Create a really interesting, complex person that you want to know more about, and take her on a journey that is rich and fulfilling and that has an end that is perfectly fulfilling, and that has an end that is perfect for that character, and the audience will love it.

As a journalist you have to think quickly, you're exposed to all types of people and situations and you've got to synthesize your thoughts in a very clear and concise way and write them down quickly. Those were all things that have proven really useful in my life as a television writer.

The primary reason people watch television is you want to see the world through somebody else's eyes, and learn what that's like. You can only live one life, and so you get to see other lives through these characters.

The beauty of a really good movie is that it's a whole world, complete in an hour and a half or two hours.

Usually monsters are some aspect of human behavior or humanity at large.

The one thing you can do that the audience can't do - all those smart people online in the chat rooms can't do - is deliver a satisfying emotional journey for a human being, for a character.

I don't like television and movies where it's like, "Well, that was entertaining, but when I think back on it, that didn't really make sense and it's empty." That's like junk food, to me.