The whole concept of the devil is a metaphor on one level.

Ray Charles, in his own way, it's like at the beginning, Ray Charles changed American music, not once but twice.

But a writer's contribution is literary and a film is not literary. When you take that stuff off the page, and cast the people who are going to fit into those roles, that's what being a director is.

I'm not in front of the camera, they are. I encourage them; I build up as much of their confidence and ego as possible. They've got to take control; I can't act it out.

It isn't glamorous until after the film is finished, and you are at the premiere and getting your picture on the cover of magazines.

You'd be surprised how many movie stars still care about the work.

It's very clearly stated in the film: You make your own choices, and what you're always fighting is ego.