There were two writer's unions in those days[ during World War II ] , the studio-friendly guild called the Screen Playwrights, and the more activist Writer's Guild. The studios were fairly upset that their group wasn't effective, and they sought to punish the other union by labeling them as Communists.

I'm a patriot, and I think democracy is the best system available. It's very flawed, but it works better than anything else.

I'm pretty opinionated sometimes although my political views change all the time, too. So I'm not very zealous.

Mini-Me was the pint sized clone that was the perpetuation of Dr. Evil's own legacy [in Austin Powers]. That concept earned the sequel.

When Dalton Trumbo and his friends joined the Communist Party it was 1943, and Russia was our ally in World War II. This was connected to a very popular movement of artists and intellectuals at that time towards anti fascism, and an alliance with the union movement.

When something so unjust as the black list happened, [Dalton Trumbo] would come to life in a certain way.

I think we'll all keep pushing each other, which is a great thing.