Wayne Wang
Encyclopedia
Wayne Wang is a Chinese American film director.
. When he was 17, he moved to the United States with the intention of studying towards eventually entering medical school, but Wang changed his mind and ended up in the arts, studying film and television at California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland
. Chan Is Missing
(1982) and Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart
(1985) established his reputation. He is best known for The Joy Luck Club
(1993), Maid in Manhattan
(2002), and the independent features Smoke
(1995) and Anywhere but Here (1999). At the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival
, Wang premiered two feature films, A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
and The Princess of Nebraska
, as well as appearing in the Arthur Dong
documentary film Hollywood Chinese.
He won the Golden Shell
at the San Sebastian Film Festival in September 2007 for A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
.
He is married to a former Miss Hong Kong, Cora Miao
, and lives in San Francisco and New York City.
Biography
Wang was born and raised in Hong Kong, and named after his father's favorite movie star, John WayneJohn Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
. When he was 17, he moved to the United States with the intention of studying towards eventually entering medical school, but Wang changed his mind and ended up in the arts, studying film and television at California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. Chan Is Missing
Chan Is Missing
Chan Is Missing is a 1982 film directed by Wayne Wang, which tells the story of two taxi drivers searching the streets of San Francisco's Chinatown for the man who ran off with their money. It stars Wood Moy, Marc Hayashi and Laureen Chew....
(1982) and Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart
Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart
Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart is a 1985 film directed by Wayne Wang.It is an American comedy film starring Laureen Chew, Kim Chew, Victor Wong, Cora Miao, and Joan Chen.-Plot:...
(1985) established his reputation. He is best known for The Joy Luck Club
The Joy Luck Club (film)
The Joy Luck Club is a 1993 American film about the relationships between Chinese-American women and their Chinese mothers. It is based on the 1989 novel of the same name by Amy Tan, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ronald Bass. The film was produced by Oliver Stone and directed by Wayne Wang...
(1993), Maid in Manhattan
Maid in Manhattan
Maid in Manhattan is a 2002 romantic comedy film directed by Wayne Wang about a hotel maid and a high profile politician who fall in love starring Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, and Natasha Richardson. It is based on a story by John Hughes who is credited using a pseudonym. The original music score...
(2002), and the independent features Smoke
Smoke (film)
Smoke is an American independent film released in 1995. It was produced by Hisami Kuroiwa, Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein and directed by Wayne Wang and Paul Auster...
(1995) and Anywhere but Here (1999). At the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
, Wang premiered two feature films, A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers is a 2007 drama feature film directed by Wayne Wang starring Yu Feihong, Henry O, Vida Ghahremani and Pasha Lychnikoff, adapted from the short story by Yiyun Li and shot on a high-end high-definition video camera...
and The Princess of Nebraska
The Princess of Nebraska
The Princess of Nebraska is a 2007 film directed by Wayne Wang. It stars Li Ling and Brian Danforth. It was adapted from a story by Yiyun Li.-Cast:*Li Ling as Sasha*Brian Danforth as Boshen*Minghua Tan as May*Zhi Hao Li as Driver...
, as well as appearing in the Arthur Dong
Arthur Dong
Arthur Dong is an Academy Award-nominated American documentary filmmaker. His work combines the art of the visual medium with an investigation of social issues, examining topics such as Asian American history and identity, and gay oppression...
documentary film Hollywood Chinese.
He won the Golden Shell
Golden Shell
The Golden Shell is the highest prize given to a competing film at the San Sebastián Film Festival. It was introduced in 1957. In 1953 and 1954, the highest prize had been called the Gran Premio. In 1955 and 1956 it was replaced by the Silver Shell...
at the San Sebastian Film Festival in September 2007 for A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers is a 2007 drama feature film directed by Wayne Wang starring Yu Feihong, Henry O, Vida Ghahremani and Pasha Lychnikoff, adapted from the short story by Yiyun Li and shot on a high-end high-definition video camera...
.
He is married to a former Miss Hong Kong, Cora Miao
Cora Miao
Cora Miao is a Chinese actress who worked predominantly in Hong Kong films. During her career she was nominated for four Hong Kong Film Awards and four Golden Horse Film Festival awards, winning one. She won Miss Photogenic award in Miss Hong Kong Pageant 1976. She is married to film director...
, and lives in San Francisco and New York City.
Director filmography
- A Man, a Woman, and a Killer (1975)
- Chan Is MissingChan Is MissingChan Is Missing is a 1982 film directed by Wayne Wang, which tells the story of two taxi drivers searching the streets of San Francisco's Chinatown for the man who ran off with their money. It stars Wood Moy, Marc Hayashi and Laureen Chew....
