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• [on his film Chef (2014)] It was nice to work on a little movie like this again, where I have so many responsibilities between writing and directing and acting, and you live and die by your own talents. I missed the feeling of doing something small and personal, where I wouldn’t have to explain my vision to anyone but the people I was collaborating with.
• [on which techniques he has avoided as a director]: I don’t “handle” people. It’s so much easier to manipulate actors than to really have an earnest discussion with them. It’s very easy to say whatever’s going to appease them and then tum around and do whatever you want to do. It’s difficult to be forthright with people, because the job does not lend itself to that. But I know that, as an actor, I appreciate it so much and I feel so much commitment to a director that’s up-front with me. The trick is to create a stillness amidst the chaos, to be really able to discuss and discover what the scene is. Joel Schumacher used to do a thing where he always would tum to the actor when he was done and say, “Do you want to try another one for you?” He always found the time for anybody to do that, and I do that too. I learned that from him. I think it’s all about making the actors understand that you are dialed-in to them. On Zathura I was working with two stars who were seven and twelve, and I really would discuss things like intention, subtext within the scene, overall arc during the movie… I just think it’s a good part of the process.