When you look in one direction where Troy's chair was, you could see out through the yard across the street, there was an old cork bar advertisement for five cents. We wanted it to feel like this was real life [in Fences] and that it extended blocks and blocks.

I'm older and wiser. So and now having segued into filmmaking I'm looking at [Ridley Scott ] and what he does in an entirely different way and I have respect for what he does and how he composes shots. So that was what was completely fascinating.

I always think it's not what we know that's terrifying; it's what we don't know. That's sort of pervasive with everything in life.

Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.

There are films that I don't like, and then someone will come up to me and say it's their favorite movie. The movies belong to the people. You make them and you put them out. For me, I love the process of making films. For me, my favorite film is always my next one.

I and haven't been unemployed for 20 years. I'm an exception to the rule.

Raising the standard of the work, not complaining about somebody not voting.