I don't want to die without scars.

So much of making movies is about discovery on the day, what you're figuring out. If you know everything going in, then it's not worth doing - it's already done. I'm interested in finding people who I think have a voice - and a very specific voice.

No more excuses. I can't blame anything on my parents. I'm responsible for my mistakes and my choices.

Getting a burp out of your little thing when she needs it is probably the greatest satisfaction I've come across at this point in my life.

New Orleans has a real spirit. It's the most authentic of all American cities.

Get into something that's really personal that means something to you, where you have something to say and is something really individualized. I wish I was more aware of that when I started my career instead of doing a few things I was told would be good for me. And they weren't, because it left me empty, so I didn't do a good job anyways. I think that's what's key to what we do: It's got to be personal.

Once you hit 40, you start reexamining the math of it all. I'll trade wisdom for youth any day.