With both Caddyshack and Vacation, it's not like the subjects were serious enough that they engaged my interest for another round. I love the characters, and the actors were great, but I didn't see the need to make another Vacation movie.

The rule of thumb for a director or producer - which prevents them from just sticking their names on everything - is that you have to contribute substantially more than 50 percent of the character dialogue and story.

Just expressing contempt for your leaders doesn't really accomplish anything.

I've been directing for 25 years almost, and I've only directed nine films in that time because I like to be careful.

At a certain point, you have to convince the actors that you've done the right thing. The way I work, if I can't convince them, I've got to move on. I can't coerce them or browbeat them.

I'm terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought.

Once you're alienated, you're on your own. That takes you to the world of the existential, where things just kind of float.