I did it [photojournalism] as something that was really rewarding to do, given the opportunity to express myself about something I cared about, and also to learn a lot by watching filmmakers I admired. In a sense, it was my film school. After doing it for a few years, I decided that the time had come to get it together and do some work of my own. So I stopped doing that and wrote some screenplays on speculation, because even though I wanted to direct, to direct you need a lot of money.

Rob Lowe, who I thought was really good in the movie [ Bad Influence], had his performance overshadowed by this sort of tabloid approach to him and the movie.

Samuel Fuller pictures were both written and shot in such an unusual way that his voice came through loud and clear, and it made a big impression on me.

Most scripts are so linear and simplistic in their plotline.

Whereas to write, all you need is paper and an idea, so I felt that writing might be my stepping stone.

I was a journalist and wrote about filmmakers, but I didn't review movies per se.

I can't speak to how Michael [Douglas] approached it in terms of his process.