You may sell your work, but not your soul.
My art teacher in junior high was a very out gay man and a mentor to me.
I don't think American independent films have ever really been particularly experimental, except for the original guys from the '60s who were huge influences, like Stan Brakhage, Robert Breer, and Stan van der Beek. They were the true independents.
One of the things that is devastating is I realise I haven't been living a different life than when I was, like, 12. I'm shocked at how reclusive I've been since then. I was unaware of it until recently.
If it were up to the executives, they probably wouldn't have directors at all.
Because I didn't have brothers, I was always interested in the kids down the street that had four brothers in their family, so I became one of them - but it was not my family. I've always been attracted to temporary families. They tend to be lost characters.
Casting the locals is my primary concern because all the other things you assume will be manageable.
Satisfaction consists in freedom from pain, which is the positive element of life.
I had a joint once and I didn't feel right for a whole year
I don't think the Palestinian people or Afghan children or some other things I'm concerned about are at the top of other people's agendas - not right now, when America is going through such a recession and people are suffering across the board financially. But I think all that will change.
Geddy once joked, 'You're the only guy I know who rehearses to rehearse!