A book suggests a whole world and story that I could have never thought of in a million years.

A lot of people get stuck, like, "Oh, if it's made by a studio, it can't be independent." Often they link it to the source of financing, or how it's distributed, but I don't really know how you can. A filmmaker will take his money from anywhere. It doesn't matter.

It seems that our politicians see the world in black and white, so why not our artists? Did Woody Allen's 'Manhattan' have to be in black and white? No. But is it fantastic that it was? To see New York like that? Yes!

As the years go by and I make more films, I am increasingly interested in capturing place as a vivid backdrop for my films.

I'm considered to some degree a successful director working in Hollywood, making films my way but using studio financing. But with almost every single one, I get praised up the wazoo by people who never would have financed the films. It's: "Gee, this movie is so new and different - what do you want to do next?" "This." "Oh, that's too new and different."

What science-fiction premises do is it gives you a "what-if" prism to look at the contemporary world with a wack on the side of the head.

I like voice-over in films, and most of my films have been voice-over films.