--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always wanted to be a filmmaker, but I…" description: "\"I always wanted to be a filmmaker, but I started acting when I was 9 years old. I looked a certain part that I wasn't, really. I played, you know, a hi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/steve-antin-28481_acting_i-always-wanted-to-be-a-filmmaker-but-i_2028407.jpg" --- # I always wanted to be a filmmaker, but I started acting… ![“I always wanted to be a filmmaker, but I started acting when I was 9 years old. I looked a certain part that I wasn't, really. I played, you know, a high school jock with a lot of attitude or a spoiled rich kid, and I was neither of those things. I was from a very working-class family in Van Nuys.” quote by Steve Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/steve-antin-28481_acting_i-always-wanted-to-be-a-filmmaker-but-i_2028407.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/steve-antin-28481_acting_i-always-wanted-to-be-a-filmmaker-but-i_2028407.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/steve-antin-28481_acting_i-always-wanted-to-be-a-filmmaker-but-i_2028407.jpg) > “I always wanted to be a filmmaker, but I started acting when I was 9 years old. I looked a certain part that I wasn't, really. I played, you know, a high school jock with a lot of attitude or a spoiled rich kid, and I was neither of those things. I was from a very working-class family in Van Nuys.” [Steve Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-antin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A desire to create films led to acting early, revealing a mismatch between role and true self, highlighting the journey of self‑discovery. **In simple terms:** Acting early revealed a mismatch between true self and roles. Key Takeaway Seek authentic expression. Themes identity career self‑discovery art growth Mood reflective motivational Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - acting auditions - career counseling - creative workshops - self‑reflection sessions Key Concepts psychology career development creative arts Questions to Reflect On - How can early experiences shape authentic paths? - What steps help align work with identity? A Different Perspective Early roles may limit future opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Filmmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaker/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Jock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jock/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Working class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-class/) ## Related quotes > [I started acting when I was three years old, so I was able to see the inside before seeing the wrapping; I wasn't seeing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andre-grondin/i-started-acting-when-i-was-three-years-old-so-i-was-able-to-see-the/) [Marc-Andre Grondin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andre-grondin/) > [I started acting when I was five years old. I found it randomly, through listening to my brother study monologues. I auditorally started memorizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-grace-moretz/i-started-acting-when-i-was-five-years-old-i-found-it-randomly/) [Chloe Grace Moretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-grace-moretz/) > [When I first started acting I was about nine years old. I had never been to audition in my life and my agent sent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ludwig/when-i-first-started-acting-i-was-about-nine-years-old-i-had-never/) [Alexander Ludwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ludwig/) > [I started acting when I was 5 years old. And I was pretty well known for a while. Your self-esteem and your identity start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-earle-haley/i-started-acting-when-i-was-5-years-old-and-i-was-pretty-well-known/) [Jackie Earle Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-earle-haley/) > [No, I always wanted to be a singer. It was kind of funny that I took this road, started acting, then-almost ten years later-in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tia-carrere/no-i-always-wanted-to-be-a-singer-it-was-kind-of-funny-that-i-took/) [Tia Carrere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tia-carrere/) > [When I was watching 'Sivaji,' I had no clue I will be a filmmaker; I had not even started making short films at that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthik-subbaraj/when-i-was-watching-sivaji-i-had-no-clue-i-will-be-a-filmmaker-i-had/) [Karthik Subbaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthik-subbaraj/) > [When I left university I was sure that I was going to be a painter. Then I had a crisis, a revelation. I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-miller/when-i-left-university-i-was-sure-that-i-was-going-to-be-a-painter/) [Rebecca Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-miller/) > [I saw Dolce Vita and my mind was blown by it, by the synthesis. I realised I wanted to be a filmmaker and started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-miller/i-saw-dolce-vita-and-my-mind-was-blown-by-it-by-the-synthesis-i/) [Rebecca Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-miller/) > [When I started I did not know I wanted to be a filmmaker. I started - I made a film. Then when I finished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/when-i-started-i-did-not-know-i-wanted-to-be-a-filmmaker-i-started-i/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [The single most eye-opening experience for me and what propelled me to become a filmmaker was that I started to see films from other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-isaac-chung/the-single-most-eye-opening-experience-for-me-and-what-propelled-me/) [Lee Isaac Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-isaac-chung/) > [I've been acting for many years now, and I find there's nothing I enjoy more than making films with my friends and people I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/i-ve-been-acting-for-many-years-now-and-i-find-there-s-nothing-i/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [At