I always aspire to that, where it feels like the film was made by the characters as opposed to the filmmakers. I try to be invisible.

I like hiring people based on a feeling - this person gets it - rather than what they've done in the past.

Even in this world where you’re getting everything you need and having this nice life, there’s still loneliness and longing and disconnection.

Don't differentiate between 'This is a job' and 'This is what I'm doing for fun.' It's all simultaneous.

You make a movie that is about what you want it to be about and let people have their reaction to it.

The things that are really out of control, and scary, are emotions - of people around you, that are unpredictable, or those in yourself which are unpredictable.

If I leave my phone in the car and go to dinner or something for a few hours, I'm very proud of myself.

The past is just a story we tell ourselves.

Doing a documentary is about discovering, being open, learning, and following curiosity.

Be willing to get fired for a good idea.

On everything I do I'm always taking someone's money, whether it's a movie studio or a record label. Somebody's paying for it, and I'm always respectful of that. But I'm never going to compromise.

Have a look around, my pretty, we are surrounded by Death in all forms – just the two of us are still alive –

That we can be e pluribus Unum - out of one, many

Our children need to see and hear about more black role models in many fields so they can make better choices.

Jimi Hendrix isn't as good as me!

The opposite of love is not hate, but indifference. Indifference creates evil. Hatred is evil itself. Indifference is what allows evil to be strong, what gives it power.

Nothing is rarer than real goodness.

Better for you to have one sleepless night on earth than millions in hell.

In every creepy movie ever made, the barn is the prime nesting ground for the things you don't know you're looking for and always regret finding.

Caress the detail, the divine detail.

Wow, I did so much for young black girls and girls around the world.