I think a lot of people do big movies not because they are talented artists but because they can function in the circumstances.

I think each movie-making process is a very exhausting and satisfying and fulfilling experience for me.

I guess in Hollywood you chart your life by Oscars. You say to each other, "Remember when that movie won that year? It was 2006. Remember that?"

In the past I've made movies that were pretty universally liked. You can't really hate them. You can discard them, but you can't really hate them.

My father was the center of the family, and everyone tried to please him.

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

I basically made the movie from the crew's suggestions. For one scene, I wanted some kids' toys against the wall in Mikey's room, to give the scene texture, and we tried a field hockey stick. It looked really good to me, until someone had to say that in America, field hockey is more of a girl's game. Gradually I got tuned into the world - that happens on every movie.