Was watching the show, Iconoclasts, on the Sundance Channel. 

They pair up creative folks, film them hanging out and talking, and the viewers get a glimpse into what makes these people so dang special. 

This episode put singer/songwriter Fiona Apple together with director Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino is a wacky dude, but he’s clearly an artist with a vision and the confidence required to bring that vision into reality. 

He was talking about his craft — about making movies — when he said something that will stick with me (I hope).

As an aspiring filmmaker, Mr. Tarantino was talking to some fellow film enthusiasts about one of his favorite opening scenes in cinema. The image he described, like Mr. Tarantino, could be described as “twisted.” (I’ll spare you from it here). But he loved it and told his friends how one day he wanted to make a movie with such a provocative opening scene.

Upon hearing this, one of his friends chimed in, “Man, they’ll never let you do that!”

To this, Mr. Tarantino shot back, “Who’s they?”

In recalling this exchange, he was adamant. 

“I’ve given no one that authority of me. I can do anything I want. I can achieve whatever I want to achieve.

It’s up to me.

There is no they.

In fact, by saying there is a they, you create a they.”

He delivered these words with power of a man who knew he was right. 

Because he is.