Making a martial arts film in English to me is the same as John Wayne speaking Chinese in a western.

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

I like to go back to Chinese film-making from time to time. I don't think I can make Chinese films back to back; it's such a big effort. I'd have to take a very long break.

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.

I grew up pretty much prevented from knowing anything from Communist China except that they were the bad guys that stole our country.

We need storytelling. Otherwise life just goes on and on, like the number Pi.

I wanted to shoot straight, mainstream, somehow off-beat. Not only realistic West, which is quite unfamiliar to the world's population - even to a lot of Americans.