You get money out of acting. You get gray hair out of directing. Actually, I get more of a rush from directing.

It was dangerous to hit the wrong kid in my neighborhood, because a lot of the guys I played with had fathers in the Mafia.

When you have a person in power who punishes people for speaking their mind, it's truly dangerous.

I grew up in New York, and I have that in me, that be-honest-at-all-costs, don't b.s. me attitude. I say, If you've got something to say about me, say it to my face. And then we'll either talk about it or fight about it.

I don't think people have been able to deal with the fact that African American filmmakers can make movies about life and relationships.

My father described me as the oldest baby he'd ever seen. I apparently was very serious and reflective.

If I'm a commodity, it wouldn't be a wise idea to buy stock in me - although, in the long run, maybe I'm a slow growth investment.