--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was on 'The O.C.' and had a small part…" description: "\"I was on 'The O.C.' and had a small part, which wasn't very challenging. I was a bit bored, so I started shadowing directors and they finally gave me a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/tate-donovan-30189_am_i-was-on-the-o-c-and-had-a-small-part-wh_467332.jpg" --- # I was on 'The O.C.' and had a small part, which wasn't… ![“I was on 'The O.C.' and had a small part, which wasn't very challenging. I was a bit bored, so I started shadowing directors and they finally gave me a shot. From there, it led to directing other television shows. I am trying to direct a feature film, so we'll see what happens.” quote by Tate Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/tate-donovan-30189_am_i-was-on-the-o-c-and-had-a-small-part-wh_467332.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/tate-donovan-30189_am_i-was-on-the-o-c-and-had-a-small-part-wh_467332.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/tate-donovan-30189_am_i-was-on-the-o-c-and-had-a-small-part-wh_467332.jpg) > “I was on 'The O.C.' and had a small part, which wasn't very challenging. I was a bit bored, so I started shadowing directors and they finally gave me a shot. From there, it led to directing other television shows. I am trying to direct a feature film, so we'll see what happens.” [Tate Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-donovan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Starting in a minor acting role, curiosity led to shadowing directors, opening a path to directing. **In simple terms:** Curiosity turned a small role into a directing career. Key Takeaway Seek mentorship and learn on the job. Themes career learning initiative Mood motivational pragmatic Type career advice inspirational When to use this quote - acting gigs - shadowing - directing TV - feature film ambitions Key Concepts film industry career development Questions to Reflect On - How can you create learning opportunities? - What risks are worth taking for growth? A Different Perspective Opportunities may be scarce without networking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bored/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Feature film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feature-film/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Television shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television-shows/) ## Related quotes > [I'm currently trying to direct my own material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-skerritt/i-m-currently-trying-to-direct-my-own-material/) [Tom Skerritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-skerritt/) > [I'm trying to learn things behind the camera and what a producer does and shadowing the directors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chandra-wilson/i-m-trying-to-learn-things-behind-the-camera-and-what-a-producer-does/) [Chandra Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chandra-wilson/) > [It's been so great being on 'American Horror Story' and 'Scream Queens' because there were some days when I didn't work, and I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-lourd/it-s-been-so-great-being-on-american-horror-story-and-scream-queens/) [Billie Lourd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-lourd/) > [The most frustrating part of trying to direct everything is not that it alienates you from people who genuinely want to help, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/the-most-frustrating-part-of-trying-to-direct-everything-is-not-that/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [I began my career creating art for an animated feature film, and it has been a life-long dream to tell some of the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kinkade/i-began-my-career-creating-art-for-an-animated-feature-film-and-it/) [Thomas Kinkade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-kinkade/) > [I get better roles in television. I'm not going to do a lesser role just to be in a feature film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/i-get-better-roles-in-television-i-m-not-going-to-do-a-lesser-role/) [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) > [I did manage to secure a feature film for 2005, though, which I'm really chuffed about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rickitt/i-did-manage-to-secure-a-feature-film-for-2005-though-which-i-m/) [Adam Rickitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rickitt/) > [Everything we do on 'Luck' is absolutely no different than if we'd had been doing it in a feature film. There's no short cuts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mann/everything-we-do-on-luck-is-absolutely-no-different-than-if-we-d-had/) [Michael Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mann/) > [My hat's off to documentary filmmakers. I don't know if I'm ever going back to it. You're treated like a second-class citizen at most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-zwigoff/my-hat-s-off-to-documentary-filmmakers-i-don-t-know-if-i-m-ever-going/) [Terry Zwigoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-zwigoff/) > [I think of all media, television is the most powerful when it comes to selling books, because when you have a feature film, yeah,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/i-think-of-all-media-television-is-the-most-powerful-when-it-comes-to/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [The first feature film I did, when I did 'Night Shift,' I improvised quite a bit because I would improvise at the audition, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-keaton/the-first-feature-film-i-did-when-i-did-night-shift-i-improvised/) [Michael Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-keaton/) > [By the time 'Dumbo's Circus' wrapped production of its 120 episodes, I had an agent, and I had scored my first feature film gig.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/by-the-time-dumbo-s-circus-wrapped-production-of-its-120-episodes-i/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [When we started Angels & Airwaves, we wanted to produce our art on different mediums, but the film was an ambitious one because we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delonge/when-we-started-angels-airwaves-we-wanted-to-produce-our-art-on/) [Tom DeLonge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delonge/) > [I like doing them and they're ridiculous and the actors can improvise a lot, and they don't have to be really realistic characters that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-like-doing-them-and-they-re-ridiculous-and-the-actors-can-improvise/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [I'd love to win an Oscar; that would be great. I hope to get a feature film that I've made get a wide release.