--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I decided to be a filmmaker between my…" description: "\"I decided to be a filmmaker between my sophomore and junior years at Morehouse. Before I left for the summer of 1977, my advisor told me I really had t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/spike-lee-3057_advisors_i-decided-to-be-a-filmmaker-between-my-s_1111426.jpg" --- # I decided to be a filmmaker between my sophomore and… ![“I decided to be a filmmaker between my sophomore and junior years at Morehouse. Before I left for the summer of 1977, my advisor told me I really had to declare a major when I came back, because I'd used all my electives in my first two years. I went back to New York and I couldn't find a job…” quote by Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/spike-lee-3057_advisors_i-decided-to-be-a-filmmaker-between-my-s_1111426.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/spike-lee-3057_advisors_i-decided-to-be-a-filmmaker-between-my-s_1111426.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/spike-lee-3057_advisors_i-decided-to-be-a-filmmaker-between-my-s_1111426.jpg) > “I decided to be a filmmaker between my sophomore and junior years at Morehouse. Before I left for the summer of 1977, my advisor told me I really had to declare a major when I came back, because I'd used all my electives in my first two years. I went back to New York and I couldn't find a job. There were none to be had. And that previous Christmas someone gave me a Super-8 camera, so I just started to shoot stuff.” [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing filmmaking despite academic pressure shows passion can arise from constraints, leading to self‑directed learning and creative resourcefulness. **In simple terms:** Passion can grow from limits; start creating. Key Takeaway Pursue your art even when formal paths are blocked. Themes creativity determination self‑direction Mood inspirational energetic pragmatic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - college - early career - budget filmmaking - self‑teaching Key Concepts career development education artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - What low‑budget tools can you leverage? - How do you maintain momentum without formal support? A Different Perspective Limited resources may restrict production quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Filmmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaker/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Junior year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/junior-year/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer/) ## Related quotes > [Seventh grade is when I met my shooting coach and he fixed my shot. I used to shoot with two hands. Really ever since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-herro/seventh-grade-is-when-i-met-my-shooting-coach-and-he-fixed-my-shot-i/) [Tyler Herro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-herro/) > [I conveniently was not accepted to film school, which I applied to in 1987, and so I decided I would become a filmmaker instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-sachs/i-conveniently-was-not-accepted-to-film-school-which-i-applied-to-in/) [Ira Sachs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-sachs/) > [I decided to be a filmmaker when I was 12. I had utter clarity that this would be my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hooper/i-decided-to-be-a-filmmaker-when-i-was-12-i-had-utter-clarity-that/) [Tom Hooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hooper/) > [Films can make you dream. They allow you to imagine a different world. It's why I decided to become a filmmaker. I wanted that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-labaki/films-can-make-you-dream-they-allow-you-to-imagine-a-different-world/) [Nadine Labaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-labaki/) > [I can't imagine living a life without God in my life. He is my best friend, He's my buddy, He's the one that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reba-mcentire/i-can-t-imagine-living-a-life-without-god-in-my-life-he-is-my-best/) [Reba McEntire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reba-mcentire/) > [... true financial freedom doesn't depend on how much money you have. Financial freedom is when you have power over your fears and anxieties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/true-financial-freedom-doesn-t-depend-on-how-much-money-you-have/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [When you start really respecting yourself, those you love, and your money, the result is that you start having control over your money. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/when-you-start-really-respecting-yourself-those-you-love-and-your/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [“Choose and create a circle of proper advisors around you. Do not discuss your project with your relatives, neighbor, grandmother, friends’ friends, pastor, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmytro-zaporozhtsev/choose-and-create-a-circle-of-proper-advisors-around-you-do-not/) Dmytro Zaporozhtsev > [National security advisors are not there to be advocates, generally. They're not there to be partisans, they're not there to be ideologues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/national-security-advisors-are-not-there-to-be-advocates-generally/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [“Advisors who rate the highest on reliability will not just deliver their work on time and on spec. Nor will they simply be consistent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/advisors-who-rate-the-highest-on-reliability-will-not-just-deliver/) [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) > [Steve Jobs was a great friend as well as a trusted advisor. His legacy will extend far beyond the products he created or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-iger/steve-jobs-was-a-great-friend-as-well-as-a-trusted-advisor-his-legacy/) [Bob Iger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-iger/) > [He was a volatile mixture of confidence and vulnerability. He could deliver extended monologues on professional matters, then promptly stop in his tracks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/he-was-a-volatile-mixture-of-confidence-and-vulnerability-he-could/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [All great leaders choose great advisors, people they really trust for their governance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/all-great-leaders-choose-great-advisors-people-they-really-trust-for/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [Investors, of course, can, by their own behavior make stock ownership highly risky. And many do. Active trading, attempts to "time" market movements, inadequate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/investors-of-course-can-by-their-own-behavior-make-stock-ownership/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [If you don't like the idea that most of the money spent on lottery tickets supports government programs, you should know that most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/if-you-don-t-like-the-idea-that-most-of-the-money-spent-on-lottery/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) ## More by Spike Lee > [Mike Tyson is the most complex person I've ever met in my life. I've known Mike since 1986. We're both from Brooklyn. