Producer says there's no formula for global success

"The first time Ang Lee pitched his story to me was the most boring, miserable and long-winded 45 minutes in my life," says James Schamus, senior producer, former CEO of Focus Features and a longtime work partner of Ang Lee's.

"But when he left, I told my partner, although it was a very painful experience just now, the man was actually not pitching his story. He has shot a complete film in his brain. He is a director."

Their first collaboration was Pushing Hands, Lee's first feature film. Over the next 20 years, they worked together on many more films, including Brokeback Mountain; Lust, Caution; Life of Pi and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.