Melvin Van Peebles quotes:

I make a film like I cook for friends. I hope they like it, but if they don't, I'm prepared to enjoy it all by myself.

Essentially, I'm, most of all, a writer. So, what makes people tick interests me.

I don't consider myself a sociologist, I consider myself a filmmaker, among other things. Maybe an asshole but a filmmaker.

Music or sound in a film is a character as important as another character.

Directors love to do music, they've been doing that all along.

Hollywood desires money but they could not stand the political content.

I can't read or write music. When I want to remember something, I try to remember all the keys on the piano. Which is what I still do. I put the numbers on the keys. And that's got to become music again.

Normally, if I'm being acknowledged it is for something in front of the camera. This puts the spotlight on the fact that there are opportunities other than just being an actor.

Worry is a funky luxury when a lot has to be done.

I really like to talk to people and to get their take on things.

I was a trader for a company. That's different from the brokers who we sort of disdain as sort of just errand boys.

I'm not a cinematic cinematic person. I go to the movies like I did back when I was a kid. I go to the movies and I sit down. If the music works, hmm. If it doesn't work, hmm. The whole concept of the thing, not as one piece here or there. For me, music is a large part.

Music is for theater like theater is for scripts. It's total: it's cyclical.

No film is made without the people behind the lens. Of course, most people, even I, tend to look at films in the most simplistic way, and say, "Wow, so-and-so is in this film." We talk about who's in it, as opposed to who got it made. But there are financial and technical aspects which go along with it, that should be addressed and acknowledged, including those minorities who are doing excellent work as well.

Personally, I do movies the way I cook. I put in what I like, in case nobody else likes it and I have to eat it for the rest of the week.