I think a lot comes from having the experience of doing stand-up comedy. It allows you to figure out the psychology of an audience; what things are funny and not.

I go through a whole process with the actors first, building and creating characters, then I encourage them to sort of live in that character when they're in the screen.

We do nods to Charlie's Angels and Mission Impossible because they are popular with our fan base.

I prefer the smaller budget versus the bigger budget because the mentality that goes along with big budget filmmaking doesn't really suit me; the mind-set that money is the answer.

Creativity is the answer. I always prefer the creative solution to an expensive solution.

I'm just calm under fire. I'm not intimidating at all.

Comedy has a responsibility to be a voice of society, so within that, there's always going to be those that talk about those subjects and things that are going on in the world.

All I need is a camera and I'll make things happen

There are two phases to a movie. First you shoot the movie, and then you make the movie. Generally, post-production is longer than filming.

I put heavy emphasis on the characters.

You never really know until you put the movie in front of an audience. I am a big advocate of screenings, which are getting harder and harder to do nowadays.

Buying books would be a good thing if one could also buy the time to read them in: but as a rule the purchase of books is mistaken for the appropriation of their contents.

Sometimes, you have to look back in order to understand the things that lie ahead.

The hurt of a love that is lost has no cure but the love of another heart.

I don't know that I necessarily feel more comfortable in the context of smaller films, but I tend to feel more comfortable more often than not with the material of smaller films.

It is strange how the presence of additional people can make you feel more alone.

To one who has been long in city pent, ’Tis very sweet to look into the fair And open face of heaven, — to breathe a prayer Full in the smile of the blue firmament.

I've never been convinced that the sun would come up without me barking.

I have traveled a lot around the world and have seen a lot of people come to my programs... [and it made me realize] that people of all ages - from little children to elders - listen to my nasheeds.

I don't owe people anything, and I don't have to talk to them any more than I feel I need to.

One must love the mirror in the face of truth, only if one loves the outlook of your inner compassion.