I'd applied to graduate school for playwriting, and I got rejected by every school. I felt that theatre was closed but that, when it came to film, the door was very slightly ajar. If I have any virtues, it's that I'm good at walking through doors that are slightly ajar.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes resilience and seizing opportunities, even when faced with rejection.
Greta Gerwig reflects on her experiences of rejection as she pursued her dreams in playwriting. Despite being turned away by graduate schools, she found an opening in the field of film, which symbolized hope and potential. Her ability to recognize and act on such slight opportunities highlights the importance of perseverance and adaptability in the face of adversity, suggesting that sometimes success comes from exploring alternatives rather than giving up.
In practice
In a motivational speech about overcoming obstacles in creative fields.
I love movies, but sometimes I think it's better for actresses not to be total cinephiles. You have to be able to do the work at some point; you can't be totally starstruck. 'I can't believe it's Woody Allen!' You have to get past that.
Acting was always the first love, but a lot of people want to be actors, and my goal was, 'Come hell or high water, I will be a part of this world, however I can.' So that just led me to throwing myself into every aspect of narrative storytelling I could.
For Mike Mills, I learned that having dance parties and crying with your cast does not make you a weak director, it makes you a strong director.
Whatever you want to do is more than possible. It’s what you haven’t dreamt of yet that will blow your mind
I work hard, I work late, I have nothing on my conscience. When I go to bed, I sleep.
There are some who question the scale of our ambitions, who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short, for they have forgotten what this country has already done, what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
I ain't Martin Luther King. I don't need a dream. I have a plan.
There is no excuse for not trying.
When you feel in your gut what you are and then dynamically pursue it - don't back down and don't give up - then you're going to mystify a lot of folks.
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