Do what you love. I've seen so many people through the years calculate and speculate on what films to do in order 'to make it.' And every time those projects crash and burn.
I'm so sick of independent films being co-opted by Hollywood. You're making a project that's small, really personal, and the first thing anyone asks in any meeting is, 'Who's in it?' I'm like, 'Are you kidding?'
When I was growing up, the honor role kids were picked on by the jocks. And those kids said, 'You know, 15 years from now, I'm going to be their boss and own them.'
We had a pretty good life, growing up in Taiwan, and I think my dad really made a concerted effort to say hey, we're going to take a chance and go halfway around the world so that my kids can have more opportunities.
As an Asian immigrant coming in, for the longest time I still had problems getting in the lot because they're just not used to seeing someone like me who's directing these films. I do think ultimately there's a point where we can kind of just shed that label and become filmmakers.
We came over when I was 8 from Taiwan. That was my life: going to school, working at the restaurant, playing basketball.
Growing up as an Asian American, we're lucky to have two sentences in a history book about the Chinese-American experience.
When I was making the 'Fast and Furious' movies, I wasn't trying to make a 'Fast and Furious' movie.
It's dangerous to buy the American Dream without questioning. We need to ask, 'Why do I want this dream?'
As 'Warrior' comes together, I can't help but feel the pride of correcting a wrong and helping bring Bruce Lee's dream project to life.
The harder we push forward into the unknown the more it intensifies the reflection of humanity. That's what I really love about 'Star Trek.'