I became quite successful very young, and it was mainly because I was so enthusiastic and I just worked so hard at it.

I wrote the script of Patton. I had this very bizarre opening where he stands up in front of an American flag and gives this speech. Ultimately, I was fired. When the script was done, they hired another writer and that script was forgotten.

Ten Days That Shook The World, by Eisenstein, I went to see it, and I was so impressed with this film, so impressed with what cinema could do.

To make great movies, there is an element of risk. You have to say, 'Well, I am going to make this film, and it is not really a sure thing.'

I was raised as a Catholic, but I didn't like the Catholic Church at all. I thought the nuns were mean.

If you're a person who says yes most of the time, you'll find yourself in the hotel business and the restaurant business.

I've been offered lots of movies. There's always some actor who's doing a project and would like to have me do it.