It started with the Godfather, this operatic violence. I don't know.

You can skim those stage directions and go right to the dialogue. You can almost read the movie in the same amount of time it will take you to see the movie.

A good actor's director, first of all, is prepared, so there's not an exorbitant amount of wasted footage.

I've written a lot of scripts that someone else directed, and it's absolutely vital that, if I'm gonna act in it, then I have to take off the writer hat and let the director direct.

The actor has the advantage - or the liability - of knowing, "It's going to be my face up there on the frickin' screen, so I better keep my wits about me. Nobody's going to care that I was bad because I was not happy. They're only going to know I'm bad."

Shameless is a rough show, and it’s not for everyone, but it’s also beautiful.

I'm really proud of the writing on Door to Door, and I think that's the Emmy that meant the most - the writing.