I had a lot of fun working with John Candy. We had a pretty good rapport.

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

It's a great luxury for me to be able to write on the films that I direct, and kind of a nice thing to be able to write enough to get credit, which is difficult for a director.

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

I always claim that the writer has done 90 percent of the director's work.

My first few films were institutional comedies, and you're on pretty safe ground when you're dealing with an institution that vast numbers of people have experienced: college, summer camp, the military, the country club.

I believe things happen that can't be explained, but so many people seem intent on explaining them. Everyone has an answer for them. Either aliens or things from the spirit world.