It wasn’t that hard to transition because in the six years that I didn’t act I gave birth to two movies and two children. And after I’d given birth and raised my kids – not raised, they’re really young – and directed movies, I felt I’d become a better actress because I don’t have the urgency to prove [myself]. And also I’m more conscientious as an actress. I won’t waste people’s time. I won’t bitch. I won’t complain because I understand how hard it is by being a director. So it’s all good.”
On Being a Director and Working with First-Time Director Alice Wu on “Saving Face:” “I do sometimes sit there and say, “Where would I put the camera now?,’ or ‘Would it be better if I speak closer?’ Sometimes I amuse myself and pass time that way maybe, but it’s never to second guess the director. And I would never offer advice without the person asking for it. I, in general, don’t believe in giving advice, actually, as a human being I don’t.
With Alice, I liked her the first time I met her. She wrote a great script and she tried for five years to have it made. I know that she shot this movie in her head many times already. It’s deeply personal to her and it’s her virgin work, and there is something so precious about it. The movie was made because of her sheer drive to have it made. There is no other reason that this movie could have been made. Her determination was the only thing. I remember how I made my first film so I relate to that and I admire that passion. I want to help her in which ever way she needs me to be.
As an actress I find the most enjoyable part of acting is really just to please the director. I just want to please my director. I want to help her complete her vision. And often times you can’t have that pleasure because you test the water a little bit and you feel, ‘Oh my God, I can’t do this.’ You are unwilling to surrender yourself to the director or hand yourself over to the director, and then the whole acting experience would not be enjoyable. With Alice I did that and everything was fine, was good. I’m not saying that we agree all the time, but I know that I’m okay, that I can trust her. And that’s the most important thing.”
Joan Chen on the Difficulties of Shooting with a Small Budget: “For me it wasn’t difficult but I think it was very difficult for the director. Everything actually needed more time. But as far as acting is concerned, sometimes it’s easier because I didn’t sit there waiting two hours for the lighting. We could actually, once we get going, we could do a scene in a short time.”
Developing a Relationship with Her Onscreen Daughter: “I think we hit it off very easily. And [Michelle Krusiec’s] very good at imitating people and she would imitate me all the time and make me laugh. That was fun. Among the cast, and Alice - all these women - there was not one difficult one and that’s why it’s kind of happy. When you’ve got a difficult one then sometimes it can get very strange. But we happen to really hit it off. It’s not hard at all.”
Joan Chen’s Take on Her Character’s Attitude Toward Lesbians: “Actually my take on Ma was that she didn’t really think being gay was right or wrong. I think what’s the most important thing for any mother is whether or not my children are going to be happy. And once I knew she had this tendency, she didn’t have a good comprehension of what that is. She just knew her daughter’s chance at happiness is shot. And that cannot happen because [she thought], ‘I had all my dreams on her. I never had any happiness in my life. I just want to raise her so that she is an exemplary Chinese daughter and she has her happiness. And now I realize that chance at happiness is gone. It disappeared with this fact. I wanted to nip it in the butt. I want to marry you out. You can’t be a lesbian.’ So it is not really an attitude toward a lesbian. …My interpretation of that really is your fierce and savage love for your children. All motherly love is really without reason and logic. It’s totally savage and that’s an act out of love.”
