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

I love history, so I do a lot of movies about history.

I have to stay interested. I can't do the same thing over and over again, which is why I don't do - I've made sequels, but it's the movies that are not sequels that I enjoy the most.

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.

The essence of what it is to be American is the deep moral urge to be free, to freely express yourself and have the right to do so, and to look at all people as equals.

My head's not in the clouds, but I think I've gotten too much credit for being an astute businessman.

I think all directors should be animators.