[re Six Degrees of Separation (1993)] I was the one who got to choose who got to direct it. I got a chance to meet a lot of directors. I auditioned them. I was shocked by what they wanted to do to the play, like straightening out the chronology. [Fred Schepisi] said he loved the play and wanted to follow the play. The only caveat MGM put on the movie was we had to cast Will Smith. I said, very grandly: A sitcom star in my play? Fred and I each went to meet Will. I went backstage to the dressing room of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990) and within three minutes I realized he was Paul. Imagine, 35 million people let this guy into their house once a week. I was entranced. It was very satisfying.