I have to have a working knowledge of light, and optics, film emulsions and their properties, and lenses, otherwise I can't create the shoots that are the vocabulary of the films. But it is not necessary for me to be a cameraman, I can hire a cameraman.

If we were a primitive society, movie stars would be gods.

I think it's a terrible shame that politics has become show business.

I mean, certainly writing, painting, photography, dance, architecture, there is an aspect of almost every art form that is useful and that merges into film in some way.

Well, there's no question that a good script is an absolutely essential, maybe the essential thing for a movie.

I don't consider myself a teacher of moral and political positions. I don't want to be that. I can't help but have a point of view when I make a film, but my first job is to entertain you.

I've produced my own films for twenty years now - it means I have to talk to less people.