I think that acting is no fun unless it's hard. I'm not titillated by acting or being an actor unless I have to work hard.Collection: Fun
I think everybody has a public persona. We all present ourselves.Collection: Thinking
I learn things in a backward way. I learn all those limitations, and slowly my brain soaks them up, and if things go right, you just, in an organic way, translate your ideas into those templates. That's the way I perceive the process happening.Collection: Brain
Drama is more focused and it reveals itself to you, whereas comedy is just right there, when you first read it.Collection: Drama
In acting, you're only responsible for your part. When you're directing, the load is on your shoulders, so you have to feel a strong connection to the material. It's a higher bar to get over.Collection: Strong
The worst thing is to read bad reviews and go, "Yeah, I agree."Collection: Reviews
Being comedic is a skill, because there is a fine line where the context is important. And being dramatic is just being honest and real in that moment.Collection: Real
Acting in particular is a fun job when you have a good script. I don't know about acting when you don't have a great script. I'm gonna say that's not a great job, it's kind of a dumb job. But when you have a good part in a good script, it's the best job, in a way.Collection: Jobs
Comedy can be destructive, and still very, very funny. But if I can do something that is fun to watch and critical of the world but not wantonly destructive, I pursue those kinds of ideas more. The world needs less destruction. And destruction is kind of “easy,” too.Collection: Fun
I've always tried to have a rule that you shouldn't make fun of innocent people who can't defend themselves. I find that a little unseemly and distasteful. But nothing's really sacred to me.Collection: Fun
You get to use everything you learned in movie business. You talk to actors, if you do it right - and I haven't always done it right - you should be shaping the material all the time. And the other thing is, you get all the blame when you direct and it doesn't work. You get slammed. So that's another reason to know what you're making, why you're making it, and make it the way you want.Collection: Use
When you're 20 you can put a ton of old-age prosthetics on and be an old guy, but when you're 70 you can't play a 20-year-old.Collection: Years
In the end, the thing that really stays with you is not that you were clever enough to connect a sketch to another sketch, but what really sticks with you is when you just have an incredible moment happen, or execute a really funny idea.Collection: Clever
I felt my personal life was not what it should be. It had nothing to do with Mr. Show - I'm monstrously appreciative and understand what it did for me and to me - but after four years, I just felt like I needed to do something else. I guess I wanted to be in a different place, physically.Collection: Years
My godfather was a Chicago policeman, and I've always looked at law enforcement as a challenging and interesting job.Collection: Jobs
Not to knock the people who've given me the opportunity; I appreciate all the opportunities I've gotten, but one of the things I think I really learned from the features I got to direct is that your job as a director is everything about the movie. It's to pick a story that's really worth making, and make sure that the basic components are there. You're not just a part of the team. You're really in charge, and the responsibility falls on you if all the components aren't there for a worthwhile film.Collection: Team
I pretty much read reviews and comments only looking for the negative. Literally, when I read positive comments, it's like a zero. I think the issue is if you agree with it or not.Collection: Zero
With acting, if a friend asked me to be in a movie or TV show, there's a lot of things on my résumé I did without reading them or knowing what they were. I just said I'd do that because a friend wrote it, directed, produced, acted in it. With directing, I'm sticking to my guns, not that a lot of people are begging me to direct.Collection: Reading
When you envy actors, only envy them for their good roles. Keep in mind they have to do a lot of roles to make a living, and not all of them are good. When they're doing a stupid role in a bad production, it's kind of a dumb thing to do when you're an adult. When you're doing a great role that's well-written, it's an enviable job.Collection: Jobs
It's dangerous to get calm. You need some nerves to work from, it's good energy. It's not good to have no nerves. You'd fall asleep on stage.Collection: Fall
You can't guarantee that you'll make a great movie, but you can make a greater effort than I made at trying to see that the basics are there.Collection: Effort
Directing is probably the best job, but acting is really, really great. It's like a fun vacation that you get paid for.Collection: Jobs
I love any scene where there's a physical confrontation. It reminds me that I'm in show business and I play pretend for a living.Collection: Play
I don't think the sketch on its own is a great sketch.Collection: Thinking
My goal, whenever entering a project, is always to gain 12 pounds.Collection: Goal