I'm driven by passion. I mean, I am tired right now. I work to a point of abandon. I am fueled by my understanding of the need for self-expression that exists for young people.

I'm always moving forward.

There are some scenes that work beautifully in a moving, sweeping master, which is how I like to work.

Michael Ralph brilliantly plays the street prophet, a West Indian who foreshadows the Harlem riot.

I've had a lot of experience auditioning people, and I can do it rather quickly even though sometimes I let them linger and give them time, but I kind of know after I see them do a couple of steps. I know.

I use something that is a real staple in the directing world. It's called a dance floor. You lay it down so that it's so smooth you can roll around, and you can put furniture on top of it. It's seamless and you don't see it.

I design my shots. I walk the rehearsal as the camera and say 'this is where I want to be... I want this look.