I've never been a big fan of the music-video style of editing movies that crept in the last few decades. I like stuff that's able to take its time.

If you're going to succeed, you've got to be like one of those punch-drunk fighters in the old Warner Bros. boxing pictures: too stupid to fall down, you just keep slugging and stay on your feet.

I think a story should take as long to tell as it is appropriate to that particular story.

The amazing thing about any movie is not whether it's good, but that it got made at all.

I'm still learning. It's all a learning curve. Every time you sit down, with any given episode of any given show, it is a learning curve. You're learning something new about how to tell a story. But then, I've felt that way about everything I've ever done - television, features or whatever. Directing or writing, it always feels like the first day of school to me.

I am fascinated with times past.

I spent 20 years of my career primarily being a writer for hire.