My company and people think I'm wacky when I have an idea... I know if I have an idea, no one will want to go through it. But if I persist, people will go through it.

Usually, the stuff that's your best idea or work is going to be attacked the most.

I think cinema, movies, and magic have always been closely associated. The very earliest people who made film were magicians.

I wanted to be a film student again, as a man in my 60s. To go someplace alone and see what you can cook up, with non-existent budgets. I didn't want to be surrounded by comforts and colleagues, which you have when when you're a big time director. I wanted to write personal works.

I realized I probably wouldn't make another film that cuts through commercial and creative things like 'Godfather' or 'Apocalypse.'

I think it was more like the original Francis before The Godfather who just wanted to make personal films and use sensible-sized crews and equipment.