Theres something unique about the United States, a sense of individual rights and freedoms, and a sense of social and civic responsibility that we contributed to so much of the world. We lost that mission in the 1980s and 1990s, when we entered a gilded age, and the culture of individualism became a culture of avarice.

Generally in my films like Hearts of Darkness or Picture This, I try not to make myself a presence in the film.

Obviously you have a responsibility - one would like to think there is such a thing as ethics in filmmaking.

The arc of the celebrity phenomenon ultimately is: everything turns to dust and everything does go away.

Im very strongly in favor of the auteur theory.

Most people, 95% of people, are good people. Its the 5% who get seduced by power.

I always say be humble but be firm. Humility and openness are the key to success without compromising your beliefs.