I am an independent film-maker first and foremost. I have always cut my own cloth.

Christmas lights may be the loneliest thing for me, especially if you mix them up with reindeers and sleighs. I feel alone. I feel isolated. I feel I do not belong.

I am still attracted to stories about people who are considered to be on the outside of society. I still seek inspiration from those stories.

We have three generations at home, including my father-in-law. I keep a very low profile, and a lot of things I do are very much with the family in mind. I have actually made films with the family around me.

I want to question what the outside is and who defines it. I often find those that are considered to be on the outside extremely inspiring.

You know, the sad thing of post-9/11, which was of course horrific, was that the city in which I felt completely at home for two decades, suddenly people like us - brown people - were looked at as the 'Others.'

Americans are not used to being bombed in their beds, but if you come from anywhere outside America, it's not highly unusual.