It is wonderful to hear of the relief efforts that are finally coming to New Orleans and the rest of the region, but as well all know, it is simply not going to be enough.

I don't need any crutches in order to concentrate. As a child I learned that you must be ready because I'd be yelled at more than other people and it would always be my fault. I learned that to be professional is your number-one priority. The art comes second. You learn that, in order to give your best performance, you have to be a good technician, which means never allowing negative influences affect your performance.

If I didn't have my films as an outlet for all the different sides of me, I would probably be locked up.

We have a choice about how we take what happens to us in our life and whether or not we allow it to turn us. We can become consumed by hate and darkness, or we're able to regain our humanity somehow, or come to terms with things and learn something about ourselves.

I was the punk outsider who nobody messed with. I was fearless. At 16, I graduated and moved out.

I always felt caged, closed in, like I was punching at things that weren't there. I always had too much energy for the room I was in.

There is so much more to understand.