The producer beating a new path for himself through the wilderness is going to do the thing 'differently,' of course. But after a while, he looks about him. The territory is unfamiliar, the forest ahead forbidding. Just how 'different' dare he be? He looks at his resources, and then at the established successes of the past. He suddenly realizes he must play safe, be sure. The unknown is a gamble; the known isn't-at least comparatively. The safest plan, obviously, is to follow the trailblazers. So he produces an imitation of one of the current successes. Usually it is a mediocre imitation.

A story never looks as good as when the other fellow buys it.

What's this business of being a writer. It's just putting one word after another.

If it isn’t for the writing, we’ve got nothing. Writers are the most important people in Hollywood. And we must never let them know it.

Novelty is always welcome but talking pictures are just a fad.

The movie medium will eventually take its place as art because there is no other medium of interest to so many people.

Compliments you pay to yourself aren't worth having.