Ads Quote by Thelma Schoonmaker
“I'd trained to be a diplomat but the state department said I was too liberal. I saw an ad in the New York Times ... a hack Californian editor came to New York to butcher some films and he needed an assistant. For some reason I read it that day and it changed my life. I went to work for him and he was horrible, butchering these masterpieces by Antonioni, Visconti, but I learned enough to know what he was doing wrong.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Thelma Schoonmaker, The New York Times, 2015
She describes a pivotal career moment where a demanding editor taught her valuable lessons about film editing despite harsh methods.
In simple terms: A tough mentor taught her crucial editing skills.
Embrace challenging mentors to grow.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- film school
- first job
- career transition
- learning from criticism
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you turn harsh feedback into constructive growth?
- What qualities make a mentor effective despite a tough demeanor?
The editor's harshness could stifle creativity if not balanced with support.