--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you want to be a filmmaker, ask…" description: "\"If you want to be a filmmaker, ask yourself if you could imagine doing any other job. If you can, that’s a script!\" — Terrence Malick" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/terrence-malick-22447_ask-yourself_if-you-want-to-be-a-filmmaker-ask-yourse_1854130.jpg" --- # If you want to be a filmmaker, ask yourself if you could… ![“If you want to be a filmmaker, ask yourself if you could imagine doing any other job. If you can, that’s a script!” quote by Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/terrence-malick-22447_ask-yourself_if-you-want-to-be-a-filmmaker-ask-yourse_1854130.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/terrence-malick-22447_ask-yourself_if-you-want-to-be-a-filmmaker-ask-yourse_1854130.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/terrence-malick-22447_ask-yourself_if-you-want-to-be-a-filmmaker-ask-yourse_1854130.jpg) > “If you want to be a filmmaker, ask yourself if you could imagine doing any other job. If you can, that’s a script!” [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True passion for filmmaking is evident when no other career feels as compelling; that certainty is the script. **In simple terms:** If you can’t imagine another job, you’re meant to be a filmmaker. Key Takeaway Follow the path that feels uniquely yours. Themes career creativity purpose Mood inspirational thoughtful Type advice motivational When to use this quote - film school - career decisions - creative projects - life planning Key Concepts vocational calling self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - What would you do if you could try any job? - Is certainty always a sign of right choice? A Different Perspective Passion can be confused with romanticizing a single field. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Filmmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaker/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) ## Related quotes > [My job is to be sincere to my script. I am passionate about what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-sethupathi/my-job-is-to-be-sincere-to-my-script-i-am-passionate-about-what-i-do/) [Vijay Sethupathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-sethupathi/) > [I felt film is art and there are people that constructed that art - and that made me want to be a filmmaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kinberg/i-felt-film-is-art-and-there-are-people-that-constructed-that-art-and/) [Simon Kinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kinberg/) > [Film making is an expensive, as well as a serious business. We should be able to entertain our audiences, who are fully aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohit-shetty/film-making-is-an-expensive-as-well-as-a-serious-business-we-should/) [Rohit Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohit-shetty/) > [I didn't really want to be a filmmaker, growing up. Other than Spike Lee's movies, I would think, 'Where is a place for me?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-jenkins/i-didn-t-really-want-to-be-a-filmmaker-growing-up-other-than-spike/) [Barry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-jenkins/) > [As a filmmaker, I ask questions but don't have answers. Moviemaking is a philosophical exploration. I invite the audience to come on the journey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cronenberg/as-a-filmmaker-i-ask-questions-but-don-t-have-answers-moviemaking-is/) [David Cronenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cronenberg/) > [I think one of the luxuries of being a filmmaker is that you can ask questions but not necessarily have to answer them. Certainly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/i-think-one-of-the-luxuries-of-being-a-filmmaker-is-that-you-can-ask/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [You want to be a writer? Start writing. You want to be a filmmaker? Start shooting stuff on your phone right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/you-want-to-be-a-writer-start-writing-you-want-to-be-a-filmmaker/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [You know, 'Top Gun' was the movie I saw in high school that made me want to be a filmmaker. I remember very specifically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-derrickson/you-know-top-gun-was-the-movie-i-saw-in-high-school-that-made-me-want/) [Scott Derrickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-derrickson/) > [Following a pre-cellphone world of children on an adventure is incredibly appealing for me. These are the kinds of movies I fell in love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/following-a-pre-cellphone-world-of-children-on-an-adventure-is/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [But I did on projects that I produced, that I directed, that I acted in because it was important. I want to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eriq-la-salle/but-i-did-on-projects-that-i-produced-that-i-directed-that-i-acted-in/) [Eriq La Salle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eriq-la-salle/) > [I don't want to be the Asian filmmaker; I just want to be a filmmaker. I want to be Spielberg. I want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-don-t-want-to-be-the-asian-filmmaker-i-just-want-to-be-a-filmmaker/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [I'm not sure I would want to be a filmmaker, because I've seen how many people they have to go through in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-hedges/i-m-not-sure-i-would-want-to-be-a-filmmaker-because-i-ve-seen-how/) [Lucas Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-hedges/) > ['All the President's Men' is a movie that has a very personal place for me because it made me want to be a journalist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/all-the-president-s-men-is-a-movie-that-has-a-very-personal-place-for/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [I do love making films. I want to be a filmmaker that grows and progresses and does keep trying to push myself. