There are many projects I couldn't get off the ground because they didn't have white heroes. It's a problem that everyone who's been working in Hollywood has been facing.

I've been to Cuba many times.

My experience I consider an accident in the Hollywood system. I don't believe it should be a reference for a black film maker, or an example for any young film maker, because it's purely luck.

Francois Truffaut was my godfather on 'Sugar Cane Alley.' He believed in me and in that story, and told everyone that it should be made.

My grandmother always used to tell me, if I had a problem, I was only allowed to complain for one second. Then I had to take action.

As a child, I always wanted to be the last one to take a bath because I knew I could close the door and spend hours just having my bath and singing.