked-eyes-a-second-too-long-there-was/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [When we are young, we spend much time and pains in filling our note-books with all definitions of Religion, Love, Poetry, Politics, Art, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-we-are-young-we-spend-much-time-and-pains-in-filling-our-note/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I suppose that, for me at least, the biggest difference betweenThe Gunslinger Born and the next two story arcs (The Long Road Home and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-furth/i-suppose-that-for-me-at-least-the-biggest-difference-betweenthe/) [Robin Furth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-furth/) > [We've got this arc of instability from North Africa to South Asia, and we have to pay close attention to it. And we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-ve-got-this-arc-of-instability-from-north-africa-to-south-asia-and/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one. . . . But from what I see I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-parker/i-do-not-pretend-to-understand-the-moral-universe-the-arc-is-a-long/) [Theodore Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-parker/) > [I think every woman character, every female character, has her own arc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katheryn-winnick/i-think-every-woman-character-every-female-character-has-her-own-arc/) [Katheryn Winnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katheryn-winnick/) > [I am committed now to one thing: lyric sequences. I want the intensity of lyric, but the scope and arc of narrative. so, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-orr/i-am-committed-now-to-one-thing-lyric-sequences-i-want-the-intensity/) [Gregory Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-orr/) > [We must move forward in the days ahead with audacious faith. The moral arc of the universe is long but it bends toward justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-move-forward-in-the-days-ahead-with-audacious-faith-the-moral/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Most games follow a real railroad plot, no matter what you want, you're following their storyline to its unavoidable conclusion. I'd like to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/most-games-follow-a-real-railroad-plot-no-matter-what-you-want-you-re/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Arc, amplitude, and curvature sustain a similar relation to each other as time, motion, and velocity, or as volume, mass, and density.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-friedrich-gauss/arc-amplitude-and-curvature-sustain-a-similar-relation-to-each-other/) [Carl Friedrich Gauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-friedrich-gauss/) Browse all 250 Arcs quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's a whole other way of working when you work in films: You know exactly the arc of your character.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sissy Spacek" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/it-s-a-whole-other-way-of-working-when-you-work-in-films-you-know/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arcs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/it-s-a-whole-other-way-of-working-when-you-work-in-films-you-know/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/sissy-spacek-3393_arcs_it-s-a-whole-other-way-of-working-when-y_605075.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/sissy-spacek-3393_arcs_it-s-a-whole-other-way-of-working-when-y_605075.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/sissy-spacek-3393_arcs_it-s-a-whole-other-way-of-working-when-y_605075.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's a whole other way of working when you work in films: You know exactly the arc of your character.” — Sissy Spacek", "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": "Sissy Spacek", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's a whole other way of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/it-s-a-whole-other-way-of-working-when-you-work-in-films-you-know/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/it-s-a-whole-other-way-of-working-when-you-work-in-films-you-know/#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 } } ] } ```