Steven Shainberg Quotes & Sayings

The movie that made me want to make movies was "Blue Velvet." — Steven Shainberg

I love moving through long spaces and being enclosed. — Steven Shainberg

I peeled off La Brea and went home and instantly made a reservation to come back to New York. Essentially, I fired everybody that was in my life, my agent, my lawyer, my manager, my girlfriend and came back to New York. — Steven Shainberg

You hear this said about actors sometimes, that they're fearless, but she [ Maggie Gyllenhaal] really is. — Steven Shainberg

I would define independent film as a movie that is not financed by any of the smaller film companies. Because then, those are movies that in all likelihood are made without stars. And then they have to rely just on the material. — Steven Shainberg

You don't make movies about "men" and "women." You make movies about this guy and this woman and if you get them right, you'll automatically connect with a lot of people. — Steven Shainberg

I think a lot of young women are probably fearful or embarrassed or cautious or hiding whatever their particular sexuality might be. From the most odd to the just slightly abberrant. — Steven Shainberg

I'm basically drawn to defeated, injured, hurt, barely walking characters. — Steven Shainberg

Diane Arbus is one of the most mysterious, enigmatic, and frighteningly daring artists of the 20th century. Her work emerged from a deeply private place and profoundly affected all those who came into contact with it. — Steven Shainberg

Basically, independent film doesn't exist anymore. It does if you have two or three stars in your film, but it's just very difficult. — Steven Shainberg

After 'Secretary,' I was wanting very badly to find something to make that I really cared about. — Steven Shainberg

The problem with most love stories in my opinion is that they're too simplistic. — Steven Shainberg

If somebody sent me a good script, I would do it, and I mean that, but it never happens. Not once. I can't even point to an exception. — Steven Shainberg

Who could be more desperate than filmmakers? — Steven Shainberg

Like all independent movies, the first thing you're looking for is a name actor who will justify your financing. — Steven Shainberg

I'm almost exclusively interested in what happens behind closed doors, between people. The removal of their public face. — Steven Shainberg

There's a kind of dream that movies sell to people: You can start as the lowliest person and rise to the top. 'Hit Me' doesn't sell this fantasy. — Steven Shainberg