You can't really make something or make a movie and feel all through the process that it's a painful thing. It's not possible to do that.

When you are completely satisfied with what you have made, you're pretty much done as a director. So when that happens, that'll sort of be the end.

For me, trying to expand the energy to make one movie in Hollywood would be the equivalent in terms of energy to making 10 movies in Japan.

Filmmaking is not a balancing act, although some directors think it is. I don't believe in it. I like ups and downs. They're the best way to translate my feelings to the screen.

I can't single out one thing that influenced me. My generation was influenced greatly by the manga that came out during our childhood.

I believe that every director's films reflect their lifestyle.

I don't know if I would call it therapy, but filmmaking is really the only thing I know how to do. For me, making movies is a way to bring on change for myself, and I really enjoy that part.

I go to the dentist, not a shrink.

As a filmmaker, you've got to have a nose for what's going on culturally. You have to feel it. It doesn't have to be manga or music, but you need some kind of antenna. That's very important.

And if I'm running away from something, I try to make myself face it and overcome that initial fear. As a director, I don't think it's possible to make a movie that you really don't want to make.

If you're trying to be realistic and bring real life to the screen, you are going to have different elements. That's what I'm trying to do. As I make the movie, different elements come in naturally.

One's course in life often pivots on small incidents.

An ideal world inhabited by carefree people is nothing more than a utopia.

Opportunities are all around us, but the problem is that most people often look with their physical eyes instead of their mental vision.

Nolan was the only one who knew the real Lexi Shaw, and that was exactly how I intended to keep it.

Spiritual Awakening is awakening from the dream of thought.

Someday you're going to have to learn to separate what seems to be important from what really is important.

If the wind is in your face, you swing too hard just to get the ball through it; if the wind is at your back, you swing too hard just to see how far you can get the ball to go.

The Christianity that saves is a thing personally grasped, personally experienced, personally felt and personally possessed.

To find fulfillment...don't exist with life - embrace it.

I wanted to be consistent with my exercise, so I committed to working out for 30 days in a row, no matter what.