New Ang Lee movie "Life of Pi" to meet Chinese audience

Oscar-winning director Ang Lee's first foray into 3D, "Life of Pi", will soon meet the Chinese audience. And on Wednesday, Ang Lee returned to his birthplace Taiwan with the film's lead actor Suraj Sharma to promote the much-awaited movie.

Ang Lee's latest movie "Life of Pi" is based on the novel of the same name by Canadian writer Yann Martel. It tells the tale of a young boy named Pi, who is the only person to survive a sinking cargo ship. He finds himself on a lifeboat with a zebra, an orangutan, a Bengal tiger and a hyena.

Ang Lee said he was nervous throughout the four-year shoot about ensuring the $100 million art house movie had general appeal.

However he has received positive reviews so far.

Lee said, "Watching an art house film you can think and explore philosophical issues, but for a popular film we also need to make the audience feel touched, and that was the most difficult part."

The majority of the film was shot in Taiwan. The director drafted in a 150-member team from around the world, including experts in 3D, animation and visual art. A large water tank was built at a studio in Taichung, in central Taiwan.

Lee said, "I haven't seen anyone do well making realistic water in 3D, so I built up a water tank and tried my best to create something different. It was like doing an experiment in a laboratory. I worked with a group of 3D visual artists, great animation designers from the movie 'Titanic' and 'Water War' and we have made some very creative animation in 3D. "

"Life of Pi" stars Suraj Sharma. For the 19-year old, being part of the movie has been life-changing. He says he was lucky to be chosen by Ang Lee to star in the film and has learned a lot from him.

Actor Suraj Sharma said, "What makes him special, at least for me, is the fact that he is a great director but more than that he is a great human being. I got lucky because he chose me and showed me no matter how big you get, as long as you keep your feet on the ground everything will be OK."

The film is scheduled to hit the big screen in the Chinese mainland on November the 22nd.