I guess all the directors in France are influenced by Hitchcock, because he's the perfect visual director, in my eyes.

I guess George Clooney would be a wonderful silent actor, and Leonardo DiCaprio is such a wonderful actor he certainly could do it.

Hollywood is much more than America. Hollywood belongs to all of the planet.

But sometimes I think you have to try to do things that people don't think are doable.

I'm very happy in France making movies.

But I don't think of myself as a foreigner or a Frenchman! I just think of myself as a director. Whether I'm French or Australian or whatever, it's really not important.

I thought 'The Artist' was a perfect way to find a good balance. The artistic challenge is obvious because the film is black-and-white and its silent, but I did my best to make the movie accessible and easy to watch. I really don't want to make elitist movies. I really try hard to work for the audience. Audiences are smart. They get everything.