--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was pretty surreal to be auditioning…" description: "\"It was pretty surreal to be auditioning as a kid, and I'd get close to these actors that I really respected. I remember River Phoenix in particular. I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/594/stephen-dorff-13120_him_it-was-pretty-surreal-to-be-auditioning_1201841.jpg" --- # It was pretty surreal to be auditioning as a kid, and I'd… ![“It was pretty surreal to be auditioning as a kid, and I'd get close to these actors that I really respected. I remember River Phoenix in particular. I met him at an audition hall or something.” quote by Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/594/stephen-dorff-13120_him_it-was-pretty-surreal-to-be-auditioning_1201841.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/594/stephen-dorff-13120_him_it-was-pretty-surreal-to-be-auditioning_1201841.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/594/stephen-dorff-13120_him_it-was-pretty-surreal-to-be-auditioning_1201841.jpg) > “It was pretty surreal to be auditioning as a kid, and I'd get close to these actors that I really respected. I remember River Phoenix in particular. I met him at an audition hall or something.” [Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Auditioning as a child gave rare access to admired actors, creating memorable experiences. **In simple terms:** Child auditions bring close encounters with idols. Key Takeaway Cherish early opportunities with mentors. Themes career growthorship inspiration Mood nostalgic inspirational Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - acting auditions - networking - career beginnings Key Concepts mentor career growth Questions to Reflect On - What did you learn from those encounters? - How did they shape your aspirations? A Different Perspective Early exposure can create unrealistic expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phoenix/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) ## Related quotes > [Gus van Sant I met at the Berlin film festival, and he came up to me. He had a little film in the festival…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/udo-kier/gus-van-sant-i-met-at-the-berlin-film-festival-and-he-came-up-to-me/) [Udo Kier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/udo-kier/) > [When I was eighteen, River Phoenix was far and away my hero. Think of all those early great performances - My Own Private Idaho.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/when-i-was-eighteen-river-phoenix-was-far-and-away-my-hero-think-of/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [Some people say that you should go to all the parties, to the nightclubs, the Viper Room, and make contacts, and I look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/some-people-say-that-you-should-go-to-all-the-parties-to-the-2/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [I've watched a lot of my friends die, everyone from John Belushi, River Phoenix to Chris Farley. It just keeps going on and on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-aames/i-ve-watched-a-lot-of-my-friends-die-everyone-from-john-belushi-river/) [Willie Aames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-aames/) > [Definitely River Phoenix is somebody that I thought, 'This guy is very cool.' I wanted to be like him when I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sturgess/definitely-river-phoenix-is-somebody-that-i-thought-this-guy-is-very/) [Jim Sturgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sturgess/) > [James Dean taught me not to speed, River Phoenix taught me not to DO speed, and Marlon Brando taught me to slow down on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-hirsch/james-dean-taught-me-not-to-speed-river-phoenix-taught-me-not-to-do/) [Emile Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-hirsch/) > [ \[on River Phoenix\] I would love to see what kind of choices he would be making now if he was still around, some of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sturgess/on-river-phoenix-i-would-love-to-see-what-kind-of-choices-he-would-be/) [Jim Sturgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sturgess/) > [When a role for a young guy is being offered to me, I think of River Phoenix. It feels like a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/when-a-role-for-a-young-guy-is-being-offered-to-me-i-think-of-river/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [What if River Phoenix had lived?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-mcweeny/what-if-river-phoenix-had-lived/) Drew McWeeny > [My favorite movie is 'Dogfight' with River Phoenix and Lili Taylor. The ending is kind of bittersweet but so real and moving and complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perfume-genius/my-favorite-movie-is-dogfight-with-river-phoenix-and-lili-taylor-the/) [Perfume Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perfume-genius/) > [I remember specifically a couple of performances that I saw when I was young - River Phoenix in 'Stand by Me' and also Michael…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/i-remember-specifically-a-couple-of-performances-that-i-saw-when-i/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > [Some people say that you should go to all the parties, to the nightclubs, the Viper Room, and make contacts. And I look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/some-people-say-that-you-should-go-to-all-the-parties-to-the/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [My favorite movie of all time is probably 'The Thing Called Love.' It's a formulaic film