In 2009, Scott Rudin sent me August's [Wilson] original screenplay [Fences] and asked me what I wanted to do with it. He wanted to know if I wanted to act in it, direct it or produce it. I said, "Well, let me read it first."

You don't have to kill somebody to play a murderer. You have to read the script and interpret the character.

In fact, someone was telling me that Gladiator was the one film where Ridley Scott didn't take a producer's credit. And it won. But this guy changed the industry twice; with Aliens which was a whole new way of looking at things and Blade Runner that was also a whole new way of looking at things.

You'll see some great performances [in Fences]. And I'm not just saying that because I directed it either! You'll see!

I work hard for the audience. It's entertainment. I don't need validation.

The chances you take… the people you meet… the people you love...the faith that you have - that’s what’s going to define your life.

You never know how you're going to affect people.