Quotes from Steve Buscemi

It doesn't matter so much where the material comes from, as long as it's good.

All the roles I play, I don't see any of my roles in films that they're typically leading men.

I read the script and decide if a particular character looks fun to play. I look for complexity and a sense of humor. Those are crucial, real things to life.

The first movie I had a featured role in was Parting Glances.

Communication is the key, and it's one thing I had to learn-to talk to the actors. I was so involved with the visual and technical aspects that I would forget about the actors.

I think all comics borrow from each other. Only a few have an original voice, and I wasn't one of them. In the end, I couldn't figure out who to steal from, so I stopped doing it.

I was really young, just playing with puppets a lot and doing all the voices and acting it out - normal kid stuff. But then I'd hear my mother talking about it to her relatives, marveling at it as if it was something unique. And it made me realize, 'Oh, maybe I do have a talent for something.'

It doesn't matter what part I play, I try and commit myself 100 percent.

I don't think it's necessary to be an actor to get great performances out of an actor. But I do think it helps me as a director because I know what I like as an actor, and I try to get that to the actors who I'm working with.

I love working with Scorsese. He's not only a brilliant director and is great working with actors, but he's also a walking human film encyclopedia. It's fun to talk about movies with him.

To me, score is really important. I would rather not have any score if it's something that's going to detract from the film. So often when I watch films, the score is what really bothers me.

I think it's important to create an atmosphere where actors feel like they can try things out. It doesn't mean that I'll take every suggestion, but I want there to be some room for actors to grow.

I've always been interested in character-driven pieces, and my approach to directing is through acting.

Bob Altman had this relaxed but serious attitude. Everybody loved him. I wanted him to adopt me.

I had a magic kit. I never really followed through on it, but I had my phase of wanting to do it, sure.

I don't think about the characters I choose to play, analytically or consciously.

They're not supposed to show prison films in prison. Especially ones that are about escaping.

I was very surprised that for a while I could only get cast as straight. It was that way for a few years.

By nature, I think I am a pretty private person, and that is what is hard even doing interviews for films that I really love doing, because in some ways, it diminishes the experience that I had.

Do you think god stays in heaven because he too lives in fear of what he's created here on earth?

When I was a fireman I was in a lot of burning buildings. It was a great job, the only job I ever had that compares with the thrill of acting.

I can't relate to 99% of humanity.

I never had any master plan about directing, and I don't really write.

Every day's an adventure when I step out of my door. That's why I usually wear a hat and keep my head low.