■"Lord of the Flicks: Director of 'Rings' Triology Is A Superpower in Hollywood, A Town He Abhors, Avoids," by Kate Kelly, Wall Street Journal, 2 December 2005, p. B1.

I cite this story just for the quote from actor Jack Black:

Ö actor Jack Black, recalling how Mr. Jackson grabbed a tommy gun and ran around in an exaggerated childlike way to prepare the "Kong" actors for a scene, says the director has maintained a starry-eyed approach to his work. "He decided somewhere along the line in his career to only do things that were interesting to him as a kid," says Mr. Black, "and this was no exception. It was sort of genius."

I agree completely. Every time I've veered from stuff or activities that fascinated me as a child, I get unhappy in my work. Whenever I stay deeply immersed in such stuff, it doesn't even feel like work.

It's a great, self-calibrating notion. Makes intuitive sense the minute you read it.