I definitely in filmmaking more and more find writing and directing a means to harvest material for editing. It's all about editing.

The kindest thing a director can do is look with open eyes at everything.

Somewhat dramatic things happen, and you don't even always notice them — that's what life is.

Hollywood films have become a cesspool of formula and it's up to us to try to change it... I feel like a preacher! But it's really true. I feel personally responsible for the future of American cinema. Me personally.

When you're a houseguest and you leave, it's nice to straighten something up or send your hosts a useful gift. And when you leave the planet, it's nice to have made a positive contribution.

A book is a book, but a movie is a movie. The more faithful you are, the more you'll come up with Harry Potter #1 and #2, which are like filmed books on tape. They're so petrified of turning off the readers that they make no concessions to the fact that they're trying to make a piece of cinema.

I want all of my films to belong to me.