'It was incredible that [Nicole Kidman] believed in my vision enough to help make sure that I was supported by the studio.'
The Big Picture The Farewell director Lulu Wang unveiled part of her next project at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. Rather than return to the big screen with another feature film, Wang opted to take on a production that’s the equivalent of six movies. She’s the creator behind the upcoming Prime Video limited series Expats.
PERRI NEMIROFF: I know that initially you passed on the project. Why did you pass and what changed that made you think it was worth making the series commitment? WANG: I wasn't expecting The Farewell to reach as many people as it did. I think there’s always fears of there being lots of expectations and then, “Can I only do this one thing that was so personal?” It was really based on my own life and I'm very autobiographical, and so how do I tell other stories that are still personal even though they are not autobiographical? So those were some of the questions that I was asking.
I know making this your way was very important to you and important to making the decision to commit. Having gone through this process and gotten that, what is something you would recommend for another filmmaker seeking the same thing, seeking that same support from a major company and also the producers and other people around them?