I insist that they do what they became actors to do. I want them to create something and not just hit marks and say words. So they all love that because they're playing. It's called playacting. Their contributions are not only welcomed, but are accepted and used.

Your own ego is the only trap that I think you can fall into.

Filmmaking is a chance to live many lifetimes.

People have asked me throughout the years which directors have influenced me. I don't know their names, because I was mostly influenced when I'd see a film and think, "Man, I want to be sure to never do anything like that." So I never learned their names. It wasn't a matter of copying or emulating somebody I admired. It was getting rid of a lot of stuff.

What is an ending? There's no such thing. Death is the only ending.

[M*A*S*H] didn't get released by FOX, it escaped.

Most of my films I call arena films. I deal with a confined area -- an arena -- and I try to cover every aspect of it.