[on the often said cliché that studio execs are only interested in making a buck] - That's not my experience at all. I do love movies. There are really terrific [execs], and I know them - Amy Pascal, Emma Watts - any number of people - they love movies. They love talent. They're dedicated. I will say this about the press - you think it's so fucking easy! Try it! I'm sure you could have done better for 18 years. I'm just doing the best that I can. I can tell you 100% what movies are hits and what are failures on the Monday after they open - 100%. And so can the press! In advance, it's a little harder. I batted 750 to 800, about as high as you can get. I think there is a clichéd understanding of it. I'm sure there are craven politicians and crooked lawyers, but are all politicians craven? Are all lawyers crooked? I don't think so. Are all studio executives philistines? Not in my experience. Many of them are really hard working. They really back talent all the time and they have to stand up for it. Show less «

If you say 'No' to everything, then you don't get anywhere.

On foreign financing and risk taking: We were in Japan explaining to a group of executives that for every hit, there are ten flops... ...One of the executives stood up and said: 'But Tom-Son ... why do we have to make the flops'?!? ... ... ... Show less «