All people know that they will die, but they don't actually believe it.

I think every beautiful tale in the world hides the truth and reveals it little by little.

I was aware of the possible biases you could get as a commercial director, like being too concerned about the technical aspects of the form rather than anything of substance. If you keep working in commercials, you can get trapped in a very superficial way of thinking. I always used commercials as an exercise for filmmaking, like going to the gym.

Actually, when I think about growing up, I feel most affected by two travels that I made working in cargo boats when I was 16 and 18. One of them crossed through the Mississippi and Baton Rouge and Mobile, Alabama, and another went all the way to Europe. On the last trip, I stayed in Europe for one year with $1,000, working everywhere I could, doing everything. Those years shaped me a lot and taught me the value of exploring different things.

Really, I'm a neurotic perfectionist. Every single word in the script is the one that I want.

I never deny a true experience in one shot.

All my films have always been released in the autumn, maybe because they're more melancholy to people.