I'd always liked movies in a kind of naive way. They seemed no less improbable a career than anything else.

It was in Austin that I had the idea for 'Days of Heaven.' I found myself alone for a summer in the town I had left as a high school student. There were those green, undulating hills, and this very beautiful river, the Colorado. The place is inspired and inspiring.

I was not a good teacher; I didn't have the sort of edge one should have on the students, so I decided to do something else.

There's a good many pictures I'd like to make; we'll see how many I'll be allowed to make.