Communism destroyed so many generations. I look at my grandparents and their generation, and it's as if their lives were taken from them. It's really sad and frightening that something like that could have happened. But I don't really think of myself as Russian anymore. I didn't even live there for that long.

There are two parts of me. There's the really critical, film-nerd part of me that loves that, and then there's the part of me where I'm like, "I really didn't like that movie, but I want to work with that director because he loves actors."

I usually bring a point and shoot with me so I can go out on the weekends and shoot a bit. I used to bring more cameras, but I'm also an Ebay nut so sometimes I'll order something if I'm really pining for it when I'm on location.

I've always loved punk music, since I was in my early teens, since middle school.

I'm sure there are directors who don't like to work with actors and don't know how to be sensitive to actors.

I'm actually embarrassed to tell people I'm Russian these days, because it's become such an awful place.

I don't feel any connection to Russia.