You work with the communities to make films. And you just don't go in and take over their territory.

After 'Sin Nombre,' I just needed to take a break to go to completely different worlds.

It's a treat and daunting to be directing someone like Judi Dench, who's made more films than I'll ever make in my lifetime.

My mom loved the old black-and-white films.

'City of God' and 'Slumdog Millionaire' are both films that I really like, but they are stylistically the opposite of what I wanted to do.

In terms of tackling different subjects, I can't really think of anything I wouldn't want to try; that's the fun of it right? Each new style brings new challenges - not that you shouldn't focus on one and master it, but it takes so long to make a film, you just want to have some variety.