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-plympton/i-d-love-to-win-an-oscar-that-would-be-great-i-hope-to-get-a-feature/) [Bill Plympton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-plympton/) ## More by Tate Donovan > [When I was growing up, it was so embarrassing to be from Jersey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/when-i-was-growing-up-it-was-so-embarrassing-to-be-from-jersey/) [Tate Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-donovan/) > [When you first get fame, you're so insecure that you just become a ding dong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/when-you-first-get-fame-you-re-so-insecure-that-you-just-become-a/) [Tate Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-donovan/) > ['Argo' was a great script from day one. I don't think we knew that it was going to be such a success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/argo-was-a-great-script-from-day-one-i-don-t-think-we-knew-that-it/) [Tate Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-donovan/) > ['Fargo' is one of my favorite movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/fargo-is-one-of-my-favorite-movies/) [Tate Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-donovan/) > [I'm a huge David Lindsay-Abaire fan. If I could write, I would want to write like him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/i-m-a-huge-david-lindsay-abaire-fan-if-i-could-write-i-would-want-to/) [Tate Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-donovan/) > [I have been able to do a lot of great things during my career!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/i-have-been-able-to-do-a-lot-of-great-things-during-my-career/) [Tate Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-donovan/) > [I was not the pampered baby, no. I'm five years younger, and my parents were actually very strict with me, more strict than with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/i-was-not-the-pampered-baby-no-i-m-five-years-younger-and-my-parents/) [Tate Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-donovan/) > [Normally, if you do a television show, it's 25 episodes. Your year is kind of shot, you know what I mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/normally-if-you-do-a-television-show-it-s-25-episodes-your-year-is/) [Tate Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-donovan/) > [You just can't help but sort of think that your life and your career are going to go straight up, up, up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/you-just-can-t-help-but-sort-of-think-that-your-life-and-your-career/) [Tate Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-donovan/) > [When you achieve a certain amount of success, you want to be doing something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/when-you-achieve-a-certain-amount-of-success-you-want-to-be-doing/) [Tate Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-donovan/) > [I can't run on treadmills; they drive me nuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/i-can-t-run-on-treadmills-they-drive-me-nuts/) [Tate Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-donovan/) > [My parents took me to a movie, and I remember wanting to sit apart from them for some reason. I wanted to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/my-parents-took-me-to-a-movie-and-i-remember-wanting-to-sit-apart/) [Tate Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-donovan/) > [A career in showbiz is like a distance run. You have to have patience and pace yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/a-career-in-showbiz-is-like-a-distance-run-you-have-to-have-patience/) [Tate Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-donovan/) > [My brother was a big marathoner. He was a great collegiate runner at Beloit College. He won his conference's races, and he did tons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/my-brother-was-a-big-marathoner-he-was-a-great-collegiate-runner-at/) [Tate Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-donovan/) > [Why do I run? It's the best form of exercise. It's totally the core of being in shape. I really feel so good -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/why-do-i-run-it-s-the-best-form-of-exercise-it-s-totally-the-core-of/) [Tate Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-donovan/) [Explore all 17 Tate Donovan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-donovan/) ## More Am quotes > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [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 am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [I know who I am. I know what I represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-know-who-i-am-i-know-what-i-represent/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/) [Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Acting is what I do with who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-walter/acting-is-what-i-do-with-who-i-am/) [Harriet Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-walter/) > [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) Browse all 9,589 Am quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was on 'The O.C.' and had a small part, which wasn't very challenging. I was a bit bored, so I started shadowing directors and they finally gave me a shot. From there, it led to directing other television shows. I am trying to direct a feature film, so we'll see what happens.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tate Donovan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/i-was-on-the-o-c-and-had-a-small-part-which-wasn-t-very-challenging-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Am" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/i-was-on-the-o-c-and-had-a-small-part-which-wasn-t-very-challenging-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/tate-donovan-30189_am_i-was-on-the-o-c-and-had-a-small-part-wh_467332.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/tate-donovan-30189_am_i-was-on-the-o-c-and-had-a-small-part-wh_467332.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/tate-donovan-30189_am_i-was-on-the-o-c-and-had-a-small-part-wh_467332.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was on 'The O.C.' and had a small part, which wasn't very challenging. I was a bit bored, so I started…” — Tate Donovan", "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": "Tate Donovan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-donovan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was on 'The O.C.' and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/i-was-on-the-o-c-and-had-a-small-part-which-wasn-t-very-challenging-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-donovan/i-was-on-the-o-c-and-had-a-small-part-which-wasn-t-very-challenging-i/#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 } } ] } ```