FAQ for Persepolis USC

[on filmmaking] For me filmmaking is directing your personal ideas and stories on the screen.

[on his inspiration] ''I guess my biggest inspiration is Satyajit Ray. He is an absolute master and he has given me the oppertunity to see the world in a different way. An absolute master of cinema. I also love the old spaghetti westerns. They're a big influence on me too.''

[on working with Danny Boyle] ''Working with Danny (Boyle) was such an amazing experience for me. An amazing filmmaker with a beautiful vision on not only film, but also just life itself. I do have to say that it was very difficult working with the fact that you are not directing the film yourself. Especially because the project was so personal for me, it was very hard to not become angry and go stand behind the camera for yourself because just directing is such a nice thing to do. ''

''Because I have made a lot of foreign arthousee productions, a lot of people might think that I am this anti-Hollywood guy but I am actually the complete opposite. My big dream project is to direct a big budget action film with testorone muscled heroes of the 80s. I wish I could bring some actors back to life just to get this project off the ground. ''