I think when you're young and have that first burst of energy and make five or six pictures in a row that tell the stories of all the things in life you want to say... well, maybe those are the films that should have won me the Oscar.

Being independent... is being innovative out of inspiration as well as necessity.

I also saw the Dalai Lama a few times.

Young film makers should learn how to deal with the money and learn how to deal with the power structure. Because it is like a battle.

I grew up in the Lower East Side, an Italian American - more Sicilian, actually.

Hong Kong cinema is something you can't duplicate anyway.

The problem with anger is that it's so consuming. You've got to take it easy on yourself at a certain point.