The part that I felt most comfortable with going in was just working with actors and trying to make them feel comfortable and safe so they could find the performance. That part felt organic to me.

People in theatre work harder than anyone in the world - as far as I'm concerned - as far as sheer output of energy and the rigor and excellence that they maintain doing something every day, or twice a day.

I think film is collaboration, and I always want to hear everyone's input.

In some ways I'm oddly traditional, I've been a serial monogamist since I was 12. I've always tried to work hard and get good grades and be a good person, but I feel like I've also always had a strange defiance of authority or the status quo, I've never understood why things always have to be just one way.

I guess what I learned about myself is I'm a bit of a socialist; I want everyone on the set to get equal treatment and credit.

With any independent film, it's all about getting everyone's schedules in line and everything together at the same time and just doing the best you can do when that happens - if it happens.

Everything I did growing up was with that as the real goal - doing Broadway; doing theatre. That was always the big thrill for me.