My dad discouraged me and my older sister watching too much TV. I don't want to portray them as crazy hippies, but I definitely feel like I was influenced by their creativity. But did I want to have an acting career myself? I didn't think so. I think my goal really was to direct. I really wanted to make stories in that capacity.

I grew up on Jane Austen novels and was a massive literature fanatic when I was a kid - I read everything I could get my hands on.

We're often blinded by romance; we decide to not see things we don't want to see, and put up with behavior that we shouldn't put up with.

My dad was in these pretty big films that were relevant to my age group. I remember him doing 'Richie Rich' when I was eight-years-old, and then 'Jumanji.' I remember going to these sets, and I loved being on film sets. I just found it fascinating watching how stories were made.