I love to take actors to a place where they open a vein. That's the job. The key is that I make it safe for them to open the vein.

A great thing is happening on cable TV. You see characters change in stories over years, like in Tolstoy. That's a whole, thrilling new form that I really enjoy. They are Tolstoy-an in their endless character development and narrative changes... a show like 'Breaking Bad' is astonishing.

It's not a film-maker's job to explain his technique, but to tell his story the best way he can.

Mike Nichols Quotes