I went to the Glasgow Youth Theatre and they just let me in. But I was so shy that I was there for about six weeks without actually introducing myself.

I'm not fond of any of my films in an intimate way, but Gregory's Girl would be number 4 on my list.

I was quite surprised how easily people wanted to pigeonhole things I've done.

I didn't think Comfort and Joy was going to be a box-office smash.

I'd made these experimental films but I thought the major chore of a filmmaker was to relate to actors.

The movie business is very much like that: people in authority making purely emotional decisions instead of interesting rational ones.

At the moment, my mother is the only one left in Glasgow, although it's certainly my home.