I compose music for films, and by the grace of God, I've got a few awards. That's it.
A. R. Rahman
I'm a Sufi Muslim, I would say. I believe in using the medium to create a good vibration because art is so important to society. Some projects I don't do because I feel that it's going to create a bad vibe. I don't do propaganda films that are anti another religion, anti-Muslim or anti-Hindu.
The demand in India is to have a hit, which becomes a promotion for the movie and makes people come to the theater. You have five songs and different promotions based on those. But when I do Western films, the need for originality is greater. Then I become very conscious about the writing.
I have had unsuccessful films, but I learned a lot from those films. I give my failures as much importance as my success.
Aamir Khan
When I was new, I didn't know where my career will go. Initially, my films were not even successful, but then I learned a lot from my mistakes.
I feel that, in India, we have films that have tackled various issues over the years, but perhaps one of the issues that we've tackled less is the issue of caste-ism. That's an issue we've more or less stayed away from... although we touched on it briefly in some films like 'Lagaan.'
My films are so new and unique that I don't know where I will end up. Fear keeps me alert. And it's also a part of an excitement.
If it helps me in the way that if this movie is successful, I get to make more films, great, and the more films that I make and the more interest that I'm allowed to cover, the better for me and the better, hopefully, for the people who like to watch me.
Aaron Eckhart
I can think of films that I'm producing right now that are extremely hard-hitting, graphic films, that nobody necessarily wants to see, graphic in terms of violence, of adult content and racial and historical subject matter.
They say an elephant never forgets. Well, you are not an elephant. Take notes, constantly. Save interesting thoughts, quotations, films, technologies... the medium doesn't matter, so long as it inspires you.
Aaron Koblin
I've always been excited by rotoscoping, the technique used in films like 'Waking Life,' which fuses animation with real-life emotion. It seemed like it was a process ripe for innovation.
I interned at Miramax and subsequently at Paramount because I was really curious about the future of entertainment - how were we going to get films online? While the inspiration for Box didn't come from that experience directly, it was very obvious that bigger businesses had a lot of slow processes and cumbersome technology.
Aaron Levie
What's so great about Sundance is that they only accept such a small handful of films per year for dramatic competition, so you know when you're going to Sundance that you're going to see top-quality projects.
Aaron Paul
I gravitate toward edgy, intense, dark films that just grab you by the throat.
People have always liked to be frightened. People love to feel that jolt of adrenaline. People love roller coasters. People love skydiving. These things that really get your heart pumping, and horror films are sort of a safe way to get that rush I guess.
Aaron Stanford
I do know that I've read somewhere that it's been statistically proven that in times of war, horror films are much more popular. I don't know why that is. You'd think it'd be the opposite. You'd think people would want to escape from it.
'Pulp Fiction' was probably one of the first films I ever saw that really kind of took effect on me. I was about four years old - obviously wasn't supposed to be seeing that film; my sister kind of sneaked it out and we got to see it. She's older than me. That was something I always used to watch.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
The problem with independent films is that they can be hit or miss. I've seen scripts that have blown me away. But there have to be all the right ingredients in place to make them work: the director, cast, publicity, distribution.
I want to work with great directors. I've picked films based on the script or the character and seen them collapse because the directors were not strong visionaries.
My favorite types of movies definitely aren't thrillers, but at the same time you can't deny the genius of Hitchcock's films.
Aaron Yoo
I would say that no film is apolitical. There are politics in all films. Any film that is anchored in a society, any film that deals with humanity is necessarily political.
I really think that I don't mind people sleeping during my films, because I know that some very good films might prepare you for sleeping or falling asleep or snoozing. It's not to be taken badly at all. This is something I really mean.
Usually when I take my films to festivals, I feel incredibly anxious about them. I wonder how it will be received, how the audience will react. I feel deeply responsible for them.
I think Woody Allen is Woody Allen, and no matter where he goes he still makes his Woody Allen films.
My films have been progressing towards a certain kind of minimalism, even though it was never intended. Elements which can be eliminated have been eliminated.
When I talk to some of the younger filmmakers, they are so worried about their films that, eventually, this state of being worried reflects itself in and helps the final work. Whereas, with projects that are meticulously planned, you look at the end result and it is full of emptiness.
I prefer the countryside to cities. This is also true of my films: I have made more films in rural societies, and villages, than in towns.
Everybody knows that I am not usually patient enough to actually sit down and watch one of my own films from the beginning to the end - I never do.
I can watch films and say how technically beautiful they are, but I'm not impressed by any technicality.
Some movies bring out the creativity in you. Every single audience member can become creative in the face of a particular movie. If you happen to like my films, it's because my films provide a bed for you on which you can find your creativity. The Hollywood movies do not provide that for you.
To be honest, I enjoy all different types of films and experiences.
Playing different characters in different films helps keep you excited about what you do. It always seems like a whole new adventure.
When you do films after films, you don't let life happen. At least, in my case, I end up relying too much on emotions, which aren't raw enough. Travel helps me to get a renewed approach towards things.
I enjoy films like 'American Beauty' and want to do similar films that reflect our culture.
I was termed 'choosy' because when an actor decides to go against the wind and takes on only non-formula films, he is not left with much choice.
I am a citizen of the planet and I want to do films that appeal to people, not communities.
I like films that are edgy, provocative, non-formula and original.
The thing about action films is that they are high on drama in terms of action sequences, have songs and other things, but content is secondary.
I realized that I need to protect my films because the director will move on, the producer will move on too, but as an actor I will be considered a flop if things will not work.
The kind of work I do and the films I believe in, I had to take charge of making that kind of cinema.
Lot of people liked me in 'Manorama Six feet Under,' 'Oye Lucky Lucky Oye,' 'Dev D' and 'Shanghai' and the only common thing in all these films is that when we were making them we never thought they would work. The ones that did not work were safe films.
It's not that I don't want to do different films. The non-mainstream stuff that I did started to get successful... But for an industry which runs essentially on money, they do put you in a box.
I am not a politician nor an activist but in my small way try and bring change with the kind of films I do.
I choose my films carefully. I have done movies that are sensitive, which deal with some issue and are a mirror of society.
If there can be films about why hockey (and not just cricket) is cool, there can be a film or two about the virtues of honest, hard work.
Mass protests often get books or films banned, but very few people take to the streets to challenge the right of the State to decide what we can read or watch - it's still someone else's problem.
I was introduced to the world of films by Manoj Bajpayee and trained under theatre actor Makrand Deshpande.
I believe films are the mirror of society we live in.
I have stopped expecting from films. What I expect never happens.
Sandalwood is a force to reckon with. People from all over are investing time and money here because the films have good reach and reap good rewards as well.
