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One of the most important things I learned in the couple of times I worked with Marlon Brando, and just by spending time with him, is it's okay to have a ball. It's okay to have fun and fuck up because, after all, it's only film. If you're able to get to a place where maybe your only motivation in the scene is to make the crew giggle, that's okay too. (2003)

Johnny Depp#119

ArtWorkHappinessLearningFunMentorship

About this quote

What does it mean?
He learned from Marlon Brando that making film fun and mistakes are okay.
In plain terms
Brando taught him to have fun on set and not worry about mistakes.
What can you take from it?
Work can be enjoyable even when mistakes happen.

Where it applies

  • creative work
  • team dynamics
  • learning

Putting it to work

  • enjoying the process
  • normalizing mistakes
  • learning from mentors

Questions to consider

  • How do you make work fun?
  • What did you learn from others?

Another view

It may downplay the need for professionalism.

More from Johnny Depp

  1. [Brando's] maybe the greatest actor of the last two centuries. But his mind is much more important than the acting thing. The way that he looks at things, does…

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  2. I was married when I was 20. It was a strong bond with someone but I can't necessarily say I was in love. (1995)

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  3. I listen to a lot of [Bob] Dylan, who I like a lot. I like Bruce Springsteen. I like T. Rex. I like all different kinds of music. One minute I'll be listening …

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