I had the belief I could put on an Elvis (Elvis Presley) tour back in the 1960s when I was working in the music business. I didn't know him and had little experience as a promoter. I called his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, every day for a year. Every day he'd say no. Finally, after a year of calling, he called me and said I could put on the tour if I raised $1million. I pulled it off. I don't take no for answer. I find a way to convince people to come along with me. They want to be persuaded. When I sit in a room with you I'm going to sell you something whether you want it or not. At the end you'll say: "I'm glad I bought that.".

I owned a company 20 years ago that went bankrupt making films I financed. I learned from my mistakes. I put $30 million into that company and have made it back five times over. I learned I'm not a good executive, I'm an entrepreneur and I'm creative. I have to go with my gut and do what I want to do.

The budgets are much higher now, it costs more to make a movie and the kids that go to see them are into instant gratification. They want things bigger and bigger. I don't make those kind of movies. I make movies about relationships. The Karate Kid is one of my films, that's about relationships and that's done well. Just because everyone else is doing Superman and The Dark Knight doesn't mean I have to do the same, although I am doing Tarzan.

Britain produces great actors because they learn on stage so know their stuff when they get on a movie set.

(on Frank Sinatra) He was a great friend and I miss him. I listen to his music every day at the gym. He was the greatest singer in the world.