For me the writing, when I'm going to direct it myself, is really just the first draft, and I don't change it very much; I only change it on average about two lines per movie.

Quote by John Sayles

Topics: John Sayles Quotes

I always feel that there are no final victories and no final defeats. But it's...

I always feel that there are no final victories and no final defeats. But it's...

I certainly grew up seeing more movies and television than I read books, but when...

I certainly grew up seeing more movies and television than I read books, but when...

Those are fun, especially if they're going to shoot them in four weeks, because you...

Those are fun, especially if they're going to shoot them in four weeks, because you...

Not that I've always loved the movie when they finally come out, or if they...

Not that I've always loved the movie when they finally come out, or if they...

Michael Moore, whether you like him or hate him, has done something very important.

Michael Moore, whether you like him or hate him, has done something very important.

There was a widespread indignation in the American media. They were saying, 'How can you...

There was a widespread indignation in the American media. They were saying, 'How can you...

I've always felt like I was on the margins. Once upon a time that's what...

I've always felt like I was on the margins. Once upon a time that's what...

The media in America has become so cowed and compromised.

The media in America has become so cowed and compromised.

I figured, 'When is that ever going to happen again?'. So I basically set out...

I figured, 'When is that ever going to happen again?'. So I basically set out...

I figured somebody wrote a story who had a typewriter and I thought that movies...

I figured somebody wrote a story who had a typewriter and I thought that movies...

If you write a movie for Roger Corman, it's going to get made. You saw...

If you write a movie for Roger Corman, it's going to get made. You saw...

Fahrenheit 9/11 took public domain information that should have been on the news every night...

Fahrenheit 9/11 took public domain information that should have been on the news every night...

I take more jobs when I need more money, if I'm investing in films. I...

I take more jobs when I need more money, if I'm investing in films. I...

Well, acting is cheap; I knew all these actors who weren't in the Screen Actors...

Well, acting is cheap; I knew all these actors who weren't in the Screen Actors...

We just said, 'Okay, you're in the movie. Bring what you would bring for a...

We just said, 'Okay, you're in the movie. Bring what you would bring for a...

Basically, if you could get a good trailer out of the script, Roger had no...

Basically, if you could get a good trailer out of the script, Roger had no...

There were not fifteen people in the story department and twenty-five producers and stuff. And...

There were not fifteen people in the story department and twenty-five producers and stuff. And...

My argument has always been that this is not an anti-Bush film, it's a pro-democracy...

My argument has always been that this is not an anti-Bush film, it's a pro-democracy...

I remember being out here at the Sunset Marquis, and whoever knocked on the door,...

I remember being out here at the Sunset Marquis, and whoever knocked on the door,...

When I was really young I didn't know that there was such a thing as...

When I was really young I didn't know that there was such a thing as...