I try to measure the amount of truth in a work rather than just looking at the generic distinction between comedy and drama.

Most comedy is not very ambitious. You probably can't name more than a handful of comedies that would qualify for Best Picture.

Films are big hits when they touch a lot of people. Things are not funny in a vacuum, they're funny because we respond to some personal dislocation, some embarrassment, some humiliation, some pain we've suffered, or some desire we have.

I look for the meaning in what's funny, and I look for what's funny about things that are meaningful to me.

I've tried to stay away from mild satire. I want an audience to feel something more powerful for their ten bucks. If they're going to spend two hours with me, and trust me to lead them around, I'd like to take them someplace special.

I think of myself as a real writer, not just someone who dabbles in it, so I deserve some credit.

You don't have to know much, just a little bit more than everybody else.