Some actors really like to do only a few, some like Casey [Affleck] will do as many takes as there is electrical power. At some point, you'll say, "Listen, I think it's really good." And he'll say, "You sure? You sure? There's not some other way we should try it?"

Teenagers all think their life is a movie. If you break up with someone or you have a fight, you walk around with movie scores playing in your head. You sort of see yourself suffering as you're suffering. There's a lot of melodrama attached to the real events of your life.

I've reached a new level of closeness with a new friend when I can make a joke at their expense. That's one of the great joys of life for me.

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.

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

I actually think storyboards are great. I don't draw well enough to do them myself. I've only used storyboards a couple of times.

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