The idea of doing something that you've seen a thousand times before doesn't appeal to me.

Working in South Africa and the people in Johannesburg get under your skin. It stays with you. It's a place I want to take my children back to. It's a place that filled me with great joy and inspiration but also sadness. I think it's one of the most complex places on the planet.

I grew up with no money. My kids will grow up with a lot of money and so it's really important to me, and it will always be a part of my parenting, to keep them conscientious and connected socially to other people.

You know, social issue movies don't make a lot of money.

The point is to expand the scope of what a movie can possibly mean or be, to get people involved because they're artistic or understand the point of the material, not just because they fit a certain bill aesthetically.

To be more involved and more aware is appealing to me.

I've made 30-plus films over 20 years. And in my opinion, five of them are good.