the end of drama school, I made a contract with myself: I'd try acting for five years. I was 26. I had already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/at-the-end-of-drama-school-i-made-a-contract-with-myself-i-d-try/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [And I've been lucky in that I haven't had another job besides acting in the last five years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/and-i-ve-been-lucky-in-that-i-haven-t-had-another-job-besides-acting/) [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) > [And I taught acting for years, and without knowing it that was the real thing that started bending me toward directing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/and-i-taught-acting-for-years-and-without-knowing-it-that-was-the/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [With a recent birthday, I've been acting now for twenty years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thayer-david/with-a-recent-birthday-i-ve-been-acting-now-for-twenty-years/) [Thayer David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thayer-david/) ## More by Steve Antin > [I want to do something where the script is there. That doesn't mean that I won't need to come in, or be asked to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-antin/i-want-to-do-something-where-the-script-is-there-that-doesn-t-mean/) [Steve Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-antin/) > [I want to make big movies that appeal to a lot of people. That's satisfying to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-antin/i-want-to-make-big-movies-that-appeal-to-a-lot-of-people-that-s/) [Steve Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-antin/) > [Disney was kind enough, thoughtful enough and believed enough in me, as a director, to wait for me to be available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-antin/disney-was-kind-enough-thoughtful-enough-and-believed-enough-in-me-as/) [Steve Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-antin/) > [In a huge way, everything that I've done in my life has helped inform my ability to communicate with actors and direct them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-antin/in-a-huge-way-everything-that-i-ve-done-in-my-life-has-helped-inform/) [Steve Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-antin/) > [I actually had a movie green lit at Disney the same week 'Burlesque' was green lit - a movie for Disney called 'Mash-Up', about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-antin/i-actually-had-a-movie-green-lit-at-disney-the-same-week-burlesque/) [Steve Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-antin/) > [I always wanted to direct. I always saw myself as a director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-antin/i-always-wanted-to-direct-i-always-saw-myself-as-a-director/) [Steve Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-antin/) > [I'm not Shakespeare. I have no delusions of who I am, as a writer. I wrote a simply beautiful script that's a fun-filled, joyous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-antin/i-m-not-shakespeare-i-have-no-delusions-of-who-i-am-as-a-writer-i/) [Steve Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-antin/) > [I really feel that I'm a much better director than I was an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-antin/i-really-feel-that-i-m-a-much-better-director-than-i-was-an-actor/) [Steve Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-antin/) > [Cher is really down-to-earth, very nurturing, incredibly funny and fun, a great storyteller, and creates a great environment on the set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-antin/cher-is-really-down-to-earth-very-nurturing-incredibly-funny-and-fun/) [Steve Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-antin/) > [I've always had a love affair with New York City, and I've threatened to get an apartment there one day. But it just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-antin/i-ve-always-had-a-love-affair-with-new-york-city-and-i-ve-threatened/) [Steve Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-antin/) > [I always wanted to direct. I always saw myself as a director. I know that I've definitely found what I should be doing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-antin/i-always-wanted-to-direct-i-always-saw-myself-as-a-director-i-know/) [Steve Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-antin/) > [I love actors. I love working with actors. I really enjoy the process. I love having those in-depth discussions about the interior of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-antin/i-love-actors-i-love-working-with-actors-i-really-enjoy-the-process-i/) [Steve Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-antin/) > [I've been involved in burlesque for a really long time and I've always been really interested in burlesque, and I was writing musicals for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-antin/i-ve-been-involved-in-burlesque-for-a-really-long-time-and-i-ve/) [Steve Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-antin/) > [Kristen Bell is rare as an actress, because she's the type of actor who jumps out of a plane without a parachute - from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-antin/kristen-bell-is-rare-as-an-actress-because-she-s-the-type-of-actor/) [Steve Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-antin/) > [I love actors. I love working with actors. I really enjoy the process. I love having those in-depth discussions about the interior of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-antin/i-love-actors-i-love-working-with-actors-i-really-enjoy-the-process-i-2/) [Steve Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-antin/) [Explore all 19 Steve Antin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-antin/) ## 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 always wanted to be a filmmaker, but I started acting when I was 9 years old. I looked a certain part that I wasn't, really. I played, you know, a high school jock with a lot of attitude or a spoiled rich kid, and I was neither of those things. 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