Here [in Wonder Boys] I had this group of characters where you didn't know which were the important ones or what direction they were heading.

Here [in Wonder Boys] I had this group of characters where you didn't know which were the important ones or what direction they were heading.

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.

I stopped doing that [photojournalism] and wrote some screenplays on speculation, because even though I wanted to direct, to direct you need a lot of money. Even for a cheap movie, you need film stock and equipment and actors.

The challenge was the opportunity. When I read the first draft of Steve Kloves' fabulous adaptation - I hadn't read [Michael] Chabon's book at that time - what I was immediately captivated by was this group of characters that were at once so engaging and so messed up.

I make that distinction only because I came to it strictly as someone who was just a lover of storytellers and cinematic storytellers.

Hollywood, of course, is the city of illusion.