It is the objective of the protagonist that keeps us in our seats.

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.

A story never ends. The narrator is usually provided with a nice, artistic spot for his voice to stop, but that's about all.

Look in the mirror and see the President in you.

What was the point in crying when there was no one to comfort you? And what was worse, when you couldn't even comfort yourself?

I am aware that one should always make room for renewal in politics. A democracy is the healthier for the turnover of the depth of talent there is in its community.

A person who uses party as a verb is a person who will walk into a shop and walk out wearing a rubber jumpsuit.

...Genuine pathological openness is about as seductive as Tourette's Syndrome.

I do not support the third party movement anymore. I now advocate the abolishment of all political parties. We've allowed the parties to take over the government.

Because so few people make an actual long term commitment to what they're building, the ones that do have a huge advantage.

True mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way.

Touring definitely makes you appreciate home more, so when I can be home, I like to stay home.