Audiences want to see intelligent movies.

Over the years with movies I've given directors notes.

All my movies got screwed up because of my personality.

When people ask me what makes movies great it's the material.

My movies are important on an economic basis on an artistic basis.

Last year when 'Black Swan ' 'True Grit' and 'King's Speech' all grossed over $100 million it gave studios and independent financiers the confidence to make daring movies and not do the same old you-know-what.

When we talk about Oscars it's almost as a symbol of excellence and the American public and the worldwide public accept that symbol. So a movie like 'The Artist' that costs $14 million has to go out and compete with movies that cost $140 million. How does David deal with Goliath?

We didn't care if we were well-liked as long as the movies were good. We served the movie - that was our master at Miramax. In our second incarnation the movie is still the master but we're getting the same results in more subtle ways.

I've been involved with violent movies and then I've also said at a certain point 'I can't take it anymore. Please cut it.' You know you've got to respect the filmmaker and it's a really tough issue.

I think I took my eye off the ball. From about 2005 2006 2007 I was out of it. I thought I could oversee movies and have it done for me so to speak.