I was always writing scripts, and I had made several shorts, before and after film school. But I worked a variety of temp positions over the years.

I devoted myself to writing for years without representation or a promise of anything. And there were times when I felt quite down about my prospects.

You only get one world premiere of your directorial debut.

In these times of stress, snark, division and despair, I still suspect that two of the most important features we possess are imagination and a capacity for goodness. Those are qualities for which we will be remembered most fondly.

My M.F.A was in directing, and all the films I've made, for film school and after, I've written, directed and shot.

I'm interested in how innocence fares when it collides with hard reality.

I love so many different genres. I love crime films - and unusual coming-of-age pieces.