Barry Sonnenfeld

“Comedy is much more challenging, because you have to have the same level of belief, but you have to have a certain rhythm, and you can't have any throwaway lines.”

“I think there's something about the American dream, the sort of Disney dream, if you will, of the underdog, of the little guy, of reaching for the brass ring, of being successful.”

“I like to work with actors and clowns and people who are not afraid to be silly.”

“For me, casting is 80 percent of the job.”

“The Coen brothers were my film school.”

“You want to have a story that is relatable to people.”

“I think the best comedies are dramas with a sense of humor.”

“The most important thing for a director is being able to communicate.”

“My style is a little bit over the top, and I like things to be a little bit more theatrical.”

“I love the idea of taking a genre and twisting it.”

“I'm a big believer in pre-production. I think that's where you save your money and your time.”

“I'm not a Method director. I'm a results director.”