In Quebec, we're less inhibited artistically, culturally, politically. We're less focused on box office and comparing our films to the American films.
Whereas European films have traditionally been able to go into adult relationships. I think there's a huge audience in America for those kinds of films.
Harvey Weinstein bought our film, and he's an animal. He's got us out there campaigning and everything because honestly it's a silent black-and-white film.
Nobody got Punk'd and he was still in his season for that show when we were filming. So the kids were very aware that it was filming and that was his show and they were very much on the lookout for that.
Normally as a director, you do look at other films and things that are relevant. But with this film, it became impossible because I became so aware of the camera placement.
I'm like most people. We just concentrate on the present. I live right where the film is going through the film projector and it hits the light.
If I wasn't a film-maker, I'd be a film critic. It's the only thing I'd be qualified to do.
Eventually, in '84, we made a film for a little over a million dollars - with American actors that was shot in English - that was shown in Finland A little action film called Born American.
Who says that big-budget films are safer than mid-range films? In terms of return on investment, I'd rather have 'Sling Blade' and 'Shine' than 'Volcano.'
My creative partner is a writer, and he's got an executive producing credit on this film. We've made three films together and I would never underestimate the impact of a writer.
I think indie films have more of a fresh, experimental vibe about them, whereas studio films know what they want and can basically get it.
I think we have the wrong notion of commercial and intellectual or artistic film. Because all films are commercial.
I like to leave a film open-ended, with a lingering feeling. I'll not do sequels of any of my films till I have subjects to explore.
I've always maintained my name will not define my films, my films will define my name. But I wish I was called Steve, or something else.
I only really watch my own films, I don't watch any other films and I don't particularly like any other actors.
As soon as you're at the higher levels of budgeting, you've got to get the film made, and the only way to support the film is to have actors who can support the budget.
Which is why I felt I was truly blessed this year, with leads in two nice films, and also the luxury of being able to do a studio film and an independent afterwards was fantastic.
'Pulp Fiction' blew my mind; beforehand, I'd watch films and there was a beginning, middle and an end, and that's it. There is in that film, too, but it's out of sequence.
If my film does not do well, it really hurts me. But by God's grace, even if some of my films may not have done well, people have still liked my work in it.
Action films are great, but an action film that has characters that are compelling and a story that people can care about is something even better. We love to see action heroes that are vulnerable, that are sensitive, that are family people, that are...
I learn so much from watching films like that with commentary and then when you get to hear another filmmaker talk about their films it's a really great experience.
