When I finish a film, I put it away and I never look at it again.

If you are making a film about a very famous individual you live or die by the person that's going to play the main role, ... In this film I'm in big trouble because everyone knows what Ray Charles looks like. Everyone knows his movements, everyone knows his vocal patterns.

My creative partner is a writer, and he's got an executive producing credit on this film. We've made three films together and I would never underestimate the impact of a writer.

I heard his story and I thought, 'My God, this is a great subject for a film,'

Look at Walter Huston in The Devil and Daniel Webster: It's an incredible performance.

It was the era of Tab Hunter and Rock Hudson; they all had a certain look.