These days I'm mostly familiar with two parts of L.A.: one is movie culture, and the other is Asian culture. The Westside is work, and the Eastside is Chinese - which means my friends.

We need storytelling. Otherwise life just goes on and on, like the number Pi.

I see a movie as a way of learning about the world, about myself, and learning about my relationship with people and art.

I think the American West really attracts me because it's romantic. The desert, the empty space, the drama.

My hometown was one of the major U.S. Air Force bases.

I think people are universal.

Sometimes, you have to get angry to get things done.

Every movie I make. That’s my hideout, the place I don’t quite understand, but feel most at home.

When there is a strong woman character in a story - that always grabs me

I think great romance needs great obstacles and textures.

Making movies is a way of understanding myself and the world.

There are many things we don’t understand, and many ways to unlock the brain and maximize function. Don’t ever let anybody tell you it can’t be done.

In politics you learn to always smile.

I made a pact with myself a long time ago: Never watch anything stupider than you. It's helped me a lot.

One of the main functions of formalized religion is to protect people against a direct experience of God.

I got what I needed instead of what I wanted and that's just about the best kind of luck you can have.

In any really good subject, one has only to probe deep enough to come to tears.

Why, I've never even had a quarrel with any one. I haven't an enemy. What a spineless thing I must be not to have even one enemy!

Don't get into this false sense that you are an individual when you're on Facebook. No. You're Not. You're a pawn in their scheme.

Never rush an emotion; everything in life has a rhythm, it is the pauses and silences that speak the truth.

Human material existence is limited by ideas, not stuff, people don't need copper wires they need ways to communicate, oil was a contaminant, then it became a fuel