Brian De Palma quotes

Brian De Palma is an American film director and screenwriter, recognized for his stylish suspense and psychological thrillers. His work often explores themes of voyeurism, crime, and moral ambiguity, and he is known for films such as "Carrie," "Scarface," and "The Untouchables." He continues to influence new generations of filmmakers with his inventive storytelling and visual techniques. Here are 30 of his quotes:

And I always had this idea for making a movie about a femme fatale, because I like these characters. They're a lot of fun, they're sexy, they're manipulative, they're dangerous.

Brian De Palma

I hadn't done just a straight-out comedy in a long time, just letting an ensemble do really good character acting, having them carry the movie as in my earlier pictures.

Brian De Palma

And we've become very doubtful of our information sources, because they're all controlled by these huge multilateral corporations.

Brian De Palma

That's what noir feels like to me. It feels like some kind of recurring dream, with very strong archetypes operating. You know, the guilty girl being pursued, falling, all kinds of stuff that we see in our dreams all the time.

Brian De Palma

I don't see scarey films. I certainly wouldn't go see my films.

Brian De Palma

The real trouble with film school is that the people teaching are so far out of the industry that they don't give the students an idea of what's happening.

Brian De Palma

It's always great to discover a new star of tomorrow.

Brian De Palma

You know, I listen to contemporary music all the time.

Brian De Palma

Yeah, I had an idea to make a very scary movie, based on a kind of serial murderer that preys on tourists.

Brian De Palma

I do like directing other people's material.

Brian De Palma

However, I spent most of my time in a Quaker school.

Brian De Palma

The biggest mistake in student films is that they are usually cast so badly, with friends and people the directors know. Actually you can cover a lot of bad direction with good acting.

Brian De Palma

I mean, I don't mind promoting a movie, or talking to the press if it's going to be used in some way.

Brian De Palma

When you make a movie outside the system and it's successful critically or a moderate financial success, you usually have to go back into the system and make a big hit.

Brian De Palma

I've been obsessed with this kind of visual storytelling for quite a while, and I try to create material that allows me to explore it.

Brian De Palma

Well, like any time you're shooting documentary stuff, you've got to be in the moment, and you've got to be able to be in control enough to capture what's happening.

Brian De Palma

I'm always looking for a kind of new musical entity to sort of move into a motion picture venue.

Brian De Palma

However, ironically, I was baptized Presbyterian, and went to a Quaker school for twelve years.

Brian De Palma

I've been sort of traveling around the country for ten years talking about independent features.

Brian De Palma

So I like to try to go back and develop pure visual storytelling. Because to me, it's one of the most exciting aspects of making movies and almost a lost art at this point.

Brian De Palma

Godard is incredibly brilliant, the things he says. Apparently here in France, the most interesting thing when a new film of his is going to come out are his press conferences, because he's so brilliant.

Brian De Palma

It's always great when you discover someone.

Brian De Palma