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

The hardest thing about movie acting is that if you're playing a character who changes...

The hardest thing about movie acting is that if you're playing a character who changes...

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...

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...

And it was out in the theaters in two weeks. This is not, 'We're going...

And it was out in the theaters in two weeks. This is not, 'We're going...

I never thought about being a writer as I grew up. A writer wasn't something...

I never thought about being a writer as I grew up. A writer wasn't something...

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...

To this day, I get rewrite offers where they say: 'We feel this script needs...

To this day, I get rewrite offers where they say: 'We feel this script needs...

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,...

I never thought about being a writer as I grew up. A writer wasn't something...

I never thought about being a writer as I grew up. A writer wasn't something...

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...

You get to say, 'Here's my philosophical idea about what the costume should like,' and...

You get to say, 'Here's my philosophical idea about what the costume should like,' and...

I made it about a three-day weekend so people wouldn't have to change their clothes...

I made it about a three-day weekend so people wouldn't have to change their clothes...

In a movie you have all these logistical problems; all these practical problems. But you're...

In a movie you have all these logistical problems; all these practical problems. But you're...

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...

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 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'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...

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...

I like to act. I work for scale. I don't have an acting agent. I'm...

I like to act. I work for scale. I don't have an acting agent. I'm...

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...