"[Director Sam] Mendes is known for creating 'a safe room' for rehearsals. 'People are free to have a bad idea. Frequently the bad idea illuminates where the great idea is,' [producer Scott] Rudin said. 'Sam makes the room embracing, warm.  He's very open about what he perceives to be his own mistakes. If he doesn't know something, he's entirely comfortable asking the questions. That makes people feel incredibly well protected.'" —A recent New Yorker profile by John Lahr on award-winning theater and film director (Oscar winner for American Beauty) Sam Mendes.