--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never wanted to be a filmmaker. I…" description: "\"I never wanted to be a filmmaker. I still, sometimes, think I got sidetracked by this, like this is a tangent. My main thing was painting; I was just g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/taika-waititi-3300_filmmaker_i-never-wanted-to-be-a-filmmaker-i-still_1341378.jpg" --- # I never wanted to be a filmmaker. I still, sometimes… ![“I never wanted to be a filmmaker. I still, sometimes, think I got sidetracked by this, like this is a tangent. My main thing was painting; I was just going to do that.” quote by Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/taika-waititi-3300_filmmaker_i-never-wanted-to-be-a-filmmaker-i-still_1341378.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/taika-waititi-3300_filmmaker_i-never-wanted-to-be-a-filmmaker-i-still_1341378.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/taika-waititi-3300_filmmaker_i-never-wanted-to-be-a-filmmaker-i-still_1341378.jpg) > “I never wanted to be a filmmaker. I still, sometimes, think I got sidetracked by this, like this is a tangent. My main thing was painting; I was just going to do that.” [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative paths can shift, but core passions often remain underlying. **In simple terms:** Creative shifts reveal core passion. Key Takeaway Embrace new mediums while honoring roots. Themes creativity career identity Mood inspirational thoughtful Type career artistic When to use this quote - career transition - art projects Key Concepts artistic evolution self‑discovery Questions to Reflect On - What core passion drives you? - How can you integrate both arts? A Different Perspective Changing fields may dilute original skill. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Filmmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaker/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Sidetracked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sidetracked/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I had a real good thing going for me, and I got sidetracked. It doesn't have to be that way. It doesn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-caminiti/i-had-a-real-good-thing-going-for-me-and-i-got-sidetracked-it-doesn-t/) Ken Caminiti > [I never had the guts to tell my parents that I wanted to be a filmmaker. I had to take a very long route…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-agnihotri/i-never-had-the-guts-to-tell-my-parents-that-i-wanted-to-be-a/) [Vivek Agnihotri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-agnihotri/) > [Most of all, I really wanted to become a filmmaker, and I've used every acting experience to just turn it into film school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-davies/most-of-all-i-really-wanted-to-become-a-filmmaker-and-i-ve-used-every/) [Jeremy Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-davies/) > [But you know, 'Star Wars' is the movie that's affected me the most in my entire life. It's the reason I wanted to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-edwards/but-you-know-star-wars-is-the-movie-that-s-affected-me-the-most-in-my/) [Gareth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-edwards/) > [I wanted to be a filmmaker, actually, when I was in high school and college. But I just decided it would be more expensive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-sheff/i-wanted-to-be-a-filmmaker-actually-when-i-was-in-high-school-and/) [Will Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-sheff/) > [I never intended to be a documentary filmmaker. I think I became a documentary filmmaker because I had trouble writing, and I had trouble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/i-never-intended-to-be-a-documentary-filmmaker-i-think-i-became-a/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [We with Komplizen Film believe very much in the writer-director and in the freedom of a filmmaker. I think it's always good to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maren-ade/we-with-komplizen-film-believe-very-much-in-the-writer-director-and/) [Maren Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maren-ade/) > [I'd like to make mistakes on my own dime, and not have a herd of people tell me what I'm doing wrong. and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-aselton/i-d-like-to-make-mistakes-on-my-own-dime-and-not-have-a-herd-of/) [Katie Aselton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-aselton/) > [I'm a filmmaker, so I always think: When is the breaking point? Sometimes you've got to go beyond the breaking point, and then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/i-m-a-filmmaker-so-i-always-think-when-is-the-breaking-point/) [Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) > [“The problem with getting older is you meant to bring sexy back, but then you got sidetracked, and wound up napping instead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-blake/the-problem-with-getting-older-is-you-meant-to-bring-sexy-back-but/) [Russell Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-blake/) > [I was trying to become a legitimate trumpet player, and I had a scholarship to Eastman School of Music. I was really on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-avalon/i-was-trying-to-become-a-legitimate-trumpet-player-and-i-had-a/) [Frankie Avalon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-avalon/) > [I wanted to be a filmmaker since I was a kid. I always did things that took me a little closer to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-wanted-to-be-a-filmmaker-since-i-was-a-kid-i-always-did-things-that/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [I was blessed enough to know that I wanted to be a filmmaker when I was a kid, the first time I realized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-was-blessed-enough-to-know-that-i-wanted-to-be-a-filmmaker-when-i/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [I found out I wanted to be a filmmaker almost by accident after graduating from college in 2005.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-heineman/i-found-out-i-wanted-to-be-a-filmmaker-almost-by-accident-after/) [Matthew Heineman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-heineman/) > [I grew up right near Hollywood, and I wanted to be a filmmaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-griffin/i-grew-up-right-near-hollywood-and-i-wanted-to-be-a-filmmaker/) [Susan Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-griffin/) ## More by Taika Waititi > [I come from a big extended family, so it's very normal to be around babies for us, but when it's your own, it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/i-come-from-a-big-extended-family-so-it-s-very-normal-to-be-around/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [That's what attracts me to the kind of characters I try and write - that they're not cut and dried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/that-s-what-attracts-me-to-the-kind-of-characters-i-try-and-write/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [Music - it's motivational and just makes you relax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/music-it-s-motivational-and-just-makes-you-relax/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [ In a couple of years I think it \[sequel to What We Do\] will come out as a script and we'll shoot that. Or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/in-a-couple-of-years-i-think-it-sequel-to-what-we-do-will-come-out-as/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [When you're on set, you're like, 'Everyone's