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/mike-tyson-is-the-most-complex-person-i-ve-ever-met-in-my-life-i-ve/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [A spine to my films that's become more evident to me is that many are about the choices people make, and the reverberations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/a-spine-to-my-films-that-s-become-more-evident-to-me-is-that-many-are/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [I am very fortunate I can send my kids to private school, but everybody does not have the money. If you cannot get your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/i-am-very-fortunate-i-can-send-my-kids-to-private-school-but/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [I really don't deal with hypotheticals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/i-really-don-t-deal-with-hypotheticals/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [I've never seen black men with fine white women. They be ugly. Mugly dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/i-ve-never-seen-black-men-with-fine-white-women-they-be-ugly-mugly/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [I may have been born yesterday, but I stayed up all night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/i-may-have-been-born-yesterday-but-i-stayed-up-all-night/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [I consider Madonna a friend, and she sure knows how to work the publicity machine. Of course, I don't have breasts. If I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/i-consider-madonna-a-friend-and-she-sure-knows-how-to-work-the/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [If you can't take a hit, you're not going to last long, that's for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/if-you-can-t-take-a-hit-you-re-not-going-to-last-long-that-s-for-sure/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [America doesn't have the moral right to tell other people what to do. To say the whole world has to fall into line is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/america-doesn-t-have-the-moral-right-to-tell-other-people-what-to-do/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [I'm worried just as much about Donald Trump as that crazy guy in North Korea - and he has a nuclear code. I'm worrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/i-m-worried-just-as-much-about-donald-trump-as-that-crazy-guy-in/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [I think the best actors in the world are here in New York City. And this city is just so vibrant the energy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/i-think-the-best-actors-in-the-world-are-here-in-new-york-city-and/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [People sometimes forget all the films that we've done. They remember the likes of 'Malcolm X' and 'Do the Right Thing.' But I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/people-sometimes-forget-all-the-films-that-we-ve-done-they-remember/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [I ain't Martin Luther King. I don't need a dream. I have a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/i-ain-t-martin-luther-king-i-don-t-need-a-dream-i-have-a-plan/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [Any film I do is not going to change the way black women have been portrayed, or black people have been portrayed, in cinema…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/any-film-i-do-is-not-going-to-change-the-way-black-women-have-been/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [I think if people looked at my body of work, they'd see a great breadth of work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/i-think-if-people-looked-at-my-body-of-work-they-d-see-a-great/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) [Explore all 141 Spike Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) ## More Advisors quotes > [If you don't like the idea that most of the money spent on lottery tickets supports government programs, you should know that most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/if-you-don-t-like-the-idea-that-most-of-the-money-spent-on-lottery/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [Investors, of course, can, by their own behavior make stock ownership highly risky. And many do. Active trading, attempts to "time" market movements, inadequate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/investors-of-course-can-by-their-own-behavior-make-stock-ownership/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [All great leaders choose great advisors, people they really trust for their governance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/all-great-leaders-choose-great-advisors-people-they-really-trust-for/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [He was a volatile mixture of confidence and vulnerability. He could deliver extended monologues on professional matters, then promptly stop in his tracks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/he-was-a-volatile-mixture-of-confidence-and-vulnerability-he-could/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Steve Jobs was a great friend as well as a trusted advisor. His legacy will extend far beyond the products he created or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-iger/steve-jobs-was-a-great-friend-as-well-as-a-trusted-advisor-his-legacy/) [Bob Iger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-iger/) > [“Advisors who rate the highest on reliability will not just deliver their work on time and on spec. Nor will they simply be consistent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/advisors-who-rate-the-highest-on-reliability-will-not-just-deliver/) [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) > [National security advisors are not there to be advocates, generally. They're not there to be partisans, they're not there to be ideologues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/national-security-advisors-are-not-there-to-be-advocates-generally/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [“Choose and create a circle of proper advisors around you. Do not discuss your project with your relatives, neighbor, grandmother, friends’ friends, pastor, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmytro-zaporozhtsev/choose-and-create-a-circle-of-proper-advisors-around-you-do-not/) Dmytro Zaporozhtsev > [When you start really respecting yourself, those you love, and your money, the result is that you start having control over your money. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/when-you-start-really-respecting-yourself-those-you-love-and-your/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [... true financial freedom doesn't depend on how much money you have. Financial freedom is when you have power over your fears and anxieties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/true-financial-freedom-doesn-t-depend-on-how-much-money-you-have/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [I can't imagine living a life without God in my life. He is my best friend, He's my buddy, He's the one that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reba-mcentire/i-can-t-imagine-living-a-life-without-god-in-my-life-he-is-my-best/) [Reba McEntire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reba-mcentire/) > [Among the most disheartening and dangerous of . . . advisors, you will often find those closest to you, your dearest friends, members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minnie-maddern-fiske/among-the-most-disheartening-and-dangerous-of-advisors-you-will-often/) [Minnie Maddern Fiske](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minnie-maddern-fiske/) > [ \[What if my advisor talks only about returns, not risk?\] ... It's his job to take risk into account by telling you the range… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-forsyth-sharpe/what-if-my-advisor-talks-only-about-returns-not-risk-it-s-his-job-to/) William Forsyth Sharpe > [I probably have a small number of people that are consistently advisors and mentors, but I'm much more likely to have a broader array…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/i-probably-have-a-small-number-of-people-that-are-consistently/) [Kathryn Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/) > [Love points the way. Desire is its ignorant advisor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elfriede-jelinek/love-points-the-way-desire-is-its-ignorant-advisor/) [Elfriede Jelinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elfriede-jelinek/) Browse all 114 Advisors quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I decided to be a filmmaker between my sophomore and junior years at Morehouse. 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