One of the things that I do like about filmmaking is that you find out how to solve new problems.

One of the things that I do like about filmmaking is that you find out how to solve new problems.

Paul Schrader

Nobody has shot a strip club in black and white in a long time.

Nobody has shot a strip club in black and white in a long time.

You can't take contradiction away. Part of the fun of it is that the contradiction never really quite goes away.

You can't take contradiction away. Part of the fun of it is that the contradiction never really quite goes away.

That's just my disposition - to create a situation where you have to come up with something.

That's just my disposition - to create a situation where you have to come up with something.

You think it's a blessing to know what God wants? I'll tell you what he wants. He wants to push me over! Can't he see what's inside of me? All my sins.

You think it's a blessing to know what God wants? I'll tell you what he wants. He wants to push me over! Can't he see what's inside of me? All my sins.

I get bored very easily. I find most movies boring. I go to movies and ask,

I get bored very easily. I find most movies boring. I go to movies and ask, "How do they stay awake making this?"

Let's just shoot in black and white. Don't explain why. Have no reason for it. Just do it because it's interesting.

Let's just shoot in black and white. Don't explain why. Have no reason for it. Just do it because it's interesting.

Once you have a situation that is fresh, then you sort of believe in it and it becomes normal. So you do end up with protagonists that haven't been in other movies before.

Once you have a situation that is fresh, then you sort of believe in it and it becomes normal. So you do end up with protagonists that haven't been in other movies before.

I want to be happy; why do I do things that make me unhappy?

I want to be happy; why do I do things that make me unhappy?

Those artists who say that somehow therapy or analysis will thwart their creativity are completely misinformed. It's absolutely the opposite: it opens closed doors.

Those artists who say that somehow therapy or analysis will thwart their creativity are completely misinformed. It's absolutely the opposite: it opens closed doors.

I don't think it's very useful to open wide the door for young artists; the ones who break down the door are more interesting.

I don't think it's very useful to open wide the door for young artists; the ones who break down the door are more interesting.

Anything that doesn't bore me I think is doable because it's keeping me awake.

Anything that doesn't bore me I think is doable because it's keeping me awake.

Ultimately, it's an illusion that you can understand yourself.

Ultimately, it's an illusion that you can understand yourself.

The clock is impotent; mechanical time does not affect those living in an eternal present.

The clock is impotent; mechanical time does not affect those living in an eternal present.

There's no escape. I'm God's only man.

There's no escape. I'm God's only man.

Don't ever let the viewer settle in and get ahead of you.

Don't ever let the viewer settle in and get ahead of you.

The secret of the creative life is to feel at ease with your own embarrassment.

The secret of the creative life is to feel at ease with your own embarrassment.

Screenplays are not works of art. They are invitations to others to collaborate on a work of art.

Screenplays are not works of art. They are invitations to others to collaborate on a work of art.

You enter into a certain amount of madness when you marry a person with pets.

You enter into a certain amount of madness when you marry a person with pets.