My mother and father were interested in the arts.

The cinema is there to heighten the imagination; I have always tried to make sure it does so.

To be successful, you really have to put your ego in the background and try to be diplomatic to achieve what you want to achieve.

My house is not James Bondish at all. Sorry.

I always wanted to design for films.

Remember, the early '60s in London was something - which must have been like Berlin in the '30s when the arts flourished. You didn't have the differences in class, and so on.

One thing that I think works in 'Casablanca' and which I've lectured a lot about - in terms of what I've been trying to achieve as a designer - is the film's creation of its own form of reality.

I'm an incurable romantic, and 'Casablanca''s one of the most romantic pictures I've ever seen - the combination of Bogart and Bergman is just magical.

With Kubrick and most film directors, they are in complete control, but one can influence them.

What I felt at that time - we're talking about '61 - was that I couldn't remember seeing a film that reflected the age we were living in.

It takes courage to stay young, to make your enthusiasms work for you. Don't let anyone drag you down.

I didn't appreciate the moment as much as I should have while living it, but I can attribute that to my poor emotional state and hindsight.

Should it not be remembered that in setting a garden we are painting a picture?

I'm more focused on making a scene seem real as opposed to perfect.

My philosophy is "Where is it written that at 40 you give up all your toys?" If I'm still having a great time doing something, I'm going to keep on doing it.

I used to believe that if my career was going great, then I was not entitled to a great personal life. Well, I've stopped thinking that way. I believe I can have it all.

My big sister Melissa, is such a stud and my little sister Suzanna, has always had a perfect body and big blue eyes. We were a force.

The reason that gets me is, and the greatest part of my job and what I do, is the humanity of it and there's certain moments where that really cuts through.

Even if you're frustrated, how do you express yourself? There's no subculture like back in the day.

I think music is one of the hero/sheroes of the African-American existence.

Giving a camera to Diane Arbus is like putting a live grenade in the hands of a child.