Jeff Baena Quotes

'The Last Starfighter' was the first movie I did in the U.S. It was an absolute joy to be a part of it. 'Night of the Comet' was a labor of love. Truly a collaborative effort. I am eternally grateful for the experiences.

I'm not interested in making a $60-million studio film with a bunch of 24-year-olds telling me what to do.

I did 'Gangs of New York' with Martin Scorsese, and they used to call me 'Little Joe Pesci' on the set.

I met Claxton on the set of The Cincinnati Kid.

Technically, my first paying job was I was an extra in my dad's movie 'Dan in Real Life.'

'I Was There Too' talks to people who played non-starring roles in big movies. That means the likes of comedian Jimmy Pardo, who didn't make it to the finished 'Dreamgirls.' Still, he recalls that when an actor is put on hold for a movie, he gets paid for two weeks just for sitting at home waiting to be called.

We were shooting at the Kodak Theatre and to see my production company's clap board in front of Sylvester Stallone was overwhelming, I had to pinch myself. It was a magical moment. It was a different high.

There is no money in films, till the time you make it to a certain bracket.

Hollywood, at the bottom of it, is about money.

If you work with a big director, access to stars becomes easier.

There are so many wonderful films being made everywhere, including in Hollywood.

I love direction. I met Roopesh Peethambaran and assisted him in his maiden venture, 'Theevram'.

I want to be in R-rated movies.

Harry Potter was my first job.

Getting a movie made is a miracle... because the studios are only interested in making 'The Avengers.'

I made my film debut in 1973.

I want to do movies.

I was into movies before my graduation results got out. In fact, I was on location of a movie when they came.

My first job in acting was in a Scott Baio movie called 'I Love N.Y.' My role was Italian Girl. I sent my 8x10 to a casting agent in the booklet, 'The Ross Report,' which is where all the agents were listed before that little thing called the Internet. I read for this tiny part. I couldn't have been more excited to get it.

It's not like I'm the lead actor or anything. But it's really cool to be in a Steven Soderbergh movie.

I was in a very lucky position to be able to consider studio films and had decided to not go that route for a very long time until I read a script that I loved called 'Aeon Flux.'

I had an interest in film, but I didn't want to go to Hollywood and make movies.

When I was nine years old, I was in a movie called, 'Landlord' with Pearl Bailey, Lou Gossett, and Beau Bridges.

Just getting to meet George Lucas was pretty amazing, and then working with him and getting to be part of this process... it's a great responsibility.

It's a real honor to have my stories up on the big silver screen, at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars. It's great fun flying out to L.A. for premieres and meeting all the actors and directors.