I believe that filmmaking - as, probably, is everything - is a game you should play with all your cards, and all your dice, and whatever else you've got. So, each time I make a movie, I give it everything I have. I think everyone should, and I think everyone should do everything they do that way.

I know that if a film is ready to emerge out of what I write, I'll be able to go off and make it without asking anyone's permission.

So much of the art of film is to do less. To aspire to do less.

Some critics are stimulating in that they make you realise how you could do better, and those are valued.

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. But you look at the project and think, 'Gee, there are a lot of good directors who could do that.' I'd like to do something only I can do.

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

I was interested in the idea of succession - showing a father and a son both in their own time and drawing a contrast