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So many people have said this, but it's true: 95 percent of what I do as a director is casting and getting people who can bear the load of what you're asking them to do and creating this emotionally safe environment.

I like it when an actor is secure enough to ask questions, and the director is secure enough not to be threatened by that.

Historically the director has been the key creative element in a film and we must maintain that. We must protect that, in spite of the fact that there is new technology that's continually trying to erode that.

I'll always protect what I'm working on. Which is why more and more of it is stuff only I can ruin.

You need a director, a script, and a role to justify a risk.

I'm really a director's actor. I rely heavily on a director.

As a director, you see something in someone; you know it's there, you just got to go get it. You do that with any actor. That's your job.

I'm an actor's director.

When I'm playing as an actor, I don't want to interfere at all with the director. I'm just an actor. I'm totally respectful.

That's the fun part about being a director. You get to say, 'Oh, now that I'm in charge, I can try and cast whoever I want.' They can always say no, but that's okay.