21 Quotes by Dan Futterman

Once you start working with a particular actor, that actor becomes very present in your mind as your mind as you're writing subsequent episodes.

I loved being in Bombay. It was a pretty thrilling place to walk around and explore.

I was raised Jewish and bar mitzvahed.

We are breaking new ground in the territory of dumb with Shooting Fish. Dumb, but in good taste. Silly, but not ridiculous.

With a play, there's more of a definable arc because of the nature of theater: You know, there's no editing, so there's something more natural about the arc a character follows in a play. I think theater is more an actor's medium, whereas film is more a director's medium, because that's who controls the final feel of the film.

We are breaking new ground in the territory of dumb with 'Shooting Fish.' Dumb, but in good taste. Silly, but not ridiculous.

And then Phil walked into the room. I'm not certain exactly what he'd prepared -- I think it was a scenario involving a death in the family -- but he was a mess, bright red, sobbing, you couldn't even understand what he was saying half the time. But it was powerful. He was this 16-year-old ex-jock, and I remember very distinctly feeling that if I was going to act, I'd have to get serious about it. Because this guy completely gets it.

It's an incredible honor, and it's so unlikely. I took a stab at doing this, and it's been extremely well received. ... Phil has gotten an enormous amount of attention, all of it well deserved. I think we've gotten our fair share, and whatever shakes out in terms of Oscar stuff is fine.

Does 'Shooting Fish' have less artistic merit than a play like 'Angels In America,' which I did? Well, probably. But it's good for something.