Historically the director has been the key creative element in a film and we must maintain that. We must protect that, in spite of the fact that there is new technology that's continually trying to erode that.

The first thing I can really tell you is I really love the work.

I have gotten to a point in my life where I don't want to have dinner with someone I don't like.

The first assistant director is just so important that the choice of that person is critical to the movie.

One of the first lessons you learn as an actor is to listen.

I think all great actors - and I don't classify myself as one of them, incidentally - but I think all great actors listen well and I've learned that from a lot of the very good actors with whom I've worked - to really listen to what people say.

I look at actors very closely. It's not an accident when the actors excel.