The ugly duckling is a misunderstood universal myth. It's not about turning into a blonde Barbie doll or becoming what you dream of being; it's about self-revelation, becoming who you are. Baz Luhrmann More Quotes by Baz Luhrmann More Quotes From Baz Luhrmann Why live life from dream to dream, and dread the day when dreaming ends. Baz Luhrmann live-life ends dream One of my great all-time loves in cinema, and I've seen it three times, is Bondarchuk's 'War and Peace.' Not a lot of people may have seen that film. It was made during the Soviet era. Baz Luhrmann three war people Don't worry about the future. Baz Luhrmann worry In 1977, hip-hop literally wasn't outside the boroughs. But I was profoundly aware of the city through films like Saturday Night Fever, The French Connection, and Network. I had a friend who visited New York, and I asked him what it was like. He said, "Oh, it's great. Just wear a coat and don't look anyone in the eye." Baz Luhrmann eye new-york night At a very young age I was allowed to go into the cinema and watch adult films. Baz Luhrmann adults age watches There's a whole system in Hollywood where the director never speaks to the studio, but I like to engage them in a discussion. I listen. Baz Luhrmann hollywood speak directors Australia, to the rest of the world, is just far away, and Australia in the Thirties was the faraway of the faraway. Baz Luhrmann far-away australia world Western films don't do very well in India. Baz Luhrmann wells film india I grew up around jazz. I love jazz. Baz Luhrmann grew jazz grew-up The food in Sydney is an Asian Pacific cuisine. It's eclectic but above all it's fresh, inventive and creative and that's what I love about it. Baz Luhrmann cuisine asian creative When I was growing up you would see big American films that really mythologised their landscape, that really showed the vastness and the drama of their country. Baz Luhrmann growing-up drama country Opera was the cinema of its time, so to bring back that popular appeal, you just need to unleash its visceral immediacy and excitement. Most productions don't manage that - but when an opera does do it, you never forget it. Baz Luhrmann cinema doe needs Some of the greatest relationship films of all time, the two stars have hated each other, but mostly you see that chemistry. Baz Luhrmann chemistry stars two Look, I had a passion for comic books growing up. Baz Luhrmann growing-up passion book My wife is the fact-checker, I'm in the story telling business. Baz Luhrmann wife stories facts Sydney in general is eclectic. You can be on that brilliant blue ocean walk in the morning and then within 20 minutes you can be in a completely vast suburban sprawl or an Italian or Asian suburb, and it's that mix of people, it's that melting pot of people that give it its vital personality. Baz Luhrmann italian ocean morning The cold-audition process is not a science, so I ignore that. Baz Luhrmann auditions cold process My father made sure that I had lots of levels of education – from ballroom-dancing to painting, commando training, theatre and magic. Baz Luhrmann magic dancing father I am always worried when someone says, 'This is perfect.' Baz Luhrmann worried perfect I do find walking is fundamental to my creative process. Baz Luhrmann creative process fundamentals