I think black people have to be in control of their own image because film is a powerful medium. We can't just sit back and let other people define our existence.

I don't see any negativity with what Brad Pitt is doing with his Make It Right Foundation, or what Sean Penn is trying to do in Haiti.

'25th Hour,' like a lot of my films, takes place in New York City. I've been very fortunate to make films in the city that I live. I mean, it's great going home at night instead of being on location.

I wouldn't be doing motherfu**ing films for almost three decades if every time I did something that someone didn't like I went in a fu**ing cocoon and just hid there and didn't make my art.

Everything I do is always scrutinised. But that's all I'll say about that.

Making films has got to be one of the hardest endeavors known to humankind.

Our greatness, our talent has never been the question. It's been a matter of grappling for control over what we do.