Taylor Hackford

My creative partner is a writer, and he's got an executive producing credit on this film. We've made three films together and I would never underestimate the impact of a writer.

The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.

I try to get the best performance an actor can give.

Look at Walter Huston in The Devil and Daniel Webster: It's an incredible performance.

But a writer's contribution is literary and a film is not literary. When you take that stuff off the page, and cast the people who are going to fit into those roles, that's what being a director is.

An actor has to embody a role.

If people are worried about the size of their trailers, I kind of say their priorities are off.

Music has always been an important thing to me in my life and understand I've worked in the music business.

Well I don't think I've scored my life exclusively to Ray Charles.

Show business is one of those things that people can use to get themselves out of the lower rung of society.

I really believe you can predict when someone has a great attitude, a real well of talent.

We all get paid very, very well, and we have responsibilities.