There's always the question when you're making a documentary if the talking heads will work.

You can't just hope things away. All of us have to care, to really focus on our cities, because that's where most people live, and they're crumbling. And along with them are the futures of a lot of people. So it's a wake-up call, but no one film can do all that; we're just trying to be a part of the conversation.

Collective action is a tough thing, but I can't think of a more divided moment than right now. We're going to keep sliding - Detroit will keep sliding, the country will keep sliding, and we'll just become a second-rate nation - if we don't make some decisions as a country.

I don't make films about celebrities, are not interested in celebrities. I don't make biographies at all.

You can root for someone who's imperfect.

I like visual layers, stylistically, that's something I enjoy and seek to do.

I think women have the ability to stick with things over a long period of time.