I Want To Tell Stories,

'25th Hour,' Like A Lot Of My Films, Takes Place In New York City. I've Been Very Fortunate To Make Films In The City That I Live. I Mean, It's Great Going Home At Night Instead Of Being On Location.

I Decided To Be A Filmmaker Between My Sophomore And Junior Years At Morehouse. Before I Left For The Summer Of 1977, My Advisor Told Me I Really Had To Declare A Major When I Came Back, Because I'd Used All My Electives In My First Two Years. I Went Back To New York And I Couldn't Find A Job. There Were None To Be Had. And That Previous Christmas Someone Gave Me A Super-8 Camera, So I Just Started To Shoot Stuff.

I Collect Names For Characters. Names Are Valuable; They Can Be Your First Source Of Insight Into A Character.

Since The Days Of Slavery, If You Were A Good Singer Or Dancer, It Was Your Job To Perform For The Master After Dinner.

I Knew I Was Never Going To Play Professional Sport, But I Loved Playing And I Went To All The Games I Could Afford To.