['American Dream' will be released] probably never.Never in the United States because there's no room for independent cinema.

It's great to be recognized for work, and the work is great, but once you have the awards, it becomes less important. It just gives you the ability to do better work, in my opinion.

There are films that are difficult. There are films that would actually affect your personal life because of the length of the production, how long [you're away] from the family.

[ 'American Dream' ] probably will [go] somewhere in Europe. You get 3000 entries [to] Sundance, and how many movies get [screened]? So, I'm a realist. I'm very much realistic in terms of if this movie will be released in the States. Probably not.

It would be horrible to be micro-managed! I don't think directors can really micro-manage people. It's just impossible.

Occasionally I do movies with other directors. I did 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly' for Julian Schnabel. I did a movie with Jim Brooks ('How Do You Know'). I did a movie with Judd Apatow ('Funny People'). So I do get a chance to work with other people, which is always enjoyable, always pleasant. But still, Steven [Spielberg] makes the types of movies that I'm interested in as well.

It's very hard to go to Monument Valley and not think of John Ford's films.