As a person, I'm anti-violence.

It's really hard to be poor in New York - I was really poor when I lived in New York.

When I write a film, there's a particular thing I am wrestling with and the question or concern I'm dealing with has to be big enough for me to dedicate a year or two of my life. If the question isn't big enough, or rich enough, I'll lose interest.

The purpose of fiction is to combat loneliness.

I have great people surrounding me and helping me out. I'm totally in love with directing movies and I hope to do more of it.

Knowing when to say something and when not to say something is important.

It's not our job to play judge and jury, to determine who is worthy of our kindness and who is not. We just need to be kind, unconditionally and without ulterior motive, even - or rather, especially - when we'd prefer not to be.