I don't come to work as an actor. There are many directors who can direct without ever having acted and do a great job and connect with their actors and lead them to excellent performances without themselves having had an acting background.

To use an image, making a film is like climbing a mountain or crossing an ocean. Every day has its challenges.

I didn't really think in terms of clichés or non-clichés.

This film [ Blue is the Warmest Color] actually is the result of me talking with my producer Vincent [Maraval]. I gave him a bunch of ideas and then Vincent helped guide me and develop this particular film. I enjoy that rapport to have somebody else help guide me in my choices for the next film. The poetic way of looking at it is which project is going to choose me as a director.

What really enthralls me is working with the actor and seeing where you can go with that. It's in that exchange and that relationship.

The writing of the script is a continual process. There's the first draft and then many, many re-writes here and there.

I grew up in and identify with and that she works and exists in.