In the beginning, it wasn't even a question of deciding I'm going to do independent film and not commercial films - I wasn't being offered any commercial films, and there wasn't an independent scene.

Casting is everything. Getting the person that you imagined is this character and then seeing what they bring to it.That's why you hire them, so why tell somebody first what it is you want? I'm more curious to see what they bring to it and then be inspired by it and say: "OK, what if you tried this?" or "What would happen if ... ?"

I didn't really like the aloneness of doing stand-up.

I had a magic kit. I never really followed through on it, but I had my phase of wanting to do it, sure.

Bob Altman had this relaxed but serious attitude. Everybody loved him. I wanted him to adopt me.

I don't think about the characters I choose to play, analytically or consciously.

I did stand-up. I loved George Carlin and Steve Martin.