I think the MAIN influence has been living in New York CITY. Aside from all the crap around 9/11, I find it very demanding to think amid all the NOISE and visual pollution.

But in SIMPLE substances the INFLUENCE of one monad over ANOTHER is IDEAL only.

The things that CONCERN us during the DAY are going to INFLUENCE what we experience during the night.

The INTERESTS of the UNITED States are better served by demanding REFORM and seeing that reform takes PLACE than by removing our influence from the UN.

There was a widespread indignation in the American media. They were saying, 'How can you make a movie during an ELECTION that's about POLITICS? What are you doing? Are you trying to INFLUENCE people's lives?' To which my response was, 'Well, I hope so.'

I discovered the 7th art at home when I was kid, through Charlie Chaplin's movies and those of my father who shot documentaries. He was my biggest INFLUENCE. So I TOOK his CAMERA and STARTED shooting.