Quotes from Michael Pena

I want to find my own rhythm and style. That's probably the harder way to approach it, but I think it will pay off in the long run.

I want to do more sci-fi films. I want to play half-alien, half-illegal alien.

I usually just try to do whatever's on the page because I've done research before - including a lot of analysis - but you end up with conflicting data. To me, the script is king.

I don't know about you, but for me, if I got to present any kind of award, I'm shaking in my pants.

A shootout is a shootout. You go in and get the bad guys.

I'm into looking at things from the other point of view. And if you look at who votes in the Oscars, mostly older Jewish guys, they're going to vote for stuff they relate to. Do they relate to NWA? I doubt it.

I am not afraid to play Latin roles - that was a big part of my life.

I feel really comfortable with going for the reality of the drama, but I'm not much for the comedy of it. You have to make people laugh, or you have to be true to the character in such a way that makes people laugh. It's a whole different thing.

I came to L.A. when I was 19, and my two roommates were blue-eyed, blond dudes. I helped coach them, and they both landed pilots.

I'm just an actor. If it's drama, I add as much humour as the part will stand. And if it's a comedy, add as much drama as you can, so it balances out; you don't wanna be too serious.

I never wanted to be in a gang. I didn't want to follow anybody's orders.

Some of the best bad guys in movies are funny and charming.

As a kid growing up in Chicago, I've been shot at before. I remember I very calmly went down on the ground. Afterwards, you're like, 'Omigod.' You just don't have time to think.

Every time I said, 'Man, I'm doing CHiPs,' 100% of the time they would ask, 'Is Erik Estrada going to be in it?'

I don't think people are experiencing superhero fatigue. Do you hear people complaining that there are too many action movies? I think it's good entertainment.

I've been seeing superhero movies as long as I can remember. I don't think they're going anywhere.

You know, one of my favorite movies that inspired me and got me started was 'Dead Poet's Society.'

I think, in any debate, you have to respect the other person's point of view, if you agree or disagree.

I'll read, like, ten scripts, and then sometimes if I'm lucky, there will be two or three scripts that I like, and sometimes they'll all be dramas, or they'll all be comedies, or there will be two dramas and a comedy, and then I'll go for whatever. If I have to audition, I'll audition. If it's an offer, great.

The joy of 'Crash' was that it was all about the work. It was my first real part. Before that, it was a line here and there, maybe a scene. 'Crash' was five scenes, a beautiful arc, a little vignette of my own. It really meant something.

There's something about coming up with something out of nothing. I work with somebody else's creation already, and I just try to make it better.

The only time that I really go on Twitter is to promote, because what sucks is there's some weird trolling going around. Even if you are well-intentioned, there's some mean people behind a keyboard.

Seth Rogen told me to read 'Preacher,' and 'Preacher' was amazing.

I went to a prep school in Chicago, and my dad and mom worked really hard - even though we lived in the ghetto - to get me to there. A lot of it had to do with 'Stand and Deliver' and 'Dead Poet's Society.' It does help you. It inspires you. It definitely did for me.