My father had this mythological sense of the old New York, and he used to tell me stories about these old gangs, particularly the Forty Thieves in the Fourth Ward.

Every scene is a lesson. Every shot is a school. Let the learning continue.

You don't make pictures for Oscars.

I've been to North Africa many times.

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

I'm trying to find out what the hell we - who we are.

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.