Directing an opera is similar to directing a play. The singing must not get in the way of the drama.

When we were trying to get the money together for the film, one reason that was consistently given for not investing in it was that everyone kept saying no one could direct it well enough to entertain an audience for 100 minutes essentially watching three people chatting in the kitchen.

Directing an opera is similar to directing a play. The singing must not get in the way of the drama.

Everyone has seen photographs of Mexicans wearing those big sombreros. When you come to Mexico, the astonishing thing is, nobody wears these hats at all.

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

Perhaps the most difficult thing is shooting scenes set 6,000 feet up in the mountains of Mexico.

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.