No, you're either born a writer, a storyteller, or you're not.

Films are always pretentious. There's nothing more pretentious than a filmmaker.

I may not be the strongest guy or the most well armed, but you can put me in a room with a pencil and a piece of paper and I can kill anybody.

Also, they don't understand - writing is language. The use of language. The language to create image, the language to create drama. It requires a skill of learning how to use language.

I was never conscious of my screenplays having any acts. It's all bullshit.

I suppose when I started out I would have liked to have been the darling of critics or something, but everybody wants to be loved and admired.

The people that really pass judgment on you really have nothing to do with what you do, usually.