I was nearly a teen-ager before I stopped assuming that everyone I met was Jewish.

I think the more dangerous and dire the political circumstances seem, the more you attach value to anything that shows you why a human being is a human being or human experience or view of the world in that way.

The world doesn't grieve when you're grieving. The world goes on about its business. You're having a good day and I'm having a bad one and vice versa. And they could be very good and very bad at the same time. You multiply that by seven billion and you have one element of human experience.

You can shoot a film in New York without seeing the Empire State Building. Or Starbucks...although the latter is much less realistic.

I take it as a sign of intimacy and friendship when you feel comfortable enough with someone to have a little rough and tumble.

There's a few people who I've accumulated over the years who I really trust to show a first cut to and to be helpful rather than unhelpful.

I often find myself writing about people taking care of each other, or trying to. And often seem to write about situations that are too big for the characters.