I love involving actors at all levels - and they have to know that I want to hear their contributions, with dialogue, with story suggestions, with script changes, whatever.

It was important on The Shipping News to have my house far enough away from each location so I had this time in the morning to think about my shots and still remain open to surprises once I got to the set.

Kevin, as the whole cast is, just wonderful people and great people, and people who are attracted to this kind of material and accepting the idea of going to Newfoundland and knowing the kind of lack of amenities.

Many of the comedies I had made in Sweden were slightly based on semi-autobiographical experiences, so adapting novels was a very different experience.

To see my wife getting inspired from my notes and thoughts, going in the direction I wanted, and have her surprise me with wonderful choices was a real treat.

A film that is bleached tends to have a more realistic quality.

ABBA: The Movie; I got a lot of grief for working on that.

But I notice that there is a lack of darkness in my movies and I don't know where that comes from.

But now I wish I could back to Stockholm to make international films there.

Cinema has become a global economy, totally international.

I always need a couple of highlights to really spark the passion for a project.

I always try to preserve my cinematographic style, even while I work in the US. I wish to always be European.

I am always more interested in performance and character depiction, and my direction says as much.

I feel the need to work with my wife, Lena Olin, again.

I love improvising.

I love mixing amateurs and professionals.

I made all their videos, apart from the last two, so if you ever see an Abba video on TV then it's my stuff.

I really want to have actors contribute their own ideas, with phrasings and ideas on all levels.

I think I avoid stepping into sentimentality by trying to be as truthful as possible with performances.

I was always attracted by the European way of life, but I am deeply Swedish.