Home / Quotes / Quote by Alan Arkin

Quote by Alan Arkin

“I'm an actor. My life as an actor depends on who sends me what. I'm just taking the best stuff that I can find that's sent my way, regardless of how big or little the paycheck is. I don't want to work for scale anymore. I'm at a point now where, no matter how good something is, I'm not going to kill myself and end up in the hole.”

Quote by Alan Arkin

Author

Alan Arkin is an American actor renowned for his performances in film and television. Born on March 26, 1934, he has had a career spanning over half a century, during which he has won numerous awards, including an Academy Award. more

You May Also Like

“Is it possible to have an endless series of successes without falling on our faces? I suppose it is, but I think it would entail doing the same things over and over again without taking chances, without taking risks or exploring our limits, without finding out what we can and can't do.”

Thinking Faces Fall Chance Risk Limits Findings Series Endless Exploring Take A Chance Taking Risks

Book:An Improvised Life: A Memoir

Source: An Improvised Life: A Memoir

“I gotta keep busy. I'm not happy unless I'm working on two, three things.”

Two Three Busy Three Things Not Happy Keep Busy

Author:Alan Arkin

“That's what we're all doing, all the time, whether we know it or not. Whether we like it or not. Creating something on the spur of the moment with the materials at hand. We might just as well let the rest of it go, join the party, and dance our hearts out.”

Knows Wells Heart Moments Hands Might Party Materials Creating Spurs Creating Something Spur Of The Moment

Book:An Improvised Life: A Memoir

Source: An Improvised Life: A Memoir

“Improvisation sometimes seemed more like jazz than acting, like verbal jazz, with the actors playing a theme back and forth, and then introducing another theme, incorporating it, somehow trying to work their way all together to a meaning of some kind, or at least a conclusion.”

Way Trying Kind Sometimes Together Actors Acting Jazz Conclusion Theme Introducing Back And Forth Improvisation Incorporating

Author:Alan Arkin

“I don't think it does the audience any good to know what I do to prepare. It keeps it more of a surprise. I don't feel like it has to be a mystery.”

Thinking Knows Feels Doe Audience Mystery Surprise

Author:Alan Arkin

“I played guitar. I've always considered myself an actor, but I wasn't making a living as an actor. So I was in a couple of folk groups that managed to keep me in underwear and burritos.”

Actors Groups Couple Guitar Folks Underwear Making A Living Burritos

Author:Alan Arkin

“Two-thirds of American movies are extensions of commercials -- they tell you how to feel and they tell you how to think -- rather than letting you figure it out on your own.”

Thinking Feels Two Figures Thirds Extensions American Movie

Author:Alan Arkin

“You know what Andy Warhol's sole contribution to this country has been? He made Campbell's Soup a household word.”

Knows Has Beens Made Country Contribution Sole Household Soup Warhol

Author:Alan Arkin

“You can begin to see an amalgamation of cultures, the real beginning of one world. Ten years ago, it would have been impossible to imagine a Cockney singing group with a Southern Negro style and Indian and electronic music. I wonder if people have even noticed what a tremendous cultural signal the Beatles are.”

People Ifs World Years Has Beens Real Culture Wonder Imagine Impossible Groups Style Ten Singing Years Ago Indian Southern Signals Electronic Music Cockneys Amalgamation

Author:Alan Arkin

“I study chess eight hours a day, on principle.”

Hours Principles Study Eight Chess

Author:Alexander Alekhine