When you go for something because you're curious about it, you get psyched up about the chance of getting into it. It's like an actor meets a role, and you slip into that body and see what happens, to experience certain conditions, to adopt a certain character. Even shooting is a study of the character. I think both the character and the actor, and eventually the filmmaker - myself - are finding a way to accept their environment and being accepted and feel comfortable of themselves.
Ang LeeMany times when you make a movie, it feels like your biggest mistake. But even if a film isn't a hit, you shouldn't view it as a mistake.
Ang LeeYou have to know the rules, otherwise you have no tools to communicate to the audience, but to keep it fresh you have to break some. I don't choose genres as the element, but the material itself is the element, then I'll decide what genre I need. That's just how I work.
Ang LeeThere'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.
Ang LeeA lot of people will think I changed the book: โso youโre the tiger instead, youโre the tiger who ate the cook.โ Thatโd be totally expository, like in the book, โyouโre the tigerโ and then it stops there. That seems to have the magic touch. I bring everything together. Thatโs why he made up the story, the whole thing becomes internalized. That might be the magic, but all I did is not so much interpreted, but try my best to keep everybody still staying in the movie. And I was like, โGod, itโs so hard to do.โ I make movies for a long time. It doesn't get easier.
Ang Lee