Allison Anders

“I've been amazed watching people who are not ready with their scripts when they're getting a lot of attention.”

“I've worked on movies where there's all these people coming and going, and I don't even know who they are.”

“I love showing off my tattoos.”

“Maybe women sometimes wish that a man would come along and buy them.”

“I had always felt deep down that I owned the characters. Much as I adored and cherished the work of my actors, I felt that they were cast to do and be what I could not physically do or be.”

“Before, I just don't think we knew how much music was out there; now with MySpace, it's really opened it up. Filmmakers have so much more choice.”

“There's never been a 'girl wonder' mythology.”

“I was a big fan of X. I've probably seen 100 X shows during their time in the late '70s and early '80s.”

“Because I came from the working class, I still identify with them. I don't identify with the middle class.”

“I don't believe you ever get closure on anything. Things leave a permanent mark on you.”

“In the early '90s when the American independent movie started, it held personal vision as a premium. That was brilliant timing.”

“Let's face it - no matter how independent you are, you still have this nagging need to be desired.”

“Roman Polanski is one of my favorite filmmakers, and John Phillips one of my favorite songwriters. I had the honor to meet each of these men and was almost giddy to be blessed with the chance to tell each artist what his work meant has to me.”

“Music has always been a great solace for me. It's still something that gives me far more joy than movies, I must say. I love movies, too. But somehow, music can transport you. There are so many different kinds of experiences you can have with music.”

“I had breast cancer. I caught it early.”

“You end up giving up half your salary every time you make a movie because you need the money to make the movie you have in your head.”

“Trauma creates one of four types of people: victims, rescuers, or perps - and if you're really lucky and really strong and very willing and brave, survivors.”

“When I wanted to become a filmmaker, there was nobody for me to look up to.”

“Unless it's something very clever like 'Memento,' most independent films have a very tough life out there.”

“You still get the movies made. A filmmaker can always scrape up money to do a movie. The passion drives it. And you'll get the money. Money's the easiest thing. But the hardest thing is finding a way for people to see your movie.”