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On Auterism
What does auteur mean? One who repeats himself?
On Subverting Genres
Whenever I do “genre” I try to bend it
or mix in something else to find something refreshing.
On Making ‘Kung Fu’ Movies
There really is a powerful, raw energy in making
martial arts movies, and I think they’re very attractive
and very inspiring to filmmakers. [At first] making them reminded
me of when I did military service in Taiwan. It’s mandatory.
I had to deliver the cheesy part on one hand, and
the highbrow part on the other.
It’s really torture to the actors, being hanged
with wires is bad enough and then to have to act is really torture.
On the Goal of a Moviemaker
We live in the world of gravity, and we try to defy
it.
On Cinematography
I use wide screens for horses, because they have
big heads and they’re high.
On Being Funny
Being funny doesn’t mean anything, whether slapstick
or pure comedy, whether romantic or absurdist. For me it would
probably be the most difficult thing. Maybe I need more time.
If they were to point to a gun to my head and make
me do a funny film, I wouldn’t know how to do that.
On Future Projects
I think a thriller would be great, or a ghost story
or, at a certain point, a musical.
On Action Sequences
Unless the movement is an extension of characterization
and interpretation of the relationship, then it’s no good.
On Stars
Stars are stars and you have to pay more attention
to them than regular actors. They deserve to be shown more care.
They have a contract with their audience.
On Male Desire
I suspect that it’s a male fantasy to have a lot
of potent women. It’s even more fascinating to conquer them.
On Taiwanese Culture
In my culture, we don’t have a creator. A God, anything
three feet above our heads, is a mystery. We observe and try to
humble and reduce our desire until we explode, and then there’s
chaos and people find new lies and a new balance; that’s how the
society works.
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