Taylor Hackford

An actor has to embody a role.

Because when you have millions of people with this kind of need for gratification, and the culture is saying that it's possible for everyone to satisfy all of their needs and desires all of the time, there are obviously going to be clashes - clashes of ego.

But a writer's contribution is literary and a film is not literary. When you take that stuff off the page, and cast the people who are going to fit into those roles, that's what being a director is.

But, unfortunately, sometimes that affirmation creates a sense that you deserve special treatment and recognition in areas where you're not so talented.

I also know what looks good before the camera, how to move the camera, and how to get a story on the screen.

I feel very comfortable shooting music, and I think you can see that.

I make films about working class people.

I try to get the best performance an actor can give.

I'm not in front of the camera, they are. I encourage them; I build up as much of their confidence and ego as possible. They've got to take control; I can't act it out.

It's much easier to work with an unknown.

It's very clearly stated in the film: You make your own choices, and what you're always fighting is ego.

Music has always been an important thing to me in my life and understand I've worked in the music business.

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.

Ray Charles, in his own way, it's like at the beginning, Ray Charles changed American music, not once but twice.

Russell Crowe is very difficult, but it's worth it. He's the real thing. I can tell you this. Russell Crowe was just as difficult before he was an international star as he was afterwards.

Show business is one of those things that people can use to get themselves out of the lower rung of society.

The whole concept of the devil is a metaphor on one level.

This devil loves mankind because men are going to always make the choice that will send him into ascendancy. He's been winning the game for a long time.

We all get paid very, very well, and we have responsibilities.

When I finish a film, I put it away and I never look at it again.