It's much easier to work with an unknown.
It's very clearly stated in the film: You make your own choices, and what you're always fighting is ego.
You'd be surprised how many movie stars still care about the work.
When I finish a film, I put it away and I never look at it again.
Well I don't think I've scored my life exclusively to Ray Charles.
The whole concept of the devil is a metaphor on one level.
The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.
Show business is one of those things that people can use to get themselves out of the lower rung of society.
Russell Crowe is very difficult, but it's worth it. He's the real thing. I can tell you this. Russell Crowe was just as difficult before he was an international star as he was afterwards.
Ray Charles, in his own way, it's like at the beginning, Ray Charles changed American music, not once but twice.
My creative partner is a writer, and he's got an executive producing credit on this film. We've made three films together and I would never underestimate the impact of a writer.
Music has always been an important thing to me in my life and understand I've worked in the music business.
This devil loves mankind because men are going to always make the choice that will send him into ascendancy. He's been winning the game for a long time.