(1982) - Dim Sum: A Little Bit of HeartDim Sum: A Little Bit of HeartDim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart is a 1985 film directed by Wayne Wang.It is an American comedy film starring Laureen Chew, Kim Chew, Victor Wong, Cora Miao, and Joan Chen.-Plot:...
(1985) - Slam DanceSlam Dance (film)Slam Dance is a 1987 thriller directed by Wayne Wang and starring Virginia Madsen, Tom Hulce, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. It was screened out of competition at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival.-Plot:A married cartoonist named C.C...
(1987) - Dim Sum Take Out (1988)
- Eat a Bowl of Tea (1989)
- Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is ExpensiveLife Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is ExpensiveLife Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive is a 1989 film directed by Wayne Wang. It stars Cheng Wan Kin and John Chan. It won an award at the 1990 Rotterdam International Film Festival.-Cast:*Cheng Wan Kin as Duck Killer*John Chan as The Son In Law...
(1989) - Strangers (1991), Erotic film consisted of three shorts, co-directed by Joan TewkesburyJoan TewkesburyJoan Tewkesbury is an American film and television director, screenwriter, producer and actress. She had a long association with Robert Altman, writing two of his most acclaimed films, Nashville and Thieves Like Us...
and Daniel Vigne - The Joy Luck ClubThe Joy Luck Club (film)The Joy Luck Club is a 1993 American film about the relationships between Chinese-American women and their Chinese mothers. It is based on the 1989 novel of the same name by Amy Tan, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ronald Bass. The film was produced by Oliver Stone and directed by Wayne Wang...
(1993) - SmokeSmoke (film)Smoke is an American independent film released in 1995. It was produced by Hisami Kuroiwa, Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein and directed by Wayne Wang and Paul Auster...
(1995) - Blue in the FaceBlue in the FaceBlue in the Face is a 1995 comedy directed by Wayne Wang and Paul Auster. It stars Harvey Keitel, Victor Argo, Giancarlo Esposito, Roseanne Barr, Michael J. Fox, Lily Tomlin, Mira Sorvino, Lou Reed, Mel Gorham, Jim Jarmusch,and Malik Yoba....
(1995) - Chinese BoxChinese BoxChinese Box is a 1997 movie directed by Wayne Wang and starring Jeremy Irons, Gong Li, Maggie Cheung and Michael Hui.The movie is set and was made at the time of Hong Kong's handover to the People's Republic of China on June 30, 1997...
(1997) - Anywhere but Here (1999)
- The Center of the WorldThe Center of the WorldThe Center of the World is an American film directed by Wayne Wang, which was digitally shot and released in 2001. It stars Peter Sarsgaard as a Dot-com millionaire who hires a drummer/stripper to stay with him in Las Vegas for three days for US$10,000...
(2001) - Maid in ManhattanMaid in ManhattanMaid in Manhattan is a 2002 romantic comedy film directed by Wayne Wang about a hotel maid and a high profile politician who fall in love starring Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, and Natasha Richardson. It is based on a story by John Hughes who is credited using a pseudonym. The original music score...
(2002) - Because of Winn-DixieBecause of Winn-Dixie (film)Because of Winn-Dixie is a 2005 film adapted from the book of the same name by Kate DiCamillo and directed by Wayne Wang. It was produced by Walden Media and released by 20th Century Fox...
(2005) - Last Holiday (2006)
- A Thousand Years of Good PrayersA Thousand Years of Good PrayersA Thousand Years of Good Prayers is a 2007 drama feature film directed by Wayne Wang starring Yu Feihong, Henry O, Vida Ghahremani and Pasha Lychnikoff, adapted from the short story by Yiyun Li and shot on a high-end high-definition video camera...
(2007) - The Princess of NebraskaThe Princess of NebraskaThe Princess of Nebraska is a 2007 film directed by Wayne Wang. It stars Li Ling and Brian Danforth. It was adapted from a story by Yiyun Li.-Cast:*Li Ling as Sasha*Brian Danforth as Boshen*Minghua Tan as May*Zhi Hao Li as Driver...
(2008) - Chinatown Film Project (2009)
- Snow Flower and the Secret FanSnow Flower and the Secret Fan (film)Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a 2011 historical drama film based on the novel of the same name by the Chinese-American author Lisa See. Directed by Wayne Wang, the film stars Gianna Jun, Li Bingbing, Archie Kao, Vivian Wu, and Hugh Jackman....
(2011)
External links
- Interview with Wayne Wang October 2011 at subtitledonline.com