I like to find comedy or something interesting to look at with whatever I'm working on.

I'm used to working with restrictions and that's when you come up with the more creative stuff.

I distinctly remember watching Annie when I was very little and thinking 'I don't like this kid.' In fact I think I remember thinking 'I don't like any of these kids.' That's all I remember.

A big part of the humor is in identifying with the tragic elements of the film. The New Zealand sense of humor is very dark. Our films are usually very dark and it's always someone being killed. Usually a child.

I never wanted to be a filmmaker. I still, sometimes, think I got sidetracked by this, like this is a tangent. My main thing was painting; I was just going to do that.

Sometimes there are really happy mistakes.

I've become more like water, I'm more relaxed and I'll say, "Okay, let's just completely change it and do it that way."