Since I was a little kid, I did like fairy tale. I did dress up like Little Red Riding Hood. My mom had to make me a cape.

You can't really just think, "Oh, I want to make something that is going to appeal to every single person in the world." You have to just try to make a movie that comes from your heart.

People love to talk, so let them have fun talking.

As a director, you've got to have quite a few projects going because you never know which one will actually come together with the financing and get the green light.

If a scene doesn't work on three levels - it's not advancing the story, the characters, and telling me something new - then put it in the trash.

I thought, "If I can make you feel what it's like for that first super-passionate love, other people might like that too," and, of course, they did.

I thought it would be quite a challenge to direct a mystery thriller. I hadn't really done something like that.

When I was just five years old, I loved the scary layer and the symbolical power of the red cloak. I made my mom make me that red cloak, and I had to wear it on Halloween, two years in a row.

When you're in the editing process, you try different things and you get creative ideas.

When I talk to film students, I always say, "Buy the DVDs and listen to the commentaries, look at the making of, look at the behind-the-scenes," because that's such a great learning tool.

Usually, we have some of those nostalgic moments like, "Oh my god, I can't believe we survived that day," because filmmaking is such a wild roller coaster ride.

Dad thinks I'm ready to fly around the country as the Ambassador of Hope, but Mom thinks I'm a frail little bird with broken wings.

I lost an arm on my last trip home. My left arm.

Success is possible, Failure is possible, But nothing is impossible.

My favorite thing about L.A. is the sunny breezes that mimic the mindset of the energy in the people.

Man is a thinking animal, a talking animal, a toolmaking animal, a building animal, a political animal, a fantasizing animal. But, in the twilight of a civilization he is chiefly a taxpaying animal.

You never know . . . that's what makes life interesting.

It's more of a strength model to say that [Vladimir] Putin will do what it takes to defend his country. But that's why Putin is dangerous and Russia is a major cause of concern for us .

Jas, you are three hundred miles away. You would have to have nunga-nungas the size of France for Jock to be able to rest his hand on them.

Back when the country was strong, back before Elvis and before the Vietnam war came along.

I'm not a guy who did drugs or drank alcohol. I had a good work ethic and gave back to the community.