It was nerve-wracking [to unleash 'Life of Pi' to the world]. The first show to the journalists, that was the first one, so I was very uptight. Then I felt okay about the reception because we did a press conference with good and friendly questions, although people looked serious. So really, after the show you went to - the premiere - that reception tells me I think the movie worked, so that was a relief. I started to feel deflated.

Americans are hidden dragons to me.

I guess in Hollywood you chart your life by Oscars. You say to each other, "Remember when that movie won that year? It was 2006. Remember that?"

I feel like all of my characters now take this congested situation, they clash, and from there you purge yourself.

So many times you see beautiful lovemaking scenes with a lot of exposure or an awkward lovemaking scene, but I think it's very rare that you see it private.

For a filmmaker, it's a rare chance to do a personal film on a big canvas.

I think each movie-making process is a very exhausting and satisfying and fulfilling experience for me.