Giovanni Ribisi Quotes

You have to take into account it was the cell phone that became what the modern-day concept of a phone call is, and this is a device that’s attached to your hip 24/7. Before that there was ‘leave a message’ and before that there was ‘hopefully you’re home.’

What’s sad is that there is an addictive quality to that, to believing your own hype; to allowing yourself to become validated by others and no longer by yourself. That’s the danger of celebrity.

 

We went to – I guess it was a legitimate boiler room, and I sat in front of this guy who literally was on the phone with two people at once. They call it double fisting.

Those people are unabashedly ruthless as far as money is concerned.

There’s the concept that if I do this big budget project, then that will help me do the things I really want to do and bring more money to those films.

My mother told me I was begging her to be an actor when I was four. My father and my grandfather saw at least one or two movies a week; they were film buffs, so I guess it just rubbed off on me. And now it’s kind of become a way of life for me.

If I had to choose criteria, for me, it’s about first the director. I want to be a part of something that’s good and intellectually challenging. After the director it’s the character and the story. That’s the deal for me.

I’ve been allowed to grow over the past twenty years. I’ve managed to avoid being trapped in one moment of my career and for that, I’m very thankful.

I’m so critical of myself. I’m actually really, really proud of the film. It’s really cool to see a movie at Sundance because everybody is so supportive.

I’m old fashioned with my cell phone. I like that human contact and I think it’s important.

I used to shy away from publicity so as not to let it get in the way of the work. But it’s part of the job. The tabloids are a whole other arena. If fame happens, it happens. I just want to maintain focus.

I love talking about Scientology.

I grew up with Scientology – my parents at one point were clerical. It’s a pragmatic philosophy, not merely a belief system. Yeah, it’s had media exposure because certain luminaries do Scientology, but millions of people do it who are not celebrities. It’s not a threat or some cult.

Dostoevski was on to something. You are the path you choose. You are what your vocation is.