Making films. It gave me a voice. Legitimately saved me.

As a filmmaker, I really want to utilize the tools to carry the voice - my voice, and the voice of the characters.

My films are personal-voice-driven films about human characters and the place we live. Technically, I'm an independent filmmaker.

How did I feel as a guy who was making a movie about a single mom who's a crackhead? That - I was scared. I mean, it was scary. But part of that's because it was so personal and real to me.

At school, film-making had been the most beautiful thing that ever happened to me. Then I get to L.A., and it's this whole other thing. I checked out.

You graduate from film school and move to Hollywood. Hollywood tells you, 'We're not the place for you to make films,' so you decide you have to make a film yourself.