I figured somebody wrote a story who had a typewriter and I thought that movies were made by the cowboys and that they just said, 'Okay, you fall off the horse this time.'

Quote by John Sayles

Topics: John Sayles Quotes

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...

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...

But compared to writing a novel, where you can be God, I did the Bay...

But compared to writing a novel, where you can be God, I did the Bay...

The media in America has become so cowed and compromised.

The media in America has become so cowed and compromised.

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...

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.

I think I got spoiled and that writing a short story and getting it published,...

I think I got spoiled and that writing a short story and getting it published,...

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...

There are genres I don't care for, and I've never worked in those genres, and...

There are genres I don't care for, and I've never worked in those genres, and...

For me the writing, when I'm going to direct it myself, is really just the...

For me the writing, when I'm going to direct it myself, is really just the...

I probably wouldn't have done as many as I did in one year, which I...

I probably wouldn't have done as many as I did in one year, which I...

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...

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...

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 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 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...

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...

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...

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...