I only produce directors and movies that I have a lot in common with.

Somebody said to me, in a very well-meaning way, at a screening, "We love the movie but it's too violent. If you tone down the violence you could reach a great audience of kids.".

I have "fat-guy syndrome." If they give me $50 million to make a movie, I'll try to make it look like it cost a hundred. If they give me $60 million, I'll try to make it look like it cost $120.

When I stage a violent scene, I try for it to serve a purpose. I do love those things, the makeup effects. But I love them more with the monsters. I never was much of a gore guy. I've always enjoyed just creating monsters.

Survival often feels like an indignity.

When you have the intuition that there is something which is there, but out of the reach of your physical world, art and religion are the only means to get to it.

Studios look backward. Filmmakers look forward.