'The Terminator' is grounded in so much realism. It's again a story that centers around a woman that isn't a 'woman's picture' necessarily. I found it really thrilling, both 'Terminator 1' and '2.' When you watch it it's such fine storytelling.

Zal Batmanglij

I'm just interested in carving out a meaningful life.

Zal Batmanglij

I don't know if any specific religion is the one to subscribe to. I'm not saying, one way or the other. I don't want to get involved in that. But, I think having faith in this experience we are having as a group of people on Earth helps a lot.

Zal Batmanglij

It doesn't really matter what someone's hair looks like or if the sound is perfect. Every director who's made a couple of movies knows that, because you can replace the sound. Or, like, any one shot is not that important, because they all add up together.

Zal Batmanglij

On 'Sound of My Voice,' I was the first and last word, which is kind of a dictatorship. I like collectives, though.

Zal Batmanglij

It took us nine months to write 'The East'; we didn't start writing it on the computer until seven and a half months into it.

Zal Batmanglij

I went to graduate school for directing at AFI in L.A., and I wanted to be a director.

Zal Batmanglij

No one dives a dumpster like a rich kid dives a dumpster, because there's no shame.

Zal Batmanglij

Marvel's storytelling is much wilder than 'The OA's,' but no one talks about that.

Zal Batmanglij

What I'm drawn to most as a filmmaker are these tribes that are seen as 'fringe' cultures. We live in a society where many young people feel alienated, and these family constructs are an antidote to that.

Zal Batmanglij

The first time I ever tried edamame, I thought it was gross. I didn't understand the hairy skin. It didn't taste good to me. Now I scarf down a bowl of edamame when I sit down at a restaurant, and I don't think twice about it.

Zal Batmanglij

Even in 'The OA,' we had to follow Guild requirements and put 'directed by' and the credits, and I'm embarrassed to put my name every time. I mean, who cares. Look it up on the Internet if you want to know who made it.

Zal Batmanglij

We want to make a 100 million dollar movie that we have created, in the way James Cameron or Chris Nolan does. It's so inspiring when high-quality auteurs are writing and directing those movies. That's pretty cool.

Zal Batmanglij

'Terminator' is one of my favorite films, and so is 'Terminator 2.'

Zal Batmanglij

Whatever you think of Edward Snowden, it took bravery to do what he did.

Zal Batmanglij

You just have to make sure you keep living your life, challenging yourself, putting yourself in unusual experiences, thinking about what you're interested in doing, and going there.

Zal Batmanglij

I remember being a kid, I was a little kid when my dad took me to 'Munchausen.' I guess he took my whole family, but I kind of didn't want to go for some reason. Then we got there, and I was so mesmerized by the movie, and I was really taken by the young Sarah Polley. I didn't realize until many, many years later that it was Sarah Polley.

Zal Batmanglij

I always think that 'Sound of My Voice' is a movie about the crumbs in 'Hansel and Gretel.' You know, those crumbs. It's about finding your way out of the claustrophobia and alienation of modern life.

Zal Batmanglij

At AFI, you make three cycle films your first year, and then you make a thesis film your second year, and I watched Darren Aronofsky's cycle films and was blown away - there was a young Lucy Liu, who was just part of that generation. And I just wanted to be part of that tradition.

Zal Batmanglij

I think that the campaign that Fox Searchlight has thrown for 'Sound of My Voice' honors the film's roots and the film's integrity, and I don't think it overwhelms the film at all.

Zal Batmanglij

Existing outside of irony is so hard.

Zal Batmanglij