Always do things the least interesting way, the most blunt way, and you make a better movie. This is my experience.

Films have degenerated to their original operation as carnival amusement - they offer not drama but thrills.

The Oscars demonstrate the will of the people to control and judge those they have elected to stand above them (much, perhaps, as in bygone days, an election celebrated the same).

Every scene should be able to answer three questions: "Who wants what from whom? What happens if they don't get it? Why now?"

When the three branches of government have failed to represent the citizenry and the mass of the media has failed to represent the citizenry, then the citizenry better represent the citizenry.

Forget narrative, backstory, characterisation, exposition, all of that. Just make the audience want to know what happens next.

It is the writer’s job to make the play interesting. It is the actor’s job to make the performance truthful.

Opportunity may knock, but it seldom nags.

We must have a pie. Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.

People may or may not say what they mean... but they always say something designed to get what they want.

Being a writer in Hollywood is like going to Hitler's Eagle Nest with a great idea for a bar mitzvah.

Anyone can love a loving person but give your love to someone who doesn't deserve it

We scarcely want to analyse what we feel to be so large and deeply human.

I have found that it is the small everyday deed of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love." ~ Gandalf (J. R. R. Tolkein ~ The Hobbit)

The worst place to be is in the middle. When elephants fight, the grass gets trampled.

I think you manifest what you believe, and when you believe that you have no choice you lose choice.

When the chemist makes gloves, he usually cannot help making them in pairs for both hands.

If you can, always be appreciative of the ebb and flow of the losses and the wins.

I'm all for stage diving, but just don't step on my pedals

Competence is a great creator of confidence.

There is less flogging in our great schools than formerly-but then less is learned there; so what the boys get at one end they lose at the other.