If people knew what made hits they'd make more of them, so to have the illusion of control over one's career isn't something I can even pretend to have.

Independent films have a very different cachet than success films.

I think a lot of the time, the studio system is so compelled to kowtow to its fear that women are not going to be found sympathetic. It just sort of euthanizes any hope of more diverse examples of the emotional realities of people. Representing my gender, I think, "Well, I have those emotions, why don't those ever get brought to the screen so I can feel recognized?"

You can only be a virgin once. There can only be one first time.

It's always refreshing to step into another time.

When I really young yet feeling very old, I offered up a lot of myself to the press; I knew it was good copy.

I think certainly directing is a visual medium, but it's also about communication, and a lot of times great directors are lacking in communication skills, which is rather shocking to discover that.