When I was 24 I went to Nigeria and it was such a culture shock, growing up in Australia and suddenly being the only white man in this unit full of black men.

With Cold Sassy Tree having its first production, I saw no necessity to do anything other than produce it with the correct setting.

When I was 24 I went to Nigeria and it was such a culture shock, growing up in Australia and suddenly being the only white man in this unit full of black men.

In opera, everyone's watching from a fixed viewpoint, and that really challenges you. Lighting, the sets, stage groupings, the music-but doesn't relate too much to film.

When the music and the characters are flawlessly synchronized, the opera develops an emotional force that movies and plays cannot match.

It's not enough to hit the notes. There is no point in the singers just standing there and sounding wonderful if they're not connecting with the characters they are portraying.

With a film, I do my best to understand the author's intentions and try to bring the characters to life.