'E.T.' began with me trying to write a story about my parents' divorce.

I'll probably never win an Oscar, but I'll sure have a lot of fun! I really believe that movies are the great escape.

There are so many rumours about so many of us in the public eye. Sometimes it's too hard to deny what is not true.

When I was a kid, there was no collaboration; it's you with a camera bossing your friends around. But as an adult, filmmaking is all about appreciating the talents of the people you surround yourself with and knowing you could never have made any of these films by yourself.

If I weren't a director, I would want to be a film composer.

My dad took me to my first movie. It was 'The Greatest Show on Earth' in 1952, a movie of such scale it was actually a traumatic experience.

I hate that people think it's wrong to say you're inspired by Jaws or by Raiders Of The Lost Ark. You're allowed to be.