Movies, as evidenced by a chorus of protesting and celebrating Americans, influence broader trends.

I love studying how people are. Not just what they're saying, but how they are, what they're doing.

I think what I am is a "convener"; I like to convene people around ideas.

I see myself as not a typical theater person, but a person who uses the theater as a place to meet people and explore ideas.

When I was a kid, my grandfather said that "if you say a word often enough, it becomes you." Thinking of that later in life gave me this idea that I could try to become America by learning the words of people from many aspects of the country.

I think as a kid I always liked to listen to people. I loved hearing stories.

If you say a word often enough it becomes you.