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).

Films have degenerated to their original operation as carnival amusement - they offer not drama but thrills.

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 good film script should be able to do completely without dialogue.

You will never glory in God till first of all God has killed your glorying in yourself.

At the risk of appearing disingenuous, I don't really think of myself as 'writing humor.' I'm simply reporting on the world I observe, which is frequently hilarious.

Performance capture is a tool that young actors will need in the next 10, 20 years. It's on the increase, as you say. It's not going away.

Too often we concentrate only on the things we can see now; but our focus should be on that place we can only envision, but will enjoy for all eternity.

I let the actors work out their ideas before shooting, then tell them what attitudes I want. If a scene isn't honest, it stands out like a sore thumb.

You don't have good community relations in Chicago. It's terrible. I have property there. It's terrible what's going on in Chicago.

I like the fact that I'm living in the world rather than in a university.

Found, I told myself. Try to get found.

I've always been someone who is pretty hard on herself. But I've lightened up a lot.

Life is short. You die before you think you're going to. Don't waste it in college unless you're doing something real. My view.