I was studying for the SAT's and learning lines. Joseph Gordon-Levitt More Quotes by Joseph Gordon-Levitt More Quotes From Joseph Gordon-Levitt When I was a teenager, if anyone recognized me for anything I did, it would ruin my day. I couldn't handle it. It was some sort of neurotic phobia. I guess I was paranoid that people would treat me differently, or in an unfair way, because of my job. Joseph Gordon-Levitt teenager jobs people A man touched me: his hand... my thigh. I touched him too: my fist... his jaw. Joseph Gordon-Levitt fists men hands I didn't really like doing commercials. You had to behave like you were on angel dust or something. Joseph Gordon-Levitt like-you dust angel But I would encourage anyone who has a crush on my character to watch it again and examine how selfish he is. Joseph Gordon-Levitt crush selfish character Everyone has a unique perspective and that's valid. Everyone's perspective is valid. That doesn't mean that everyone has the same degree of skill level as an entertainer, but skill isn't the only important thing. It's also what kind of perspective and feelings you're bringing to it. Joseph Gordon-Levitt skills unique mean Why am I doing the work I'm doing? Why am I friends with this person? Am I living the best life I possibly can? Questions are often looked upon as questions of doubt but I don't see it that way at all. I question things to stay present, to make sure I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. Joseph Gordon-Levitt doubt success way A lot of the motivation for doing the 'Make 'Em Laugh' on SNL was because I had just finished shooting 'Inception,' where there were zero-gravity scenes and I got into really good shape and was training and did all these stunts. Coming off of that, that instilled me with the confidence to do 'Make 'Em Laugh.' Joseph Gordon-Levitt motivation zero laughing Comedy takes a very specific technique, specific skills. Joseph Gordon-Levitt comedy technique skills Most scripts are bad. I read a lot of them. Joseph Gordon-Levitt scripts We can be anybody we wanna be. Joseph Gordon-Levitt When you become a ghost feel free to haunt me. Joseph Gordon-Levitt ghost feels Certainly the animation technology is growing like crazy. All media technology is. Joseph Gordon-Levitt media technology crazy I think there is something beautiful in reveling in sadness Joseph Gordon-Levitt sadness beautiful thinking Our culture has a tendency to pigeonhole people and to try to tear down anybody who's breaking out of our comfort zone. That's why we get into these cultural ruts that end up being destructive prejudices. But breaking out of that comfort zone is the most rewarding thing you can do, in your life. I do my best to push myself, when I can. Joseph Gordon-Levitt tears trying people I'd been an actor my whole life, since I was a kid. And then, I quit for awhile and went to university. When I wanted to start acting again, I couldn't get a job, and that was really depressing. So, I realized, at that time, that I have to take responsibility for my own creativity. Joseph Gordon-Levitt depressing creativity jobs The term 'popular culture' always used to mean what the people do - pop songs, folk songs, music in general used to live because people would sing these songs and tell these stories together. Then all of these new technologies came out and it became the work of professionals. Joseph Gordon-Levitt technology song mean I know how to make an audience laugh, 'cause I grew up on Third Rock from the Sun, week after week in front of audiences, making them laugh. Joseph Gordon-Levitt rocks sun laughing If I were to point to the person who's having the greatest impact... I'd point to Elon Musk. Joseph Gordon-Levitt musk impact persons That's sort of what I wanted to make fun of a little bit with Don Jon. And I think oftentimes, if you're going to talk about a sort of substantial topic like this, the best way to do it is with a sense of humor. Joseph Gordon-Levitt littles fun thinking So to compare your real life, or your partner or lover or whoever to a character in a movie, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. They don't map. Joseph Gordon-Levitt real disappointment character