I know that I come from mid-20th century America, urban, specifically downtown New York, specifically an Italian-American area, Roman Catholic - that's who I am. And a part of what I know is there's a decency to people who tried to make a living in the kind of world that was around us and also the Skid Row area of the Bowery; it impressed me.

I don't like being in houses alone.

Any film, or to me any creative endeavour, no matter who you're working with, is, in many cases, a wonderful experience.

Violence is not the answer, it doesn’t work any more. We are at the end of the worst century in which the greatest atrocities in the history of the world have occurred... The nature of human beings must change. We must cultivate love and compassion.

I do know that some Buddhists are able to attain peace of mind.

I go through periods, usually when I'm editing and shooting, of seeing only old films.

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