Always stay open to surprise.

I’m not interested in a realistic look, not at all, not ever. Every film should look the way I feel.

I'd like to do a number of films. Westerns. Genre pieces. Maybe another film about Italian Americans where they're not gangsters, just to prove that not all Italians are gangsters.

I wish I could play music. I think I get as closeas possible with the editing of the films. Over the years musichas been an even more important influence than-or as important as-film.There's no doubt about it. Painting, movement, dance, sculpture-it'sall in cinema.

You've got to protect whatever creative talent you have left.

I always tell the younger filmmakers and students: Do it like the painters used to...Study they old masters. Enrich your palette. Expand the canvas. There's always so much more to learn.

I tried for about two semesters in a preparatory seminary. But I was about 15 and didn't fully understand what a vocation means.