--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Working for the screen is almost like…" description: "\"Working for the screen is almost like being in the Army: you set your mind to it, and you do it.\" — Walter Matthau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/walter-matthau-17641_army_working-for-the-screen-is-almost-like-be_1966003.png" --- # Working for the screen is almost like being in the Army… ![“Working for the screen is almost like being in the Army: you set your mind to it, and you do it.” quote by Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/walter-matthau-17641_army_working-for-the-screen-is-almost-like-be_1966003.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/walter-matthau-17641_army_working-for-the-screen-is-almost-like-be_1966003.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/walter-matthau-17641_army_working-for-the-screen-is-almost-like-be_1966003.png) > “Working for the screen is almost like being in the Army: you set your mind to it, and you do it.” [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Working in film demands discipline and commitment similar to military service. **In simple terms:** Screen work requires military‑like focus. Key Takeaway Commit fully to your craft. Themes work discipline military metaphor Mood determined inspirational Type advice motivational When to use this quote - film production - theatre - advertising Key Concepts career dedication creative process Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain discipline creatively? - When is flexibility more important than rigidity? A Different Perspective Creative fields also need flexibility, not just rigidity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [When we could split the screen, it was like 'Wow!'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sid-caesar/when-we-could-split-the-screen-it-was-like-wow/) [Sid Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-caesar/) > [When you start working on screen, a lot of the time it can feel like you're just trying to make sure that you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blagden/when-you-start-working-on-screen-a-lot-of-the-time-it-can-feel-like/) [George Blagden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blagden/) > [I don't like anything I see of myself on screen. I might like one scene or a few shots, but mostly I feel bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manoj-bajpayee/i-don-t-like-anything-i-see-of-myself-on-screen-i-might-like-one/) [Manoj Bajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manoj-bajpayee/) > [When you're growing up you always like the commercials of the guys on the screen that you like watching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-kuechly/when-you-re-growing-up-you-always-like-the-commercials-of-the-guys-on/) [Luke Kuechly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-kuechly/) > [I’d rather look chubby on screen and like a person in real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/i-d-rather-look-chubby-on-screen-and-like-a-person-in-real-life/) [Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/) > [Business, especially big business, is now organized like an army. It is, as some would say, a sort of mild militarism without bloodshed; as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/business-especially-big-business-is-now-organized-like-an-army-it-is/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [My heart was beating like an army on the march.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/my-heart-was-beating-like-an-army-on-the-march/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [It was almost like I was in the army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-olsen/it-was-almost-like-i-was-in-the-army/) [Ashley Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-olsen/) > [Baseball is a lot like the Army, there aren't many individuals. About the only difference is that baseball players get to stay in nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-lee/baseball-is-a-lot-like-the-army-there-aren-t-many-individuals-about/) [Bill Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-lee/) > [He'll sit there are he'll say "Do this! Do that!" and nothing will happen. Poor Ike - it won't be a bit like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/he-ll-sit-there-are-he-ll-say-do-this-do-that-and-nothing-will-happen/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Marriage is a lot like the army, everyone complains, but you'd be surprise at the large number that re-enlist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-garner/marriage-is-a-lot-like-the-army-everyone-complains-but-you-d-be/) [James Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-garner/) > [It does if you put yourself out there being a pirate. It's like if you have an army and your army sit around and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevenson/it-does-if-you-put-yourself-out-there-being-a-pirate-it-s-like-if-you/) [Ray Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevenson/) > [It was almost like I was in the army: school, work, homework, fly to New York, get in at 2 in the morning, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-olsen/it-was-almost-like-i-was-in-the-army-school-work-homework-fly-to-new/) [Ashley Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-olsen/) > [Marriage is like the army. Everybody complains, but you'd be surprised at how many re-enlist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-trachman/marriage-is-like-the-army-everybody-complains-but-you-d-be-surprised/) Jay Trachman > [I didn't like Army life. I didn't like taking orders. I didn't like discipline. I didn't like being yelled at. You'd get 10 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/i-didn-t-like-army-life-i-didn-t-like-taking-orders-i-didn-t-like/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) ## More by Walter Matthau > [I still think I'm 28. I'm 73. I think I'm 28, though, except that I won't get into a fight with anybody because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/i-still-think-i-m-28-i-m-73-i-think-i-m-28-though-except-that-i-won-t/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [To be successful in show business, all you need are 50 good breaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/to-be-successful-in-show-business-all-you-need-are-50-good-breaks/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [I was playing Russell Long, the senator from Louisiana. I had 12 speech teachers watching me. All the other passengers on the airplane were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/i-was-playing-russell-long-the-senator-from-louisiana-i-had-12-speech/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [Doing a movie is like eating five hundred canapes at a cocktail party - you're never really full. You don't feel as though you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/doing-a-movie-is-like-eating-five-hundred-canapes-at-a-cocktail-party/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [I always had one ear offstage, listening for the call from the bookie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/i-always-had-one-ear-offstage-listening-for-the-call-from-the-bookie/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [Every actor looks all his life for a part that will combine his talents with his personality... 'The Odd Couple' was mine. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/every-actor-looks-all-his-life-for-a-part-that-will-combine-his/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [I can relate to anything. I once played Macbeth. I got a lot of laughs, so I quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/i-can-relate-to-anything-i-once-played-macbeth-i-got-a-lot-of-laughs/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [Sometimes it takes me six months before I find out what a line means, even if the writing is superficial... To do a play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/sometimes-it-takes-me-six-months-before-i-find-out-what-a-line-means/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [You see, my father was a Catholic priest, Greek Orthodox, but I think he started out as a Jew, then he became a Catholic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/you-see-my-father-was-a-catholic-priest-greek-orthodox-but-i-think-he/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [We're writing a book together. She just finished one. Did you read it? Among the Porcupines?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/we-re-writing-a-book-together-she-just-finished-one-did-you-read-it/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [I have more talent in my smallest fart than you have in your entire body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/i-have-more-talent-in-my-smallest-fart-than-you-have-in-your-entire/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [My doctor gave me six months to live, but when I couldn't pay the bill he gave me six months more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/my-doctor-gave-me-six-months-to-live-but-when-i-couldn-t-pay-the-bill/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [The first girl you go to bed with is always pretty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/the-first-girl-you-go-to-bed-with-is-always-pretty/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [When I was about eighteen, I saw myself as a rather sensitive, delicate, poetic, romantic figure. And then I got into the Civilian Conservation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/when-i-was-about-eighteen-i-saw-myself-as-a-rather-sensitive-delicate/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [I could play a cop, I could play a crook, I could play a lawyer, I could play a dentist, I could play an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/i-could-play-a-cop-i-could-play-a-crook-i-could-play-a-lawyer-i-could/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) [Explore all 36 Walter Matthau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Working for the screen is almost like being in the Army: you set your mind to it, and you do it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Matthau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/working-for-the-screen-is-almost-like-being-in-the-army-you-set-your/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Army" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/working-for-the-screen-is-almost-like-being-in-the-army-you-set-your/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/walter-matthau-17641_army_working-for-the-screen-is-almost-like-be_1966003.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/walter-matthau-17641_army_working-for-the-screen-is-almost-like-be_1966003.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/walter-matthau-17641_army_working-for-the-screen-is-almost-like-be_1966003.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Working for the screen is almost like being in the Army: you set your mind to it, and you do it.” — Walter Matthau", "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": "Walter Matthau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Working for the screen is almost...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/working-for-the-screen-is-almost-like-being-in-the-army-you-set-your/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/working-for-the-screen-is-almost-like-being-in-the-army-you-set-your/#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 } } ] } ```