“In high school, I read 'Silas Marner' and I was very attracted to this character…” — Gus Van Sant

If I'm diagnosed with cancer I might become despondent, but someone young might not, and they might need connections with somebody outside their circle of family because their family is so despondent.

My department is to get actors to do stuff.

One of the things that is devastating is I realise I haven't been living a different life than when I was, like, 12. I'm shocked at how reclusive I've been since then. I was unaware of it until recently.

Modern-day cinema takes the form of a sermon. You don't get to think, you only get to receive information.