Film’s thought of as a director’s medium because the director creates the end product that appears on the screen. It’s that stupid auteur theory again, that the director is the author of the film. But what does the director shoot-the telephone book? Writers became much more important when sound came in, but they’ve had to put up a valiant fight to get the credit they deserve.

Don't be too clever for an audience. Make it obvious. Make the subtleties obvious also.

An actor entering through the door, you've got nothing. But if he enters through the window, you've got a situation.

The more subtle and elegant you are in hiding your plot points, the better you are as a writer.

The best director is the one you don't see.

Make subtlety obvious.

When Chaplin found a voice to say what was on his mind, he was like a child of eight writing lyrics for Beethoven's Ninth.