Quotes

Hal and I are close friends. I understand his language, his humor, his film language, what he is trying to say. I tell actors who are new to Hal--this is more like dance. It's not acting naturalistically, it's carefully choreographed. Gestures are important and specific gestures are very important. -- On Writer/Director Hal Hartley

When you are raised Catholic there is one thing that you are confronted with at a young age, and that's death. You're confronted with all the big issues - and that sparks deep questions, like what the hell are we doing here anyway?

I'm always looking for something that tells me a little bit about what it means to be human. That's how I measure the success of any artistic endeavor.

I love watching Marty Scorsese's films, but they always make me feel terrible about being a man.

[on reality TV] Those shows could have the potential of drawing out the human condition, but they are shallow and have no interest in that. It's all about self-aggrandizement and people who are hopelessly self-centered.They make no attempt to connect with other people. They just proclaim and glorify the self.

I'm a sucker for entertainment and escapism as much as the next person. I like silly and lowbrow stuff, but I get nervous when I indulge in that too often. I want to know what's going on in the world. I have a morbid fear of being surprised by bad news. I want to anticipate everything.