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dexter-fletcher/i-do-love-making-films-i-want-to-be-a-filmmaker-that-grows-and/) [Dexter Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dexter-fletcher/) > [Among close friends and family members, I say whatever I want to. But, as a filmmaker, I have my responsibilities, and I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-khan/among-close-friends-and-family-members-i-say-whatever-i-want-to-but/) [Sajid Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-khan/) ## More by Terrence Malick > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [You can't live in Austin and escape the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/you-can-t-live-in-austin-and-escape-the-music/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [There's a good many pictures I'd like to make; we'll see how many I'll be allowed to make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/there-s-a-good-many-pictures-i-d-like-to-make-we-ll-see-how-many-i-ll/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [“Toscanini once recorded a piece sixty five times. You know what he said when he finished? "It could be better." Think about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/toscanini-once-recorded-a-piece-sixty-five-times-you-know-what-he/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [What's this war in the heart of Nature? Why does Nature vie with itself? The Land contend with the Sea? Is there an avenging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/what-s-this-war-in-the-heart-of-nature-why-does-nature-vie-with/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [I was not a good teacher; I didn't have the sort of edge one should have on the students, so I decided to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/i-was-not-a-good-teacher-i-didn-t-have-the-sort-of-edge-one-should/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [I'd always liked movies in a kind of naive way. They seemed no less improbable a career than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/i-d-always-liked-movies-in-a-kind-of-naive-way-they-seemed-no-less/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [I film quite a bit of footage, then edit. Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/i-film-quite-a-bit-of-footage-then-edit-changes-before-your-eyes/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [“One day, while taking a look at some vistas in Dad's stereopticon, it hit me that I was just this little girl, born in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/one-day-while-taking-a-look-at-some-vistas-in-dad-s-stereopticon-it/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Children's books are full of violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/children-s-books-are-full-of-violence/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Nostalgia is a powerful feeling; it can drown out anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/nostalgia-is-a-powerful-feeling-it-can-drown-out-anything/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [There are two ways through life: the way of Nature, and the way of Grace. You have to choose which one you'll follow. Grace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/there-are-two-ways-through-life-the-way-of-nature-and-the-way-of/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [I came to Los Angeles in the fall of 1969 to study at the AFI.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/i-came-to-los-angeles-in-the-fall-of-1969-to-study-at-the-afi/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [“I will be true to you. Whatever comes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/i-will-be-true-to-you-whatever-comes/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [“And love is smiling through all things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/and-love-is-smiling-through-all-things/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) [Explore all 27 Terrence Malick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) ## More Ask yourself quotes > [“If you want to stop smoking, ask yourself, do you do it because you love nicotine, or because it provides a burst of stimulation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/if-you-want-to-stop-smoking-ask-yourself-do-you-do-it-because-you/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“I've written about persistence and perseverance and yet for those of us with patchwork lives (projects, earnings, caretaking, home-tending, playing, friending, loving, celebrating, hurting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shellen-lubin/i-ve-written-about-persistence-and-perseverance-and-yet-for-those-of/) [Shellen Lubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shellen-lubin/) > [When you experience difficulty at work or in your life, instead of looking back on it as something that was really challenging, look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-ghosn/when-you-experience-difficulty-at-work-or-in-your-life-instead-of/) [Caroline Ghosn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-ghosn/) > [“ask yourself how many people you have met who grumbled at a thing as incurable, and how many who attacked it as curable? How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/ask-yourself-how-many-people-you-have-met-who-grumbled-at-a-thing-as/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“I have seen plenty of ‘Struggle minus Success’ stories where you are forced to ask yourself ‘Why to him/her?’. There are few questions unanswered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/i-have-seen-plenty-of-struggle-minus-success-stories-where-you-are/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [“What is true for you? What makes your heart smile? When do you feel most yourself? What do you love to do? Ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/what-is-true-for-you-what-makes-your-heart-smile-when-do-you-feel/) [Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/) > [“When a bad experience shakes your faith in humanity, hold those depressing thoughts and ask yourself. 1. How many things in life have you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drishti-bablani/when-a-bad-experience-shakes-your-faith-in-humanity-hold-those/) [Drishti Bablani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drishti-bablani/) > [“It is important you understand how fear affects you and how it drives human behavior so you can start to see situations and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/it-is-important-you-understand-how-fear-affects-you-and-how-it-drives/) [Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/) > [“It is idle to talk always of the alternative of reason and faith. Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/it-is-idle-to-talk-always-of-the-alternative-of-reason-and-faith/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Picture your life exactly the way you want it and then ask yourself, am I doing the things that will take me there? Take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-cook/picture-your-life-exactly-the-way-you-want-it-and-then-ask-yourself/) [Stephanie Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-cook/) > [“Just make sure you've taken a moment or two to ask yourself if it's really a need, and to reflect on the potential benefits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-laricchia/just-make-sure-you-ve-taken-a-moment-or-two-to-ask-yourself-if-it-s/) [Pam Laricchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-laricchia/) > [“Em's the first woman I've met who seems to be...well, the answer.' 'Answer to what?' He shrugged. 'All the questions, I suppose.' Fay looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-gillard/em-s-the-first-woman-i-ve-met-who-seems-to-be-well-the-answer-answer/) [Linda Gillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-gillard/) > [“Listen to what you tell yourself about your life situation. 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