To this day, I get rewrite offers where they say: 'We feel this script needs work with character, dialogue, plot and tone,' and when you ask what's left, they say: 'Well, the typing is very good.'

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...

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 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,...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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 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...

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...