Quotes by

Ang Lee

These days Im mostly familiar with two parts of L.A.: one is movie culture, and the other is Asian culture. The Westside is work, and the Eastside is Chinese – which means my friends. – Ang Lee

Im actually living my life with the material I choose to work with. – Ang Lee

I did a womens movie, and Im not a woman. I did a gay movie, and Im not gay. I learned as I went along. – Ang Lee

The source of all the material comes from nothingness, illusion is working more on things you can prove. Thats the principle, the essence of life, it is actually an illusion, not immaterial. Thats worth pursuing. So illusion is not nothing. In a way, that is the truth. – Ang Lee

I think the American West really attracts me because its romantic. The desert, the empty space, the drama. – Ang Lee

In the past Ive made movies that were pretty universally liked. You cant really hate them. You can discard them, but you cant really hate them. – Ang Lee

3D is quite a lot more advanced in animated movies for live-action movies were just taking baby steps, were just in the beginning. – Ang Lee

If theres something that can be formulated, regulated, give you security, then nobody would lose money. Every movie would be successful. And thats certainly not the case. – Ang Lee

Sensitivity and money are like parallel lines. They dont meet. – Ang Lee

When I sent those scripts, that was the lowest point of my life. Wed just had our second son, and when I went to collect them from hospital, I went to the bank to try and get some money to buy some diapers, the screen showed Ive got $26 left. – Ang Lee

I dont have incredible knowledge about films or of filmmaking history Im not that kind of person. – Ang Lee

Thinking back to those earlier days, I felt I was weak when I wasnt making movies, and then when I was, I thought I was weak as a family member. – Ang Lee

Im not a romantic. In life I didnt have much experience with romance. – Ang Lee

Im just a pretty regular dad. – Ang Lee

Economically, its more expensive to make movies. I hope digital movies change that. – Ang Lee

Over the years Woodstock got glorified and romanticised and became the event that symbolised Utopia. Its the last page of our collective memory of the age of innocence. Then things turned ugly and would never be the same again. – Ang Lee

The father figure is something I love, but also suffocate from and want to work against. – Ang Lee

I think I can work with any type of actor. – Ang Lee

Sexuality is a big issue, but there are others – how much you commit to a relationship, to social obligation, to honesty and being honest with yourself. – Ang Lee

I look at American movies, the big muscles, and try to apply that to Chinese film-making. – Ang Lee