Taking chances is my job; some will connect and some won't, and certain films find their audiences in different ways. I think 'Spotlight' probably is a better movie because of 'The Cobbler.' You learn with every movie you make: you learn from your mistakes, and you learn from your achievements, and I really do have that approach to filmmaking.

Tom McCarthy

We know people will come after us. Telling stories like this, it goes with the territory.

Tom McCarthy

entertainment

I don't think you can rely on any show or movie or book to solve a problem, but as storytellers it's our job to raise the conversation and get people talking about it. Hopefully, as a series, we have done that.

Tom McCarthy

entertainment

My biggest concern is that not only the church, but the laity, the parents will think, 'OK, this was a problem of the past. We'll lower our guard,' until we're certain that this problem has been dealt with completely, we have to remain vigilant. We have to push for reform, for change.

Tom McCarthy

entertainment

There are still cases in the Church, right ? The new Pope( Francis) just appointed a tribunal with Cardinal( Sean Patrick) O’Malley out of Boston to oversee these cases but then SNAP( a victims' group) and all these different organizations are saying it’s not enough, you’ve appointed an in-house tribunal, we are not going to get justice from that, i still believe in the Catholic Church, I believe in the good they can do but they are an institution that has to sort of take responsibility for the crimes they’ve committed against their parishioners and their constituency and own it - and they are not yet.

Tom McCarthy

entertainment

These moments where Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo know people have done things wrong and Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo don’t, as a society, Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo don’t stand up to them, it takes years and years and years and the question is why ? Why does it take so long ? .

Tom McCarthy

entertainment

Whenever you're telling a story about true-life events and about real people, there's a tremendous responsibility-slash-burden to get it right.

Tom McCarthy

story you real people

There's a bit more of a safe distance when you're making a narrative movie, a bit more perspective. Audiences can separate themselves from the harsh reality of the facts a little bit more and think: 'Okay, how do I consider this?'

Tom McCarthy

think you perspective reality

With docs, there's often a very direct communication between the filmmaker and the audience. With narrative movies, we leave it a little bit more open.

Tom McCarthy

leave movies more communication

A lot of times, I'll resist the temptation to visually define a movie until, one, I really understand just what the movie's about, and two, until I start talking to my cinematographer.

Tom McCarthy

start understand temptation talking

I think when you're dealing with faith, you want to be as responsible and sensitive to the material as you can.

Tom McCarthy

think you faith want

I'm a pretty well-read person. I read my paper every morning.

Tom McCarthy

person pretty paper morning

The passion and knowledge of journalism as storytelling is incredibly infectious.

Tom McCarthy

journalism passion knowledge

Ultimately, as an actor, it comes down to committing to the text in the script.

Tom McCarthy

script text actor down

It was such a joy to be an actor on 'The Wire.'

Tom McCarthy

actor wire joy

I just try to keep going and work on projects that are exciting to me, with people I respect and enjoy and want to work with. That takes me in different directions sometimes, but it's all been a pretty good ride.

Tom McCarthy

ride good me work

Ben Karlin is a friend of mine and was a writer on 'The Daily Show.' He's just put out a book and asked a bunch of writers from various disciplines to contribute. It was called 'Things I've Learned from Women Who've Dumped Me,' and of course I agreed, and then I actually had to sit down and write it. God, writing fiction is terrifying.

Tom McCarthy

daily me women god

I loved acting, and then acting led to writing, and writing led to directing, and directing lead to five movies, and I feel like the luckiest guy in the world.

Tom McCarthy

loved movies feel world

Some people shy around 'The Cobbler.' 'The Cobbler' will always be a very special film to me. I've had a lot of wonderful response from 'The Cobbler.'

Tom McCarthy

some-people me shy people