A film should be an experience. You should feel something. It should motivate you to feel something.

The business is so upside down now. It's not just about the bling-bling.

How did we suddenly become entranced with gangster culture? I saw it this morning on campus. When did the black community say we should all look like criminals?

Life is not without a little adventure, Adventure is not without a little danger, Success is not without a little failure

Ninety percent of the time, you're going to hear no. It took me seven years to make 'Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored.' Nobody wanted to see the movie made. I got the movie made.

Just having hope ain't going to cut it. You've got to have hope, passion and skills.

Black people don't even question things any more, they simply follow the lead.

Why would you create a movie for black people if you don't understand the history and perspective of the people you are doing it for? You need historical perspective to make sound decisions.

One problem when you get energy and want to go with it is that with so large a cast of talented people, you have to wait three or four shows for some 'meat.'

The name of the game is efficiency; we have to play that game with our toys and our brains.

Stop overthinking. You can do it.

If you want more influence, love more people.

If the artist reflects only his own culture, then his works will die with that culture. But if his works reflect the eternal and universal, they will revive.

Carrying out the thing, getting it to the point when one might say: There, now it is good - that point is hard to reach. Often, one sets very high goals for oneself. Perhaps too high.

Now people want Brian Williams to resign, but it could have a happy ending. Apparently what he said was such a blatant departure from the truth, today he got an offer from Fox News.

Further, a defensive policy involves the loss of the initiative, with all the consequent disadvantages to the defender.

You see, there is no more purpose or meaning in the world than you put into it.

To reach peace, teach peace.

Geniuses are like thunderstorms: they go against the wind, terrify people, clear the air.

Plus, there were so many pianos in my house, so I couldn't really avoid it.