There's a kind of dream that movies sell to people: You can start as the lowliest person and rise to the top. 'Hit Me' doesn't sell this fantasy.

Theres a kind of dream that movies sell to people: You can start as the lowliest person and rise to the top. Hit Me doesnt sell this fantasy.

I would define independent film as a movie that is not financed by any of the smaller film companies. Because then, those are movies that in all likelihood are made without stars. And then they have to rely just on the material.

Who could be more desperate than filmmakers?

I peeled off La Brea and went home and instantly made a reservation to come back to New York. Essentially, I fired everybody that was in my life, my agent, my lawyer, my manager, my girlfriend and came back to New York.

Diane Arbus is one of the most mysterious, enigmatic, and frighteningly daring artists of the 20th century. Her work emerged from a deeply private place and profoundly affected all those who came into contact with it.

I love moving through long spaces and being enclosed.

Like all independent movies, the first thing you're looking for is a name actor who will justify your financing.

You hear this said about actors sometimes, that they're fearless, but she [ Maggie Gyllenhaal] really is.

The problem with most love stories in my opinion is that they're too simplistic.