As soon as you're at the higher levels of budgeting, you've got to get the film made, and the only way to support the film is to have actors who can support the budget.
A word on 'Kingdom of Heaven:' if you get the four-disc set, which is 3 hr. 8 min., you'll see why it's such a good movie. It was a real passion project, and it's the film I'm most proud of. I think it was treated incredibly unfairly.
Your landscape in a western is one of the most important characters the film has. The best westerns are about man against his own landscape.
I've gradually realised that what I do best is universes. And I shouldn't be afraid of that.
I've got many letters from Muslim organizations thanking me for making 'Kingdom of Heaven.'
I'm a yarn teller. My job is to engage you as much as I can and as often as I can.