It got to the point where I started hiding because I didn't want to be photographed. (On living with Robert Mapplethorpe)

I thought to myself that he contained a whole universe that I had yet to know.

I didn't know Kurt Cobain or Amy Winehouse, but I was affected by both of their deaths because I admired their work so much and mourned their youth and work they would never produce.

The idea of redemption is always good news, even if it means sacrifice or some difficult times.

The whole process of working with Steven [Sebring] and being filmed by him helped me psychologically to get my feet back on the ground.

I didn't want any middle-of-the-road creep. I always wanted the toughest guy in school, the guy from south Philly who wore tight black pants. Y'know, the guy who carried the umbrella and wore white shirts with real thin black ties. I was really nuts over this guy named Butchie Magic 'cause he let me carry his switchblade.

Those were the things on my mind [stay healthy, take care of my kids and reestablish a relationship with the people], not career, money, drugs, sex, alcohol or fun. Not that there's anything wrong with any of those things, but they aren't in the film [Dream of Life], because that wasn't my life at the time.