I have never before, in my long and eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming ‘War Horse’ on Dartmoor.
Fathering is a major job, but I need both things in my life: my job to be a director, and my kids to direct me.
I’ve discovered I’ve got this preoccupation with ordinary people pursued by large forces.
I’m always in favor of Israel responding strongly when it’s threatened.
Am I allowed to say I really wanted this? This is fantastic.
This is a time when we need to smile more and Hollywood movies are supposed to do that for people in difficult times...
My father had many, many veterans over to the house, and the older I got the more I appreciated their sacrifice.
I don’t think any movie or any book or any work of art can solve the stalemate in the Middle East today. But it’s certainly worth a try.
Casting sometimes is fate and destiny more than skill and talent, from a director’s point of view.
I get that same queasy, nervous, thrilling feeling every time I go to work. That’s never worn off since I was 12 years-old with my dad’s 8-millimeter movie camera.
Why pay a dollar for a bookmark? Why not use the dollar for a bookmark?
I did 50 takes on Robert Shaw assembling the Greener Gun on ‘Jaws.’ The shark wasn’t working, so I just kept shooting to make the production report look like we were accomplishing something and to keep cast and crew from going crazy from boredom. It was a strategic indulgence.
Before I go off and direct a movie, I always look at four films. They tend to be The Seven Samurai, Lawrence Of Arabia, It’s A Wonderful Life and The Searchers.
As a Jew I am aware of how important the existence of Israel is for the survival of us all. And because I am proud of being Jewish, I am worried by the growing anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism in the world.
There is a fine line between censorship and good taste and moral responsibility.
The public has an appetite for anything about imagination – anything that is as far away from reality as is creatively possible.
And I may often question choices I make as a producer. But I’ve never questioned the choices I make as a director.
From the day I started to think politically and to develop my own moral values, from my earliest youth, I have been an ardent defender of Israel.
I’d rather direct than produce. Any day. And twice on Sunday.
Actors just need each other to act together.