'Little Princess' was the first big movie that I did in America with big stages where we had kind of a different schedule to work. We had a great production designer, Bo Welch, and we had time to think about the movie in pre-production.

For each movie that I do, I like to find a specific language to tell the specific story.

I think the audience doesn't know a movie's lit, but they feel it. Because you've walked in a forest many times, or in a park, so you know how it looks. When you start lighting, subconsciously you know there is something that is absolutely wrong.

I did sound for a number of years, so I know the pain of the sound mixer on a set where everybody was talking.

I was able to shoot a movie like 'Tree of Life' because I had done 'Y Tu Mama Tambien.' The camera needed to capture that sense of freedom and joy and life you have when you're young.

I did a big movie this summer, during my hiatus. That's really the time when I can do anything where I have a large part. That was Down With Love, an homage to the Rock Hudson-Doris Day films.