--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the beginning, it wasn't even a…" description: "\"In the beginning, it wasn't even a question of deciding I'm going to do independent film and not commercial films - I wasn't being offered any commerci..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/steve-buscemi-5055_cinema_in-the-beginning-it-wasn-t-even-a-questi_1642196.jpg" --- # In the beginning, it wasn't even a question of deciding… ![“In the beginning, it wasn't even a question of deciding I'm going to do independent film and not commercial films - I wasn't being offered any commercial films, and there wasn't an independent scene.” quote by Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/steve-buscemi-5055_cinema_in-the-beginning-it-wasn-t-even-a-questi_1642196.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/steve-buscemi-5055_cinema_in-the-beginning-it-wasn-t-even-a-questi_1642196.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/steve-buscemi-5055_cinema_in-the-beginning-it-wasn-t-even-a-questi_1642196.jpg) > “In the beginning, it wasn't even a question of deciding I'm going to do independent film and not commercial films - I wasn't being offered any commercial films, and there wasn't an independent scene.” [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He explains that his path into independent film was not a deliberate choice but a result of lack of commercial offers and absence of an indie scene. **In simple terms:** His indie career emerged from circumstance, not planning. Key Takeaway Adapt to opportunities when plans fall short. Themes career path film industry independence adaptability circumstance Mood pragmatic inspirational reflective Type career creative. When to use this quote - career planning - artistic direction - industry networking - resource scarcity Key Concepts film studies career development creativity Questions to Reflect On - What steps could you take to create opportunities? - How does scarcity shape creative choices? A Different Perspective Relying on circumstance may limit proactive growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Independent film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent-film/) ## Related quotes > [“There wasn't in the beginning. It wasn't until your kind discovered what was happening that any resistance started. That seems to be the key—knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/there-wasn-t-in-the-beginning-it-wasn-t-until-your-kind-discovered/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [In the beginning, I wasn't quite sure what '29' was. I just knew I needed to get some things off my chest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-pearce/in-the-beginning-i-wasn-t-quite-sure-what-29-was-i-just-knew-i-needed/) [Carly Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-pearce/) > [At the beginning it wasn't to do with the work, it was more the experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-gainsbourg/at-the-beginning-it-wasn-t-to-do-with-the-work-it-was-more-the/) [Charlotte Gainsbourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-gainsbourg/) > [“In the beginning. I wasn't there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/in-the-beginning-i-wasn-t-there/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [The idea of being published was such an abstract thing in the beginning. It wasn't even an option in my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/the-idea-of-being-published-was-such-an-abstract-thing-in-the/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [ I've been a lifetime Democrat, and I'm re-registering this year as an independent. It's strictly \[because\] my party, that I've been affiliated with all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-keith/i-ve-been-a-lifetime-democrat-and-i-m-re-registering-this-year-as-an/) [Toby Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-keith/) > [I would recommend going out for more independent films. You can get bigger roles and really work your acting chops and build a reel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-azlynn/i-would-recommend-going-out-for-more-independent-films-you-can-get/) [Valerie Azlynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-azlynn/) > [We have to have a mayor who is going to be independent, particularly of our city labor unions, to ensure that the dollars that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-faulconer/we-have-to-have-a-mayor-who-is-going-to-be-independent-particularly/) [Kevin Faulconer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-faulconer/) > [My whole team, it wasn't about putting the album out, it was about getting off the record company and going independent or going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/my-whole-team-it-wasn-t-about-putting-the-album-out-it-was-about/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [I base a lot of decisions on my gut, and going with an independent label was a good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-base-a-lot-of-decisions-on-my-gut-and-going-with-an-independent/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [We got together and realized that Universal made it clear that they were out of the Riddick business. They didn't want to spend that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-twohy/we-got-together-and-realized-that-universal-made-it-clear-that-they/) [David Twohy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-twohy/) > [I honestly believe going independent is the future. Social is changing, Spotify is changing, everything is changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-beer/i-honestly-believe-going-independent-is-the-future-social-is-changing/) [Madison Beer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-beer/) > [Here was just not a lot that we could do as an Independent. We could barely make $100,000. It was nothing' else livin' on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-boosie/here-was-just-not-a-lot-that-we-could-do-as-an-independent-we-could/) [Lil Boosie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-boosie/) > [Definitely, when you get into something where bands are playing for 30,000 people, it's not like the post-punk, U.S. independent scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/definitely-when-you-get-into-something-where-bands-are-playing-for-30/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [Back in the day when I started on the independent scene, guys would not watch women's matches, and if they did, they would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-banks/back-in-the-day-when-i-started-on-the-independent-scene-guys-would/) [Sasha Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-banks/) ## More by Steve Buscemi > [I suppose things are better now, but ... I don't know. People still hate each other, they just know how to hide it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-suppose-things-are-better-now-but-i-don-t-know-people-still-hate/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I read the script and decide if a particular character looks fun to play. I look for complexity and a sense of humor. