GALE ANNE HURD

I just like the comic book sensibility. If I can turn them into films and TV series, that's just icing on the cake.

I'm a huge historical fiction and non-fiction fan.

A lot of producers now are people who stay in their office and never go to the set. I don't know how you can be the advocate of the movie if you're not there in it every day.

I also love the zombie genre, my zombie fandom going way back to 'Night of the Living Dead.' And 'The Walking Dead' is truly the ultimate representation of that sensibility in the comic book genre.

I've always been a fan of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. I like working with larger-than-life characters in fascinating worlds - places where the rules are different.

What's so wonderful about 'The Walking Dead' is that we're able to explore human nature in its most depraved as well as its most humanitarian in each episode.

We tend to be more environmental at home than at work, regardless of the industry we're in.

I've always loved comic books, which is why I've done films like 'Hulk' and 'The Punishers.'

A lot of my films have dealt with the dark side of technology and stress that you have to examine the ramifications of progress.

Filmmaking is a business and at the bottom line people who don't make fiscally responsible decisions end up going into another line of work.

I'm just attracted to the action element of science fiction. It's great to sit in the editing room with the director and sound engineers and to create the feeling where your heart is racing and you're sitting at the edge of your seat and you find yourself holding your breath.

I'm gut all the way, which is why I think I'm so connected to shows like Falling Water and even The Walking Dead, which is all about the mortal consequences of our actions. Generally, we act first and realize the consequences later.

We need to empower ourselves and believe in ourselves, and not allow the world to take that away from us. No matter how dark we may think our world is, it's been much darker in the past, and we will make it through this.

The truth is there's so many great TV shows out there now that none of us take absence of awards personally. The most important feedback is the feedback we get from the fans.

A key ingredient to success, I learned, is relying on not only the kindness of strangers, but the kindness of colleagues.

I think that comic followers are always waiting for key iconic moments.

I think that we can learn so much if we pay attention to our dreams, whether when we are asleep or in waking dreams. There are connections that are absolutely incredible.

You don't want people to look at something and think that was a fantastic special effect.

I think in television you have an ever-closer bond to the audience because they're inviting you into your living rooms and their bedrooms 16 hours a year. And they have that relationship with the characters and with the creators. And now, because of social media that's even a more significant connection.

It's more important to get the right writer and the right take than it is to do something in a particular timeframe.

The great thing about television is that you get to tell, like with "The Walking Dead", 16 hours worth of character-driven storytelling in less time than it takes to make a feature film. So, it really is a medium at least for storytellers who are passionate about not only the genre but also the character-driven genre stories. It's probably a better medium.

Generally I try to be on set as much as possible, especially during the early part of a season. I read all of the outlines and scripts and look at the auditions and the cuts for my other shows and give notes on all of that. There's a lot to do, but I enjoy nothing more than being on set because that's where the magic happens.

When you realize there are geniuses out there and you'd be a journeyman... that's not good enough. I'd rather be the person helping those who are one in a billion get their vision out.

The people green-lighting films or TV series often want household names, but the smart ones realize that there are lightning rods who can make things happen, and they aren't necessarily the ones who are celebrated.

If you don't know what you're being asked to do, make sure you clarify. I think people in every business are afraid to ask questions.