I have a very low regard for cynics. I think it's the beginning of dying.

In 1973, I was shown a graphic of how dependent the United States was on nonrenewable resources like oil and coal and that little was being done to change that. It seemed irrefutable that we needed a change in direction or we'd be paying a huge price down the road. That's when I made a commitment to become a political activist.

The technology available for film-making now is incredible, but I am a big believer that it's all in the story.

I'm not good at compromise.

From my experience in my country, America over and over again takes itself right to the brink, it puts one foot over but it never goes over. It wakes up at the last minute and says woah, and then pulls back...

The world around us is in a sea change, and I think the glory of art is that it cannot only survive change, it can lead it

Storytelling is important. Part of human continuity.