"You see, I have this never-ending dream"

POINT TO PONDER 

A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.

                                                             - Oscar Wilde

 

STORY LINE

Ang Lee, in 2006 (post-Oscar win)*. 

"In 1978, as I applied for film studies at the University of Illinois, my father expressed his disapproval. He quoted me a statistic: 'Every year, 50,000 performers compete for 200 available roles on Broadway.' Still, I went against his advice and boarded a flight to the U.S. Since then, my father and I have had a strained relationship. In the last 20 years, we have spoken less than a hundred words to one another.

Some years later, when I graduated film school, I finally understood my father's concern. It was nearly unheard of for a Taiwanese newcomer to make it in the American film industry. Beginning in 1983, I struggled through six years of agonizing, hopeless uncertainty. Much of the time, I was helping film crews with their equipment or working as editor's assistant, among other miscellaneous duties. My most painful experience involved shopping a screenplay at more than thirty different production companies, and being met with harsh rejection each time.

That year, I turned 30. There's an old Chinese saying: 'At 30, one stands firm.' Yet, I couldn't even support myself. What could I do? Keep waiting, or give up my movie-making dream? My wife gave me invaluable support.

My wife was my college classmate. She was a biology major, and after graduation, went to work for a small pharmaceutical research lab. Her income was very small. At the time, we already had our oldest son, Han Lee, to raise. To appease my feelings of guilt, I took on all housework - cooking, cleaning, taking care of our son - in addition to reading, reviewing films and writing scripts. Every evening after preparing dinner, I would sit on the front steps with my son, telling him stories as we waited for his mother - the heroic huntress - to come home with our sustenance (income).

This kind of life felt rather undignified for a man. At one point, my in-laws gave their daughter (my wife) a sum of money, intended as startup capital for me to open a Chinese restaurant - hoping that a business would help support my family. But my wife refused the money. When I found out about this exchange, I stayed up several nights and decided: This dream of mine is not meant to be. I had to face reality.

Afterward (and with a heavy heart), I enrolled in a computer course at a nearby community college. At a time when employment trumped all other considerations, it seemed that only knowledge of computers could quickly make me employable. For the days that followed, I descended into malaise. My wife, noticing my unusual demeanor, discovered my schedule of classes. That night, she didn't say anything.

The next morning, right before she got in her car to head off to work, my wife turned back and - standing there on our front steps - said, 'Ang, don't forget your dream.'

And that dream of mine - drowned by the demands of reality - came back to life. As my wife drove off, I took the class schedule out of my bag and slowly, deliberately tore it to pieces. And tossed it in the trash.

Sometime after, I obtained funding for my screenplay, and started to shoot my own films. And after that, a few of my films started to win international awards. Recalling earlier times, my wife confessed, 'I've always believed that you only need one gift. Your gift is making films. There are so many people studying computers already, they don't need an Ang Lee to do that. If you want that golden statue, you have to commit to the dream.'

And today, I've finally won that golden statue. I think my own perseverance and my wife's immeasurable sacrifice have finally met their reward. And it's made me more assured: I must continue making films.

You see, I have this never-ending dream."

*Thank you to Irene Shih and the blog What Shih Said for this translation.*

 

REFLECTION by Rajiv Shah

Congratulations to Ang Lee on his second Oscar win for Life of Pi at this year's Oscars.

We often get to see the dream fulfilled, the results, and the recognition. In this case it's even more inspirational to see how much doubt, heartache, and hardship it took to get there.

Keep reaching. 

Comments

[odds maker]

odds are too much against a person who follows abnormal path. But rewards are HUGE.
the biggest being the satisfaction of living the life one has imagined. Great Story. Thanks

[Margaret Chu]

There is an old saying "Behind every great man there is a Woman." Let us not forget the role his wife played in his success.

[anand]

Very inspirational story. Thanks for posting it Rajiv. My dad (your Grandpa) used to tell us :If you don't have dreams, how can they come true."
Keep dreaming and move confidently in the direction of your dreams.

[A Friend]

Inspirational.... Now that we know it has a happy ending
But so many similar ones dont
Perseverance and strong belief I guess

[LK]

wait, it isn’t Friday yet (but you are being proactive! 

Thanks for sending, as always (I look forward to these very much)!

[Mark Dennen]

Reminds me of an interview when they asked Arthur Rubinstein's father if he had tried to discourage his son from taking piano lessons. His father replied, "How did I know he was going to grow up and become Arthur Rubinstein?"

Living the dream does not always lead to great financial success or universal recognition, but can lead to a contented mind and soul and for some, that is enough.

[Practical]

Only works if you have a dream to start with... what about those who don’t know what they want to do when they grow up?

[Bonbonsan]

To add a little flavor from the Taiwan press, Ang Lee has always struggled to meet his father's expectations. And this theme has permeated in his movies, such as his movie trilogy (Pushing Hands, Wedding Banquet, and Eat Drink Man Woman) with a strong father figure and 'disappointing' son. His father's recognition finally came at Ang's lowest point (post Hulk), and with that Ang was able to re-start and continue down his journey. Ang joked that his name (Ang - standing for peace and stability in Chinese) should have been Not Ang, as he's been driven mainly by his insecurity and uncertaintly. This reminds me that it's human to toggle btw preseverance and insecurity, just like there must be shadow if there is to be light.

[microCEO]

Having just seen it this week, I can heartily agree that Life of Pi was a brilliant film. Congratulations to Mr. Lee on his award.

For those artists, scientists, or entrepreneurs who put their livelihood and family on the line for pursuing their passions, it must be an incredibly risky bet, even for those with a well-defined goal. After all, many “struggling artists” may have all the necessary talent, drive, and passion, but only lack the opportunity or self-confidence and charisma to reach the heights of Ang Lee. Many others might knowingly demote their passion into a “hobby” in lieu of a safer, salaried or professional job that can ensure a steady income and a certain degree of social standing (preferable to have medical insurance, or to qualify for a home loan from the bank, for example). But among those who simply cannot allow themselves to compromise and relegate a passion to an after-hours hobby…among them must emerge the Ang Lee’s of the world.

Where do the heroes like Ang Lee get their courage and perseverance...overcoming their anxieties and the doubts of family or friends? I wish I knew. Today I was speculating, that perhaps successful and confident people have an implicit understanding of the phrase, "as above, so below".

"As above, so below”…? Huh?

Years ago, I encountered that ancient saying from the lore of Hermes (though perhaps originally much more ancient). It sounds pretty ambiguous and quite mysterious to modern ears, but I have often contemplated about the true meaning and interpretation.

In Western tradition, I think I see a reflection of this in the phrase, "man created in the image of the creator". In other words, we humans each have in us a god-like quality, the potential for greatness. We have some innate talents or abilities, but we need to find and cultivate them for ourselves. This is embodied in the English word, "inspiration" (etymology : inside + to breathe).

In another interpretation, we could talk about the fundamental sameness between celestial bodies above and terrestrial bodies here on earth... there is really no difference in so far as everything is derived from the same chemical elements (“star-stuff”)and conforming to the same laws of physics and statistics. By extension, is it possible that even in our daily lives, we end up doing and completing the things that need to be done, because we are following a natural course (not deterministic or lacking free-will, but nevertheless natural). I suspect that this is part of why may help guide people who achieve success. Can we find our creative spirit, covering both the inspiration of a new idea and also the commitment to see it through to fruition? Can we set a challenging but focused goal and hit a natural and enjoyable flow of working to achieve it (as described by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi). Is this what great people have learned to do?

The ancient phrase seems to have a calming, reassuring effect. Repeating “As above, so below” helps me to shed anxieties sometimes.