I am a hybrid. I do independent films and also do Hollywood films - I love them both.

I think black people have to be in control of their own image because film is a powerful medium. We can't just sit back and let other people define our existence.

There's an unwritten law that you cannot have a Jewish character in a film who isn't 100 percent perfect, or you're labeled anti-Semitic.

I'm just trying to tell a good story and make thought-provoking, entertaining films. I just try and draw upon the great culture we have as a people, from music, novels, the streets.

I think it is very important that films make people look at what they've forgotten.

It gets dangerous when you start allowing people to validate your work.

Don't think that because you haven't heard from me for a while that I went to sleep. I am still here, like a spirit roaming the night. Thirsty, hungry, seldom stopping to rest.

When you love something it's not a job anymore.

All directors are storytellers, so the motivation was to tell the story I wanted to tell. That's what I love.

American slavery was not a Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western. It was a holocaust. My ancestors are slaves. Stolen from Africa. I will honor them.

I think people who have faults are a lot more interesting than people who are perfect.

Never give anybody permission to disturb your peace. Always ignore negative comment.Dwell on positive thoughts and occupied your mind with songs of praise.

Imposing limitations on yourself is cowardly because it protects you from having to try and perhaps failing.

Diplomacy, n. is the art of letting somebody else have your way.

You can't please everybody. I give up. I'm not trying to. I don't care. Leave me alone with that.

Securing freedom has been a singular commitment of American presidents and patriots in and out of government for generations. But its perpetual continuation is not guaranteed.

I majored in Chinese Studies. I'm probably the only director of chicken Indian zombie movies who can speak pretty good Mandarin.

He's picked clean! Eaten by cats!

Don't ask God to cure cancer and world poverty. He's too busy finding you a parking space and fixing the weather for your barbecue.

I wish I could have built without destroying things.

Get yourself in that extreme state of being next to madness. You should always write with an erection. Even if you're a woman.