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-read-the-script-and-decide-if-a-particular-character-looks-fun-to/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [Bob Altman had this relaxed but serious attitude. Everybody loved him. I wanted him to adopt me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/bob-altman-had-this-relaxed-but-serious-attitude-everybody-loved-him/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I never know what I'm going to get. A 'Sopranos' fan is very different from a 'Big Lebowski' fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-never-know-what-i-m-going-to-get-a-sopranos-fan-is-very-different/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [Nothing's really changed for me over the years. I like telling stories about people with problems. I can't really put it much simpler than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/nothing-s-really-changed-for-me-over-the-years-i-like-telling-stories/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I don't tend to think of the characters i play as losers. I like the struggles that people have, people who are feeling like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-don-t-tend-to-think-of-the-characters-i-play-as-losers-i-like-the/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [Casting is everything. Getting the person that you imagined is this character and then seeing what they bring to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/casting-is-everything-getting-the-person-that-you-imagined-is-this/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I like the struggles that people have, people who are feeling like they don't fit into society, because I still sort of feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-like-the-struggles-that-people-have-people-who-are-feeling-like/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [Anything you write, even if you have to start over, is valuable. I let the story write itself through the characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/anything-you-write-even-if-you-have-to-start-over-is-valuable-i-let/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I never did improv professionally, but that was certainly in my training as an actor. I like it. Actually, when I did theater, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-never-did-improv-professionally-but-that-was-certainly-in-my/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [When I was doing stand-up, I was about twenty, and I really think that that's a little too young. I didn't have a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/when-i-was-doing-stand-up-i-was-about-twenty-and-i-really-think-that/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [With Animal Factory you'd think that because it's mostly interiors, you could shoot it anywhere. So we shot this in Philadelphia, and we had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/with-animal-factory-you-d-think-that-because-it-s-mostly-interiors/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I never made a daring rescue, which is the story people want to hear. I did go to my share of fires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-never-made-a-daring-rescue-which-is-the-story-people-want-to-hear-i/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I never want to feel like the way that I see it isthe only way. Sometimes mistakes happen and that's better than whatyou thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-never-want-to-feel-like-the-way-that-i-see-it-isthe-only-way/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I was very surprised that for a while I could only get cast as straight. It was that way for a few years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-was-very-surprised-that-for-a-while-i-could-only-get-cast-as/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) [Explore all 103 Steve Buscemi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [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/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [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/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the beginning, it wasn't even a question of deciding I'm going to do independent film and not commercial films - I wasn't being offered any commercial films, and there wasn't an independent scene.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Buscemi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/in-the-beginning-it-wasn-t-even-a-question-of-deciding-i-m-going-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/in-the-beginning-it-wasn-t-even-a-question-of-deciding-i-m-going-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/steve-buscemi-5055_cinema_in-the-beginning-it-wasn-t-even-a-questi_1642196.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/steve-buscemi-5055_cinema_in-the-beginning-it-wasn-t-even-a-questi_1642196.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/steve-buscemi-5055_cinema_in-the-beginning-it-wasn-t-even-a-questi_1642196.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the beginning, it wasn't even a question of deciding I'm going to do independent film and not commercial…” — Steve Buscemi", "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": "Steve Buscemi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In the beginning, it wasn't even...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/in-the-beginning-it-wasn-t-even-a-question-of-deciding-i-m-going-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/in-the-beginning-it-wasn-t-even-a-question-of-deciding-i-m-going-to/#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 } } ] } ```