The studio is spending great amounts of money, and they want some insurance they will get money back. They go for the middle of the road, broad in appeal. It's restrictive. It's a constant struggle, but if you give in,… — Brian Helgeland Copy Share Image
If you write an original, it's like you went in and dug a well, and you hit oil. But an adaptation, it's like the oil well's on fire, and they bring you in to put the fire out and get… — Brian Helgeland Copy Share Image
As much as I love period movies and especially more swashbuckling movies, I think that sometimes they tend to be, umm... it's hard for… — Brian Helgeland Copy Share Image
I think 'Cool Hand Luke' was probably the first movie in which I was aware of the writing as its own separate thing. It… — Brian Helgeland Copy Share Image
Working on an adaptation is not as satisfying, because it's not your original work: you're interpreting. With 'L.A. Confidential,' I loved the book. In… — Brian Helgeland Copy Share Image
If Im in the bookstore, and I see a 700-page novel, my first thought is, Ooh, how could you cut this down to size… — Brian Helgeland Copy Share Image
I don't really write with living actors in mind. I guess I write for dead actors. I'll think of like, you know, Burt Lancaster… — Brian Helgeland Copy Share Image
I was in a bookstore one afternoon, and I stumbled across this book called 'A Guide to Film Schools.' I always loved movies growing… — Brian Helgeland Copy Share Image
It's as boring to see a completely evil villain as it is to see a completely good guy. — Brian Helgeland Copy Share Image
You can write anything you want on paper, like blowing up the bridge on the River Kwai, but when you actually have to do… — Brian Helgeland Copy Share Image
Because I've been at it so long and very steadily, I have a lot of credits, but I probably have twice as many scripts… — Brian Helgeland Copy Share Image
I write R-rated action dramas, and every year that goes by, that gets to be a smaller and smaller world you have to work… — Brian Helgeland Copy Share Image
There are plenty of writers who are going to become a director after their next job, but no one will believe you're a director… — Brian Helgeland Copy Share Image
Its such an egotistical thing to be able to just stand there and say, Action! Its like being a little mini-god. — Brian Helgeland Copy Share Image
