I've always been interested in how we survive and how resourceful we are as Americans.

Casting sometimes is fate and destiny more than skill and talent, from a director's point of view.

Audience members are only concerned about the story, the concept, the bells and whistles and the noise that a popular film starts to make even before it's popular. So audiences will not be drawn to the technology; they'll be drawn to the story. And I hope it always remains that way.

I always like to think of the audience when I am directing. Because I am the audience.

I think producers are more interested in backing concepts than directors and writers. I don't think that's the right way of making a decision about whether you're going to back a film or not.

I think every film I make that puts characters in jeopardy is me purging my own fears, sadly only to re-engage with them shortly after the release of the picture. I'll never make enough films to purge them all.

Actors just need each other to act together.