What I learned to do, on the spot, was to take the actors and other people involved in the movie, the DP or the set designer, really seriously, listen to what they wanted to do and allow them to do it. Then they could take ownership of the role, see the efforts of their work and what they contributed. When they came up with ideas, they were usually right, because they’d been created by the person creating the role. As opposed to forcing them into something, they were helping to create it.

The Rain People could be an awful picture. It’s very experimental. It doesn’t protect itself at all. It’s not even sensational. No sex. Very sincere. And I don’t even know how terrific it is. But it really tries. And I’m tired. I don’t want to have to make success. You know, if it means I’ve got to work on $6,000 films in San Francisco, then I guess that’s what I have to do.