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

The media in America has become so cowed and compromised.

The media in America has become so cowed and compromised.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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,...

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...

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 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,...