When there is a strong woman character in a story – that always grabs me.
I did a women’s movie, and I’m not a woman. I did a gay movie, and I’m not gay. I learned as I went along.
I don’t have incredible knowledge about films or of filmmaking history; I’m not that kind of person.
There’s a level of sophistication of filmmaking that’s mind-boggling. Anything you need for your movie, there’s an establishment that can make it happen really fast.
I think a lot of people do big movies not because they are talented artists but because they can function in the circumstances.
When you talk about God, the first thing that comes along is not love, it’s fear. You have to fear, and be in awe. You have to be scared. Any religion, it’s like first thing...
For a filmmaker, it’s a rare chance to do a personal film on a big canvas.
Sensitivity and money are like parallel lines. They don’t meet.
Now I’m kind of established as a director, I much prefer directing to writing.
It’s not a pleasure torturing actors, although some of them enjoy it.
As artists, we like night more than day sometimes.
I think great romance needs great obstacles and textures.
I have two sons in America, and all they care about in Chinese culture is Jackie Chan and Jet Li.
I think the American West really attracts me because it’s romantic. The desert, the empty space, the drama.
What is really a stretch to me is to make quick decisions.
I don’t care about writing really.
I think, if allowed, 3D is a new film language. I can have more adventure exploring a new media, that’s very exciting. 2D we know most of it, things haven’t changed for decades; it’s the same principles, so 3D’s more exciting.
On a Chinese film you just give orders, no one questions you. Here, you have to convince people, you have to tell them why you want to do it a certain way, and they argue with you. Democracy.
You can get rich or famous by doing the same thing.
Depending on the budget. I think I prefer 3D to 2D now. Also, because of 3D I have to use a digital camera, which is the way it’s going anyway. That still confuses me, a digital camera versus film.