When I was starting out, when I put aside my career as an economist. I looked at every book, went to every show, did my first stories, developed my first films. A fabulous time.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I first came to cinema as a passionate filmgoer, when I was a child. Then, when I was a very young man, I became a film critic precisely because of my knowledge of cinema. I did better than others because of this. Then I moved on to screenwriting. I wrote a film with Sergio Leone, 'Once Upon a Time in the West.' And then I moved to directing.
After I left college, I went to work at the Royal Opera House in London, which became a real catalyst for me because it made me realize that I was interested in cinema and in the way life is thrust at you. So I started making films.
I did my first film when I was in the final year of my graduation. At that time, I was still a kid, and I couldn't read the industry very well.
Before I began concentrating on writing, in my free time I was an artist, making and selling etchings illustrating stories based on my readings in classical literature.
I became a film director, but I wasn't successful with my first couple of films, so I had to turn to becoming a film critic to make a living.
When I graduated college I needed to make money while I was pursuing acting, so I read screenplays and made a living writing coverage on them for studios.
I started as a writer; I started writing when I was little. The acting and directing was an outgrowth of my desire to tell stories.
When I was younger I wanted to be a big movie star who'd get to be funny on talk shows and then I wanted to retire and write science fiction.
I instantly chucked my academic ambitions and began writing fiction full-time.
I started as a journalist for magazines in New York City, so it was always storytelling. And moving into movies was a natural transition.