By working in the morning, I find a sense of peace; it's isolated peace, but I can definitely be in touch with my feelings, and then I just start.

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

I probably have genius. But no talent.

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.

I'm very proud of my flops, as much as of my successes.

I was terrible at maths, but I could grasp science, and I used to love to read about the lives of the scientists. I wanted to be a scientist or an inventor.

Frank Capra was a prop man, I think. John Ford was a prop man. It was a little bit of a father and son thing, and you kind of worked your way up.