I figured, 'When is that ever going to happen again?'. So I basically set out the opposite way movies are made; I set out with a budget first. I said, 'What can I do well for $40,000?'.

Quote by John Sayles

Topics: John Sayles Quotes

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

The media in America has become so cowed and compromised.

The media in America has become so cowed and compromised.

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,...