Dario Argento Quotes

I've never let producers tell me what to do. Even when I was making television, I always did what I wanted to do, and if I couldn't, I didn't do it. It was a freedom that, these days, young directors starting out don't have.

One of the advantages of not having a record contract is that you can make your own mistakes, you don't need somebody else to organize them for you.

I didn't come to Hollywood to be subservient to anyone else's vision.

Everything in my career is my decision - every picture, every outfit. You get one chance at this, and I never saw myself as being a puppet.

If I'm going to go out to be a solo artist, it's because I want to do something different without having to wait on someone else's schedule or hobbies or be limited by other people's prejudices. I'd be kind of stupid not to exercise that.

When I was a teenager, I wanted to be a rock star, not an actor. It means I can do what I want on my own terms.

I know that if a film is ready to emerge out of what I write, I'll be able to go off and make it without asking anyone's permission.

I came to filmmaking because it's my passion. I decided I can't have it distorted or marred by someone else deciding what it should be.

I like to choose my own way forward. I really do want to create something that I personally like a lot.

I don't have a director. The audience directs me.

I do love being solo because I can have more of my own creative input to every aspect of my career.

There were no previews; we made the film we wanted to make.

I always wanted to be an independent maverick, writing plays and putting them on myself.

I see a lot of actors that are doing things to please their coaches, their teachers in the past. They say 'No' to parts they should have said 'Yes' to simply because of the opinion of people in their past. I have no one in my past who is judging me and saying, 'Maybe you shouldn't do that.' I'll do it all.

I don't much like being directed. I enjoy being allowed to play.

Don't give me any money, don't give me any people, but give freedom, and I'll give you a movie that looks gigantic.

I really enjoy the creative freedom that I get when I produce my own projects.

For a long time I was free. I didn't belong to any type of studio, or any company. I kept a sort of freedom and a light touch.

Honestly, the thing that I have found to be most useful over a long career, or maintaining a long career, is taking back the power at some point and self-producing.

I've avoided situations where I wouldn't have creative freedom.

I don't usually collab with producers, because I don't need to. I never have, because I don't want to break my style of how I do things.

I would design for anybody who gives me a free hand and who doesn't sit on my head.

I will write an entire script but not be commissioned by anyone. I want the freedom to walk away from it. If you're uncomfortable, I will go away. There is no middle ground with me. Also because if I change my character, my story changes.

When 'Siruthai' became a hit, there was suddenly a lot at stake. A lot of people were telling me what to do and what not to. But at some point, you realise that's not the way to go. Good or bad, you need to be making your own choices.

The reason I decided to become a solo artist in the first place was because I always felt that the results that I got from working as a team where everyone had equal say... ended up with compromised, watered-down results.