You have to put yourself in a situation, a lifestyle, that makes you do the work. Even if it's a monastery.

My working-class Italian-American parents didn't go to school, there were no books in the house.

If your mother cooks Italian food, why should you go to a restaurant?

People have to start talking to know more about other cultures and to understand each other.

The creation of the island, or the impression of the island, as it changes in the mind of the character also came in to play... there was another very important collaborator, Rob Legato, on special visual effects. And then ultimately there's Thelma Schoonmaker, who keeps me focused during the editing of the picture.

I've seen many, many movies over the years, and there are only a few that suddenly inspire you so much that you want to continue to make films.

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.