You know, I'm really not that competent at describing things musically.

I don't think the competition's so rough, within the majority of movies made in Hollywood.

I write from my stomach.

I'm not really a Sundance baby, but they helped me so much I feel I have to acknowledge it.

So with 'There Will Be Blood,' I didn't even really feel like I was adapting a book. I was just desperate to find stuff to write.

You have to be a brat in order to carve out your parameters, and you have to be a monster to anyone who gets in your way. But sometimes it's difficult to know when that's necessary and when you're just being a baby, throwing your rattle from the cage.

I didn't have any desire I might have had 10 years ago to shoot every single word that I wrote.