My grandmother always used to tell me, if I had a problem, I was only allowed to complain for one second. Then I had to take action.

As a child, I always wanted to be the last one to take a bath because I knew I could close the door and spend hours just having my bath and singing.

There are many projects I couldn't get off the ground because they didn't have white heroes. It's a problem that everyone who's been working in Hollywood has been facing.

'Sugar Cane Alley' had a lot of international success, big success everywhere.

Some people make movies for money or glory and will take any subject people offer them. But I cannot do that. I need to feel the story and make it mine.

Francois Truffaut was my godfather on 'Sugar Cane Alley.' He believed in me and in that story, and told everyone that it should be made.