If you find that a point cannot be made without narration, it is virtually certain that the point is unimportant to the story (which is to say, to the audience).

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.

we said we would be to each other as two voices, who shadows.

Surfing is a life path. You have to really commit... You have to let go and have faith that it's gonna work out when you take off.

If there is anything that is important to America, it is that you are not a prisoner of the past.

We all have our flaws. But we overcome them. And sometimes, it's our flaws that make us who we are.

It takes more talent to write music, but it takes more courage to write lyrics.

The Simpsons are ugly-looking, and they should be. That's what works. That's one of the things that's funny.

You should tell her how nice her outfit is because her outfit is her choice whereas her face isn't.

Even the minds of animals, such as dogs, lions, cats, and serpents, become charmed with music.

If simplicity were easy, we would see more of it.

My music is just as much me as it is everybody else.