Q: And it was that film that started to bring you to the attention of filmgoers overseas, wasn't it?
A:I really think it was later on with THE KILLER. THE KILLER increased your visibility. but people I knew who were interested in Asian cinema already took notice of you through A BETTER TOMORROW.

A:I certainly didn't know it at the time. Not many people expected A BETTER TOMORROW to be a hit. They just saw it as another gangster film. When I made that film, I was down. I had quite a few failures, and some people even said that I should retire, or go home for a couple of years. I was so sad, because I knew that I was a good director, and felt that I was letting people down. Remember, there's some dialogue from A BETTER TOMORROW which goes something like 'I failed for three years. If I get a chance. I will get back to fame from my own hand:

Q: I never knew how personal a statement it was,
A:So then, after the film was a huge success, lots of people were so shocked and surprised. And suddenly, I got back everything. Friends, reputation and money. And also, of course, a lot of jealousy. So when my movie got attention from over-seas, people working in the studio never let me know about it. They never showed me press clippings from other countries. They were trying to cover it. I didn't care, you know? I just wanted to keep making my movies I was told later on that I was invited to some film festivals, but the studio never let me know about it, just to hurt me. Some people even said that I didn't direct the film, that it was the pro-ducer, not lohn Woo. I was so mad. But that's typical Hong Kong, you know? So I left that company, and made another film, THE KILLER, with my own hand, to try and prove myself one more time, to test my work. I didn't care about producers, studios. or anything else. And that movie got even more attention from the international community than A BETTER TOMORROW. My friend Terence Chang-what a great man-knew that some people were jealous of me, so he brought THE KILLER to Cannes, to Canada, to Italy, to Sundance, to let people know about my work and introduce me to the world. I still feel lucky and ex-tremely grateful to Terence, who's now my partner.

Q:And now the two of you are conquering America..
A:My opportunity to work here is mainly all because of Terence. He made the path for me. . . he did all the hard work.

Q: And now you're making the path for other Hong Kong filmmakers to work in the United States
A:It's not only for Hong Kong filmmakers I actually want to do something for anyone who really has a gift of making movies, but no opportunities. That's one of the reasons we formed our company, is to help others to produce or direct movies. If we can provide some opportunities for young filmmakers, and let them express themselves, then it can change the face of American film.

Q: So in a way. you've fulfilled both dreams. . . to work in film and help others.
A:I know how to be grateful. I'm not looking for a great fortune. I'm not crazy about fame and money. I know how to appreciate. If somebody does me a favor, I will pay hack double or triple. I like America because I've gotten so much help from people here. Also, it comes from our Chinese culture. In ancient China, we had so much honor, loyalty and chivalry. If you got from others, you paid back double. That's our spirit, and thats what my movies are about.

Q: You even made a movie in the late '7O's called LAST HURRAH FOR CHIVALRY
A:I've got my work. I've gotten my family back. I've made several successful films. It's time to do something for others. I'm looking for an even bigger family, for everyone to learn from each other. In the film world, as in the "real" world, we are not living alone.

---end interview by Michael Singer
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