The reflexive allergy to L.A. that a lot of New Yorkers have, I feel like it's kind of nonsense.

One thing I'm most proud of, in my movies, is that I think the performances are super-strong, but that's not all me. I think part of it is casting appropriately.

I think the word 'earnest' kind of has a negative connotation on some level. I think one of the things that's happened is that being cynical is somehow conflated with being sophisticated. I think that's problematic, to say the least.

I tend to read things that are a little more on the nourishing side. But if I don't enjoy something, I'll put it down.

The attitude of the director is really important, in terms of setting tone.

You can say something that can really help and actor and you can say something that can really get in the way of an actor's performance, kind of cut them off from their instincts and really get into their heads. And every actor's different. Every actor requires something different. Being an actor, for me, was the greatest training to be a writer and director.

As a person, I'm anti-violence.