Be thine own palace, or the world's thy jail.
As an actor, Sean [Penn] is brilliant. And he's really an excellent director, as well. We got along really well.
I'm always looking for directors who are very strong, they have great ideas, but on the other hand, that need help. It means they rely mostly on my eyes.
In a period piece, particularly a fantasy, the lighting is your own choice, the lenses are your own choice. It's really a great thing for a cinematographer to do. Everything is open for you. You can even be more creative and you can use more shadows than usual.
Kubrick was one of those directors who actually did practically everything in his movies. He actually directed, photographed, wrote, lit, edited - everything. A few people can be like that.
When we came to America, the movies here needed a "new wave. " European films looked totally different than American movies, which were these lush, glossy pictures with this elaborate production design.
Mexican cinematographers Gabriel Figueroa and Emilio Fernandez were students of both Sergei Eisenstein and Toland. Their exteriors and lighting were gorgeous. And the films Ingmar Bergman did with Sven Nykvist were exceptional.
Self-trust is so important. When you launch on a story, make your neck loose, feel free, good-natured. And be lazy. Feel that you are going to throw it away. Try writing utterly unplanned stories and see what comes out.
I wrote to find beauty and purpose, to know that love is possible and lasting and real. . . . Once I got to my desk, once I started writing, I still believed anything was possible.
It's a great relationship when you can work with the person who you consider to be your soul mate.
Comedy always pushes some buttons, because it wouldn't be comedy if it didn't.