but it's got River Phoenix, who is like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiloh-fernandez/my-favorite-movie-of-all-time-is-probably-the-thing-called-love-it-s/) [Shiloh Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiloh-fernandez/) > [I look up to Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon. I'm a huge fan of their work. I also like actors who really transform themselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/i-look-up-to-leonardo-dicaprio-and-matt-damon-i-m-a-huge-fan-of-their/) [Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/) > [“I cross my fingers that if a demon dunks me in a vat of boiling lava I'll get thrown together naked with River Phoenix,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/i-cross-my-fingers-that-if-a-demon-dunks-me-in-a-vat-of-boiling-lava/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) ## More by Stephen Dorff > [I find that dialogue is bad in most scripts. I just think there are very few writers that can capture the natural way people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dorff/i-find-that-dialogue-is-bad-in-most-scripts-i-just-think-there-are/) [Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) > [I've mainly been in dramas, so this is one of my first comedy kind of performances in Cecil B. Demented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dorff/i-ve-mainly-been-in-dramas-so-this-is-one-of-my-first-comedy-kind-of/) [Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) > [I'm used to having big movie cameras in my face, I pretend that they're not there. But I actually like being on my own,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dorff/i-m-used-to-having-big-movie-cameras-in-my-face-i-pretend-that-they/) [Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) > [I used to play around and sing Randy Travis for my dad. I'd always be able to just mimic things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dorff/i-used-to-play-around-and-sing-randy-travis-for-my-dad-i-d-always-be/) [Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) > [I think that when I was younger and had my first round of big success and was plastered on magazine covers in the early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dorff/i-think-that-when-i-was-younger-and-had-my-first-round-of-big-success/) [Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) > [I was thrown into the fashion world, dating models - and you'd read about me dating a new starlet every month. That's just where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dorff/i-was-thrown-into-the-fashion-world-dating-models-and-you-d-read/) [Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) > [I would have wanted my mom to see me settle down and to be a grandma to my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dorff/i-would-have-wanted-my-mom-to-see-me-settle-down-and-to-be-a-grandma/) [Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) > [There's a lot of idiots in Hollywood, a lot of people with no imagination, so as an actor you have to constantly re-show them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dorff/there-s-a-lot-of-idiots-in-hollywood-a-lot-of-people-with-no/) [Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) > [Living at the beach, it's hard to get out of the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dorff/living-at-the-beach-it-s-hard-to-get-out-of-the-sun/) [Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) > [In a movie script, you know what the moments are that you really have to hit it out of the park.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dorff/in-a-movie-script-you-know-what-the-moments-are-that-you-really-have/) [Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) > [I've always found, when I was younger, that the older guys - the guys who weren't of my generation but were 20, 30 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dorff/i-ve-always-found-when-i-was-younger-that-the-older-guys-the-guys-who/) [Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) > [When I was 17, I was going to go to college because I couldn't get a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dorff/when-i-was-17-i-was-going-to-go-to-college-because-i-couldn-t-get-a/) [Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) > [Nuclear arms is pretty scary because that could end the world. I'm more interested in that stuff than I am Bill Clinton. I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dorff/nuclear-arms-is-pretty-scary-because-that-could-end-the-world-i-m/) [Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) > [In my early 20s, I was buying Kristofferson records. I loved his acting; then I found out all the songs he wrote. I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dorff/in-my-early-20s-i-was-buying-kristofferson-records-i-loved-his-acting/) [Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) > [Yes, I definitely plan to direct at some point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dorff/yes-i-definitely-plan-to-direct-at-some-point/) [Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) [Explore all 51 Stephen Dorff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [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/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. 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. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. 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": "It was pretty surreal to be auditioning as a kid, and I'd get close to these actors that I really respected. 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