I made a decision back in 1978 that, in a trade off for money when I directed Halloween, I would have my name above the title in order to basically brand these movies my own.

It's a very good time for horror. This business certainly has changed, but there's still room for serious horror films. Look at 28 Days Later, that's not a tongue-in-cheek picture.

The strongest human emotion is fear. It's the essence of any good thriller that, for a little while, you believe in the boogeyman.

Directing is all about storytelling. It's not about equipment, or anything else.

Evil hiding among us is an ancient theme.

To make Michael Myers frightening, I had him walk like a man, not a monster.

Movies are pieces of film stuck together in a certain rhythm, an absolute beat, like a musical composition. The rhythm you create affects the audience.

We all question our sanity. Everyone has had an experience of loss of control of something.

A lot of it [success] is luck. That's a huge part of it that no one wants to talk about. You just got to be in the right place at the right time.

Horror found me. I got into the movie business to make westerns.

I can play just about any keyboard but I can't read or write a note.

I let it go. It's like swimming against the current. It exhausts you. After a while, whoever you are, you just have to let go, and the river brings you home.

The more choices we have, the greater the need for focus.

I still read Donne, particularly his love poems.

When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.

I was always in bands before, but on 'American Idol,' it was about getting my voice out there. It was always my goal, though, to get a band together again.

Man can only become what he is able to consciously imagine, or to 'image forth'.

I don't like the term "universal bank." The Chinese government legitimately wants to have a very strong economy. When they talk about SOE reform, they know that's part of it.

Without passion, nothing happens; without compassion, the wrong things happen.

If at all possible, commune with nature daily.

Everybody's got their own particular vision which is a personal thing.