Sam Mendes Quotes

I never was the battle rapper. That was never my thing. I always felt like it's enough room for everybody to do their thing. I like bringing new energy, re-inventing the wheel, so to speak, every time I come out.

I am young enough to try my hands at all kinds of cinema.

I think it's really important whilst you're a young actor to try as many new things as possible... to try and do something you haven't necessarily been seen doing before.

Of course you draw from yourself, but the artistic nourishment you want to get is be versatile, do something different, and I think I got a chance to do that in a lot of different ways.

As an actor, I have tried to do new things, and that's why I have done few films.

As a filmmaker, I don't want to limit myself to one kind of movie.

As an artist, you're always trying to reach a new height, do something new, try something you haven't done before, and push your boundaries.

I think a good director can embrace any genre and it's the kind of thing where you always want to do something different. You always want to challenge yourself.

I like confounding expectations. I can expand what it is I am able to do, and hopefully get to do more weird, interesting projects like this. There's nothing wrong with doing comedies, and I'm not against comedies, either, but I always want to do stuff that keeps me off my guard and gets me out of my comfort zone. And how the audience perceives that... It's out of my hands. And I don't get that frustrated by it, because I'm on to the next thing at that point.

I hope what I do has an art to it, and as an artist you have to try new things and keep yourself entertained.

As a writer, as a lyricist, you're just trying to make sure that you're not repeating yourself. And that's a danger for a lot of people. So for me, I just try to keep taking corners and trying to find new paths.

In terms of tackling different subjects, I can't really think of anything I wouldn't want to try; that's the fun of it right? Each new style brings new challenges - not that you shouldn't focus on one and master it, but it takes so long to make a film, you just want to have some variety.

I think all artists need to try to improve, or their work gets stale.

I don't want to get pigeon-holed into a certain kind of character. I love action roles and the hero, but I want to keep trying something new.

If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative.

I think it's important as a filmmaker, as any person working in the arts, that you've got to try new stuff and challenge yourself and take chances.

I try not to get trapped in any one musical or visual style at all.

Don't be surprised if you all see me in different kinds of cinema.

I do not like to repeat successes, I like to go on to other things.

You have to always work against what you did before, and even against your taste.

I like to erase lines between categories. Why separate cookbook writing from writing, healthy from good tasting? I want to be open to possibilities.

When I do short films, I try to do something completely out of my comfort zone, out of my element.

I got a chance to work with Miles Davis, and that changed everything for me, 'cause Miles really encouraged all his musicians to reach beyond what they know, go into unknown territory and explore. It's made a difference to me and the decisions that I've made over the years about how to approach a project in this music.

Creatively I just enjoy challenging myself in different genres.

Always changing genres, making very different films is a good idea. It's a way of making yourself feel vulnerable again, getting back to that innocence. As is working within a circumspect budget.