Feature Article

Model Director: Lee Ang

u-weekly,  December 2001

Xiao Xuan

Lee Ang's (Li An) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon brought honour to the Chinese at Oscar Awards and also raised his fame to the next level.

This writer has met this world renowned director twice: The first time was when he came to Hong Kong for The Wedding Banquet's publicity events. The second was not long ago, during Hong Kong Golden Elephant Movie Awards. It had been two years and this gentleman has not changed much, save for being fatter by two inches since The Wedding Banquet.

Since the public screening of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Lee Ang had since become a very noted figure, but he has never become stuck-up. His speech is still as warm and friendly, and he still insists on speaking in Chinese, even in the presence of Western friends.

Lee Ang's persistence resulted in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon being showed in Western cinemas in Chinese dialogue, where the foreign audiences are averse to looking at the subtitles. In spite of this, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon did not become a flop. Rather, long queues were seen at the cinema's ticket booths and it was appreciated by the Western audience. Moreover, it also paved the way for Chinese movies to enter the foreign market.

Lee Ang has since young been a movie-lover. After he graduated from high school, he failed to qualify for the local university. Bringing along his savings, he went to America and made it into New York University, majoring in Films.

After graduation, Lee Ang's did not make much progress in his career and felt that what he learned was of not much use; It's not easy for a Chinese to survive in America movie industry. Disappointed once and again, he could not but return to his home, Taiwan, doing script writing and without a stable income. When he decided to marry his girlfriend whom he had known for many years, her parents strongly objected to their marriage. Her mother even advised her daughter not to marry someone who is shooting movies. Even after they were married, his career still did not take off and, most of the time, his wife had to take care of the family's financial matters.

Taiwan's Xu Li Gong had mentioned Lee Ang to this writer before, narrating about his professional work attitude in the movie industry. In order to make good movies, he would put in all his efforts and resources. When he was shooting Wedding Banquet in New York with a budget of US$15 Million, he found that there were many things beyond his expected plannings. If it were others, they would have withdrawn their own pay from the production budget, and if the remaining amount was not enough to finish shooting the movie, they would ask the company for more funds. Lee Ang would instead use every single cent for the movie. And if the budget was not sufficient, he would even lend his apartment to be used as the set, to the extent of getting his son and his mother, who came all the way to America from Taiwan to visit her grandson , to be free, specially invited actors.

On that year, Xu Li Gong travelled to America to visit the production of Wedding Banquet. When he entered Lee Ang's house, he saw Lee Ang's wife placing a piece of cloth on the floor and having a meal by the cloth.

Xu Li Gong was rather curious and surprised, "Why isn't there a dining table?"

Lee Ang let out a wry smile, while his wife was infuriated, "When shooting a scene last week where Zhao Wen Xuan got angry, our director Lee broke the table's legs."

Xu Li Gong felt sorry and taking out his purse, "How about buying a new table?"

"No hurry. I'm buying a new table after getting my pay when the movie's released." Lee Ang said softly.

Lee Ang is very kind, thoughtful and considerate to his production team and has never lost his temper. On the other hand, it was the production team giving him quite a bit of pressure. Kindness begets kindness and his production members are always ready to go an extra mile to give him a helping hand. When shooting Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, even Chow Yun Fat assisted in controlling the wires.

Today, Lee Ang's fame has spread far and wide. On the other hand, it is not an easy accomplishment. Those who are interested in movie-making, do work hard. As Lee Ang said: "So long as you're persistent, you'll make it one day."

Roger, great Director Lee.

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