It is an incredible thing to see how many crazy things get thrown out that people then often write commentaries about how happy they are or how disappointed they are about something that’s completely false. But, it’s a lot of noise, frankly.
I have no style. There are certain people who just have a visual sense that defines their work. You could probably watch 30 seconds of anything they do and you’ll know exactly who directed it. I don’t have that skill.
On movies like Star Trek and Star Wars, you have so much that will be created or extended digitally, and it’s a slippery slope where you can get lost in a world of synthetic.
It’s not often that I read about actors that I’m going to be meeting. I get to read articles about actors who were going to come in, so I get to see someone and say, “Oh, I read that I was going to see you. It’s very nice to see you.”
I remember being taught to read at a very early age. Like creepy young. I remember being in the crib, reading. My parents were very impressed. My reading speed, comprehension and overall ability has remained at that level ever since.
I’ve just been lucky to work on things that I felt would be cool to see. It’s not that I had a strategy or anything.
I was more of a Star Wars kid, actually. I always thought Star Trek was a lot of talk, and it felt a little self-important. It was hard for me to get into it.
I’d like to use IMAX. The problem with IMAX is that it’s a very loud camera. It’s a very unreliable camera. Only so much film can be in the camera. You can’t really do intimate scenes with it.
I’m not as optimistic as Gene Roddenberry was. I fall somewhere in the middle. But as a romantic, I like to think things are going to get bigger rather than worse.
The magic that works, to me, is the magic that feels completely grounded and real and tangible.
We’re always pitching ideas and being told “no thank you.” No offense taken, because I would so much rather be told the truth that they’re not interested and be able to find the right show for that network down the line.
People never know what they want, though everyone says they do. If they did, nobody would ever be surprised.
It’s what happens. You love, then you lose, then you die. Even if you survive, you die.
All I know is that I’ve made some big screw-ups, and I’ve done some things that have done all right. I just keep trying to learn from the mistakes I’ve made.
I don’t try and write strong female characters or strong male characters, I just try and write, hopefully, strong characters and sometimes they happen to be female.
There’s nothing wrong with doing sequels, they’re just easier to sell.
What I’m still grappling with and learning how to do is to be looking and thinking cinematically, having come from television.
To me the interesting main character is never the one without flaws.
There are always a bunch of ideas floating around and I do the best that I can to try to not do them. The ideas don’t go away and, over time, are finally like, “Okay, it’s been around so long, I have to get this thing out,” and it somehow ends up coming to some version of fruition.
I think admitting youre an addict is the first step towards recovery.