If you write an original, its like you went in and dug a well, and you hit oil. But an adaptation, its like the oil wells 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
