And yes — for the record, when I advise new filmmakers I give the same advice you give: “Make *many* affordable films — it’s better to create a body of work and experiences than get bogged down on your first film.”

That said, I still don’t have regrets about “brooking no compromise” on this one — while there are lots of things I might do differently now, I’m happy I put the effort into this script. Even a decade later, even though I know all the jokes and twists and turns backwards and forwards, it still feels like a fun ride to me. And, in the end, that makes it all worthwhile.

And hell, we had fun in the middle of all those grown-up, experienced filmmakers, now, didn’t we?