Coming from the '50s, things were very violent.

At the beginning, my ambition was never to break down doors. It was just to earn tuition for myself and work in an industry where women hadn't been allowed or invited. That's all I wanted to do, not thinking that I would make waves, change minds, excite people, incite people, turn on people, repulse people.

The African-American community is not monolithic. It's liberal and conservative.

Driving a cab is not really a nurturing type of relationship. You take people and they tip you, they may not tip you, you don't know their names, they don't care about you, you don't care about them.

I felt beauty was a magnet for abuse, and I had suffered greatly for it.

We have to have films about action and violence and special effects. That's the sad part, but you know what? It's not me doing it.

Sex, action, special effects, and violence sell.