I wanted to keep exploring... I'm not about to choose a series of movies in which I can use the same bag of tricks and style that I used in the first film. Sam Mendes More Quotes by Sam Mendes More Quotes From Sam Mendes You just never know when movies are going to take off or not. The lucky thing about this was that it didn't cost a lot of money, and therefore there wasn't loads of pressure on me. Sam Mendes cost lucky pressure It took me a long time to film the plastic bag, and then I had to get the cut of the scene right. But if you find it as beautiful as the character does, then suddenly it becomes a different movie, and so did he as a character. Sam Mendes cutting beautiful character Politicizing of kids starts with pregnancy, of course. You shouldn't be drinking wine. You can't be smoking, either. The poor woman is poked and prodded and touched and obsessed over. Sam Mendes wine drinking pregnancy One of the reasons I loved working with Tom is people feel they know who he is... I think working with an actor who the audience already has a relationship with actually helps you in a film like this. Sam Mendes actors people thinking If you're doing a classic play, where if you do a Chekhov, you do the words as written. You can't do that with a novel; you have to do your version of the words as written. Sam Mendes chekhov classic play All I know is that I operate by going out to each of them and trying to learn the territory in which they operate. My language to each of them has to suit their brain. Sam Mendes going-out brain trying I deliberately, in a way, went for something that was a huge challenge and was a big period film. I was excited about the canvas on which I could tell the story as much as the story itself. Sam Mendes challenges stories way I still can't quite believe it. Although there was something about the fact that it was a first-time writer, a first-time producer, and a first-time director all at the same time. Sam Mendes believe directors firsts I've made movies that cost less than one car chase. But that's part of the pleasure of doing it, pushing yourself in new directions. Sam Mendes pushing car cost Every Bond is different and every generation needs a different Bond and it's been able to move with the times. Sam Mendes different moving needs When I drive through a field, I want to see green grass sometimes, and I don't want to see black and white. Sam Mendes black-and-white green want Listen, you make a big movie, you're going into the Coliseum, and people are going to give you the thumbs up or the thumbs down. And that's part of the game. It's part of the fun as well. Sam Mendes thumbs-up games fun Now Im back home, living in London, running my theater. I just want to enjoy all that. Sam Mendes want home running The perceived wisdom is that people do not go in large numbers to black-and-white movies anymore - which is a great shame, but I'd love to make a black-and-white movie one day. Sam Mendes black-and-white wisdom numbers Kevin and Annette... I wanted them to do it together. They clearly wanted to work with each other. Sam Mendes kevin firefighter together I think with Blair Witch and The Sixth Sense, people are much more open to something that is different. Sam Mendes different people thinking As a first-time director in America, I feel I've been very fortunate. Sam Mendes directors america firsts I don't think of it as a competition - which might surprise you, given the way movies are reported constantly. Sam Mendes competition might thinking For me, certain shots or scenes are keys in the movie. Sam Mendes shots scene keys I want to try and work in different genres with different types of actors, on small movies and big movies. Sam Mendes actors different trying