Journey to the Oscars: The Inspiring Journey of Life of Pi's Director

This is a tale of a young boy who had aspirations of becoming a filmmaker. He had a strong desire to pursue his passion and applied to the University of Illinois to study film.

However, his father disapproved of this decision and instead encouraged him to become a professor, citing the unpredictable nature of the entertainment industry. His father highlighted that every year, 50,000 performers compete for 200 roles on Broadway.

Despite his father's wishes, the young boy refused to abandon his dream and set out on a journey to the United States. Unfortunately, this decision caused a rift in their relationship, and they rarely communicated in the years that followed.

After completing his film education, the young man was eager to establish himself in the industry. But as time passed, he realized that his father's words about the challenges of working in the film world were true.

Despite his aspirations, the next six years proved to be a struggle as he took on various low-level jobs and attempted to advance his career with little success. One such attempt involved pitching a screenplay to over 30 production companies, yet despite his best efforts, he was repeatedly rejected.

As the old Chinese proverb goes, "At thirty, one stands firm." However, upon reaching this milestone, the young man found himself lacking a strong footing in life.

He got married to a former classmate from college and began a family, but they encountered financial difficulties. The man struggled with the guilt and doubt that accompanied his inability to provide for his family, causing him to question whether he should abandon his aspirations. His wife worked for a small pharmaceutical research laboratory, providing the family with a modest income.

In return, he shouldered the household responsibilities, such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for their son. Additionally, he spent his time reading, writing scripts, and reviewing films.

Despite the young man's efforts, his in-laws believed his way of life was unbecoming for a man his age and would offer money to their daughter, hoping he would open a Chinese restaurant. Nonetheless, his wife refused to accept the money. Upon discovering this, the man spent countless nights pondering his existence until he ultimately determined that his dream was unattainable.

He joined a computer class at a nearby community college hoping to secure a job, but this choice left him feeling disheartened. Over the next few weeks, his wife noticed his peculiar behavior and eventually learned of the reason behind it.

One morning, as he was preparing to leave for work, his wife offered him much-needed words of encouragement. "Don't forget your dream," she said, recognizing his wavering faith. "So many people are already in the field of computers, they don't need you. If you truly desire to achieve your goal, you must stay committed to your dream."

After his wife left, the young man tore up his class schedule, reigniting the passion that had faded due to the demands of life, all thanks to his wife's inspiring words.

Ang Lee spent several years trying to sell his movie ideas to Hollywood studios, but unfortunately, none of them were accepted. Despite experiencing disappointment after disappointment, Lee remained determined to see his vision realized and decided to make his films with limited funds if necessary.

Eventually, his hard work paid off and his films gained recognition in the industry, leading to him receiving international acclaim for several of his works. In his home country of Taiwan, he entered a screenplay contest with two of his screenplays and ended up winning both first and second place.

He was offered a chance to direct a movie about Chinese martial arts in 1999. He was thrilled and gathered a team from different countries, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, China, and the US.

The movie, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," was released in 2000 and became a box office hit in various countries, including the US. It was the highest-grossing foreign language film. Furthermore, it won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

In 2005, Ang Lee directed "Brokeback Mountain," a romantic drama featuring two cowboys who fall in love. The movie received critical acclaim and Ang Lee earned his first Academy Award for Best Director as a result. He repeated this achievement in 2012 with his movie, "Life of Pi." Ang Lee's story is one of bravery, belief in oneself, and persistence. He acknowledges that in life, we encounter failure and obstacles, but it's important to not give up on one's dreams.

In times of adversity, we must be courageous, hold on to our dreams even if no one else believes in them, and continue striving towards our goals. We can realize our dreams by persevering through challenging times and setbacks.