It is fun to try figure out the things that really are real and the things that aren’t. – Penelope Spheeris
Me and Johnny Rotten have been talking about doing a movie of his book, No Irish, No Dogs, No Blacks. We have a script, so hopefully that’s going to happen at some point in our careers. – Penelope Spheeris
I actually picked up copies of Decline I and II at a flea market once. I walked out without paying. – Penelope Spheeris
Before you approach a production entity or even a potential producer, you should write up a treatment and register your show with the Writers Guild of America. – Penelope Spheeris
For the most part, studio movies have huge budgets. They don’t do anything under 30 to 40 million. When you have that much money at stake, you have so many people breathing down your neck. – Penelope Spheeris
Arnold and Jamie Lee must have worked over the years with directors that did 50 takes, because I’d get like three takes or so and say, Ok, that’s it, we’re done. – Penelope Spheeris
I really feel kind of guilty spending 80 million dollars. People are starving in the world. – Penelope Spheeris
If you are looking for a producer, try to contact established producers. Don’t let the fear of theft paralyze you, or you will never get anywhere with it. – Penelope Spheeris
In other countries, it’s a common thing to have outcast children running around the streets in packs, and I don’t think we’re so far away from it here. – Penelope Spheeris
The first Decline I did was out of sheer love and appreciation for the music. In 1977, it was more about bands, because punk was a new form of music. It was groundbreaking and political. – Penelope Spheeris
It’s really hard to imagine there ever being the kind of impact there was when punk rock happened in the late 70’s. I wish there would be one big change like that again, but I don’t know if that’ll ever happen. – Penelope Spheeris
Those movies, Decline I and II and Suburbia, are dearly loved, but they never made any money. I didn’t even have the rights for some of them. – Penelope Spheeris
Decline III, I funded myself, from the studio money. That, and I sold a lot of drugs. Kidding. Don’t print that. – Penelope Spheeris
I was always into music. I think everyone is when they’re a teenager, as a way to drown out the world. – Penelope Spheeris
