Happy relationships are boring. We all want them in our own life. But I don't want to watch them on TV. Alan Ball More Quotes by Alan Ball More Quotes From Alan Ball There are times when I am directing, and there are a couple of moments I didn't get the way I wanted, but I know I still have other angles to shoot and I have to be done by noon; I move on. Alan Ball noon couple moving Most of us live in artificial environments and then we go to work in artificial environments and the world becomes something that you see through a window. Alan Ball environment window world I know a lot of shows are like, 'Here's the pages,' right before they start filming. I'd have a heart attack. The anxiety would be way too much for me. I don't have as strong a backbone as those other show writers. Alan Ball anxiety strong heart I definitely see the good in people. Certainly in my own life I strive to be somebody who is functional and well adjusted and can face conflict in a non-emotional and non-destructive way, and those are the people I try to surround myself with in my life. But as characters, they bore me. Alan Ball emotional character people As a writer, it's fun to create. And once you get into a long-running show with very established characters and a very established tone and format, after a while it's a really great job, but that's what it is - a job. Alan Ball running fun jobs I really love storytelling, and I love the stories as they reveal themselves. It's an incredibly nourishing process; it's probably the closest I come to having a religion. Alan Ball storytelling process stories I am so spoiled. I cannot watch a show where it gets interrupted for ads. I have to TiVo it and skip through the ads, because the culture of advertising is so false and phony that I just... ugh, you know? Alan Ball ugh watches culture You know, I'm gay and I grew up being aware of that at a very early age, in a fairly repressed family. Alan Ball gay grew-up age When I go home, the last thing I want to do is read about the popular lore of vampires. Alan Ball vampire want home I'm a Buddhist, so one of my biggest beliefs is, 'Everything changes, don't take it personally.' Alan Ball buddhist belief I don't really know what it is about vampires that makes them such a powerful symbol, metaphor, whatever in people's consciousness. But I do know they're tremendously powerful. I mean, there's a vampire on 'Sesame Street.' And Count Chocula. I don't know why it's so powerful. Alan Ball street know powerful people I think there's a lot of interesting stuff on TV. I feel much more optimistic about TV than I do about movies. There will always be good movies but I think, for the most part, it's always going to be a huge fight to get those movies made. TV is the best place to be as a writer, I think. Alan Ball feel fight best good