Ang Lee: Communication skills key in Hollywood

Taiwanese-born American filmmaker Ang Lee said that working in Hollywood requires great communication skills.

“Working in Hollywood requires directors to persuade others and explain about everything, even the trivial matters,” said Lee when asked, during a press conference held in Seoul on Monday, for his thoughts on Korean filmmakers’ recent foray into Hollywood.

“It’s almost how presidents explain about policies to their people. It’s certainly not easy, and the whole process is like a test. But this gave me a positive mindset about filmmaking in the end, and helped me to find the ways to focus on my job.”

Lee, best known for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000) and “Brokeback Mountain” (2005), arrived in Seoul on Sunday to promote his upcoming fantasy adventure 3-D flick, “Life of Pi.” Lee’s last visit to Seoul took place five years ago, upon the Korean release of his 2007 steamy thriller “Lust and Caution.”

The upcoming film is based on Canadian author Yann Martel’s 2001 novel of the same title. It tells the story of an Indian boy who survives 227 days after a shipwreck while stranded on a boat with a Bengal tiger in the Pacific Ocean. The book, which deals with issues of spirituality and life, won the Man Booker Prize for Fiction in 2002.

“The story drew me in instantly,” said Lee, who said he read the book for the first time about 10 years ago. “The boy feels the presence of God through illusions and it drives him to take the challenges. I wanted to bring that adventure to the screen.”

Lee said the 3-D film was the hardest piece for him to make. It took 3,000 crew members four years to complete the film, he said.

Because of the book’s extremely adventurous plot ― which takes place in the Pacific Ocean ― Lee said he initially thought it would be impossible to make a film adaptation of the novel. The film is rendered in 3-D to intensify its adventurous, visually stimulating drama as well as its spiritual and philosophical themes.

A large portion of the film, including the water scenes, were shot in Taiwan, Lee’s native country, to save on production costs, he said. Lee is a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Lee also said he is open to the idea of shooting a film in Korea if there’s a project that intrigues him.

“I’m a material-driven filmmaker ― Korea, Taiwan, or anywhere, it’s the stories that decide where I’m going,” he said.

“Korea, I’d say, ranks top three outside Hollywood that has a healthy film industry,” he added. “It’s quite blossoming and sophisticated. So if there’s any story that attracts me in Korea then I won’t hesitate to come here and make friends here and make a movie here.”

“Life of Pi” opens in Korea early next year.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)