I was going to buy a van and move to LA so I could secretly pursue acting without any of my friends knowing.

I never made a daring rescue, which is the story people want to hear. I did go to my share of fires.

When I was in pre-production for Trees Lounge, I was hearing the cinematographer talking with the production designer about colours and this and that and feeling like I was losing control.

Really interesting things come because you don't know what the rules are, what you can and can't do.

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.

Trees Lounge is based on my own life. Both my parents like the movie. My father, of course, thinks it's a masterpiece.

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