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.

Develop a clean line of action for your leading character

I'm not happy. I'm not happy at all.

I'm delighted with it, because it used to be that films were the lowest form of art. Now we've got something to look down on.

You have to have a dream so you can get up in the morning.

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

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