When I made my student film, a feature, nobody wanted to talk to me and I was, like, in the desert for 12 years.

I've had to cut my mom out of a movie before - it's ruthless, editing. But it's also so necessary; because once you start taking away, it's like sculpture, you can really start feeling the shape of the whole.

A lawyer actually has to see all sides of a situation. Lawyers actually might be the most understanding human beings.

I tell the actors that the biggest gift they can give me is to fail. And that the second gift they can give me is to surprise me.

There's something so glorious in giving control to the world. I think that's what I'm trying to do in my films-control the world but also let it be chaotic, let there be life.

There's one rule that I have on my movies, which is that anything that you want to do, you can do. But! There's a flip side to that, which is that anything I want you to do, give it a try also.

I always say writing is like dreaming, shooting is like living, and editing is like murder, because you take all these gifts that actors give you, and you cut them.