When I think of 'Nightmare on Elm Street,' there was a warmth to those teenagers that I related to. They were not aware that they were in the middle of a horror film, and I really loved those characters and I empathized with them.

With each one of my films, I'm exploring one of my own issues and I try to expose myself a little in the film.

I've been very, very lucky in my career, in my life - from day one. When aspiring directors say, 'what's your advice?' first I say, 'be born the son of a famous director. It's invaluable.'

I think romance is a tool, comedy is a tool and drama is a tool. I really just want to tell stories that challenge the viewer, move people, make you laugh, perhaps push an idea about being open-minded but never settle on a genre or an opinion. I hate genre. I like movies that are original in their approach.

I want my audiences to be as open-minded as my characters.

My writing voice is very much like 'Thank You for Smoking.' It's a guy's voice. It's very masculine.

Discover how little you know about the people you know.