judging me because I'm the director, and everyone thinks I'm doing this because I just love myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/when-you-re-on-set-you-re-like-everyone-s-judging-me-because-i-m-the/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [My father is a visual artist, so I was influenced by him, and my mother is an English teacher who forced me to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/my-father-is-a-visual-artist-so-i-was-influenced-by-him-and-my-mother/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [New Zealand was such a weird place in the 1980s. For instance, we used to have this commercial in the late 1970s where this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/new-zealand-was-such-a-weird-place-in-the-1980s-for-instance-we-used/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [I think... part of life skills is also socialising... I think many people make the mistake of not going out... You can spend a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/i-think-part-of-life-skills-is-also-socialising-i-think-many-people/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [ I loved him \[Ke Huy Quan as Short-Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom\] - everyone loved him when I saw the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/i-loved-him-ke-huy-quan-as-short-round-in-indiana-jones-and-the/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [You have to write what you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/you-have-to-write-what-you-know/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [I've always said that, first and foremost, I make films for New Zealanders. They're my target audience. Then after that, if people appreciate my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/i-ve-always-said-that-first-and-foremost-i-make-films-for-new/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [I find that a lot of child actors are ruined once they've done a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/i-find-that-a-lot-of-child-actors-are-ruined-once-they-ve-done-a-job/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [There are lots of parts of filmmaking that I don't like. At the end of the day, especially on features, the film turns into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/there-are-lots-of-parts-of-filmmaking-that-i-don-t-like-at-the-end-of/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [My main thing was painting; I was just going to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/my-main-thing-was-painting-i-was-just-going-to-do-that/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [I always wanted to play a dapper gentleman, and I also always wanted to play my mum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/i-always-wanted-to-play-a-dapper-gentleman-and-i-also-always-wanted/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) [Explore all 134 Taika Waititi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) ## More Filmmaker quotes > [I still don't feel I know Hitchcock at all. I find that the more one looks, the more elusive he becomes. But my admiration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-jones/i-still-don-t-feel-i-know-hitchcock-at-all-i-find-that-the-more-one/) [Toby Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-jones/) > [Love is all a matter of timing. It's no good meeting the right person too soon or too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/love-is-all-a-matter-of-timing-it-s-no-good-meeting-the-right-person/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) > [I love awards, especially if I get them. It's up to the courage of the filmmakers to make art in cinema, not just business.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gazzara/i-love-awards-especially-if-i-get-them-it-s-up-to-the-courage-of-the/) [Ben Gazzara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gazzara/) > [I think it is kind of depressing how few female filmmakers there are. I think it is in general depressing how few women there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanne-bier/i-think-it-is-kind-of-depressing-how-few-female-filmmakers-there-are/) [Susanne Bier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanne-bier/) > [What I would say to filmmakers, if I may be so bold or so arrogant, is to draw inspiration from other filmmakers, but go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/what-i-would-say-to-filmmakers-if-i-may-be-so-bold-or-so-arrogant-is/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [Filmmakers get into trouble when they're watching too many DVDs and quoting all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mangold/filmmakers-get-into-trouble-when-they-re-watching-too-many-dvds-and/) [James Mangold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mangold/) > [Even from a really young age I was a huge movie buff - five, six, seven, eight. Just loved movies, but in a more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-strong/even-from-a-really-young-age-i-was-a-huge-movie-buff-five-six-seven/) [Danny Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-strong/) > [The terrorists who committed the 2003 Istanbul attacks were locals, that is, Turks. And when filmmaker Theo van Gogh was murdered in the Netherlands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/the-terrorists-who-committed-the-2003-istanbul-attacks-were-locals/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [I think Frank Capra was a much craftier filmmaker, a wonderful filmmaker. He had enormous technique, and he knew how to manipulate the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-think-frank-capra-was-a-much-craftier-filmmaker-a-wonderful/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [As a filmmaker, you take reality and you tell a story from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hany-abu-assad/as-a-filmmaker-you-take-reality-and-you-tell-a-story-from-it/) [Hany Abu-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hany-abu-assad/) > [I think, as a filmmaker, it's important to be honest with yourself at all times in terms of what's working and what's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-wingard/i-think-as-a-filmmaker-it-s-important-to-be-honest-with-yourself-at/) [Adam Wingard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-wingard/) > [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/) > [As I became a filmmaker and realized that I had a voice, who better to speak for than kids that are bullied? It's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hirsch/as-i-became-a-filmmaker-and-realized-that-i-had-a-voice-who-better-to/) [Lee Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hirsch/) > [Gerry Fialka's annual PXL THIS is a reliably surprising and seductive round-up of recent work achieved with the PXL 2000 camera. This humble outdated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-almereyda/gerry-fialka-s-annual-pxl-this-is-a-reliably-surprising-and-seductive/) Michael Almereyda > [Most of my characters are romantic rather than sexual. I think that's an essential difference in my pictures. I think they are more accurate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hughes/most-of-my-characters-are-romantic-rather-than-sexual-i-think-that-s/) [John Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughes/) [Browse all 1,456 Filmmaker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaker/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never wanted to be a filmmaker. I still, sometimes, think I got sidetracked by this, like this is a tangent. 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