Dave McCary Quotes

One of the most positive takeaways I've had from 'SNL' is when we'd make videos back in the day: we'd just write material as we were inspired, and so, in a given year, we'd only put out two or three videos.

I did sketch comedy for years. I've always enjoyed it.

I tend to think that there is a sophistication to everything at 'Saturday Night Live,' including the sketches.

When I teach sketch writing, there's still a beginning, middle and end.

With 'Toy Story,' which is a fantastic film but is essentially animation, you get to make all your decisions beforehand. 'Jumanji' is shot much like any other action film.

I think 'SNL' was such a unique thing because it was material you created and you're very comfortable with it, even though the setting was pressure-packed.

On 'Saturday Night Live,' I never really wrote. You know, I would just - I would let the writers cast me into the show. So my strength - and I put all my energies into performance. I just couldn't deal with the rejection, you know, getting your sketches cut, and it was hard for me.

My 'SNL' days of working through the night have come and gone.

The idea of trying to write sketches the same way we did on Saturday Night Live every day would be damn near impossible.

I think there are people that don't think 'SNL' should make movies because sketches don't translate. Sometimes they don't, but sometimes they do.

I'm very driven by writing. Coming from 'Saturday Night Live,' because it's such a writing job, and we all write our parts on the show and create characters, I'm so respectful of good writing.

My first sketch-writing class was with Kevin Allison from 'The State.' It was so cool.

For me, it's important that the script is good. Then a good director will want to make it.

After I finish any film, I move to the next one. It takes about a year to write and another six months are for pre-production and other things. You need a minimum of two-and-a-half months for the shooting of a new film. Then, I also edit my own film.

Producing a film is not an easy job at all.

I'm an 'SNL' junkie, and being backstage and seeing how it works behind the curtain for a couple days was something I'll never forget.

With film sometimes you're thrown in there and you literally hit the ground running, taking your best shot and just leave it up to the editing.

You write a spec, and you pour your heart and soul and life into a spec, and you think that spec is the movie that's going to sell and get made... I've never heard of anybody that happened to.

They are cheaper to make and easier to do; you can just cram in loads of talent into a format that works and works. But if you look back, a lot of people we love today like French and Saunders, Ricky Gervais and Steve Coogan, all started in sketch shows.

All writers are forced to live within deadlines, and deadlines determine how good they can be.

My first joke that ever aired on 'Late Night' was for a list of 'Top 10 Least Popular Summer Camps.' My contribution - 'Camp Tick in beautiful Lyme, Connecticut' - squeaked in at No. 10. Like a trip to Camp Tick, my time at 'Late Night' faded into memory like a short session at a dicey summer camp.

We hoped to get a TV show, and we almost did, but 'The State' beat us out for this MTV show. So because they were there, and 'SNL' and 'Kids in the Hall' were there, we thought, 'Let's go try to do what Python did, and instead, let's make movies.'

Films are a long process and the script is the first part.

Career wise, I think the dream for many of us is some kind of late night type of show. Something where you're allowed to be funny and you get to write, you have guests and you get to do silly skits. That is my ultimate, bucket list career moment.

The thing about movies is that till it goes on floors, it's just preparations for the film.