Its not like [this award] is going to boost our DVD sales.
We had no commercial reason to stand up there today.
There was no business pitch.
Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
You see the precious, private moment in the performance.
Visually, its astonishing.
So I was aware of it.
[But] he saw the cut of it and he said, Lets do it.
He supported it.SCHAMUS:There was really no stress.
I dont want to be picking fights.
My philosophy is: I like to distribute movies, I dont like to create controversy.
Thats the way we are as a company: WithBrokeback, you never saw us onDatelinecalling anyone homophobic.
That said, Im going to fight very hard if there is pushback.
I think its incredibly hypocritical.
WithBrokebackwe were thrown out of a theater in Salt Lake that was showingHostel.
I was like, You guys are sick, and Im not going to sit back and take it.
But on the other hand I dont want to have a fight.
Lets just get the work done and roll up our sleeves on this.
So a lot of the groundwork was laid ahead of time with the theater owners.
We got to talk and hash things out with people in a really effective way.
What its opened up in the culture is just unbelievable.
[So] you had an Asian-American audience that was just desperate to see the film.
But in their wake they brought audiences from economic strata that was quite all over the place.
The film, as we knew, would play here more or less in strictly art-house, specialized theaters.
We didnt expect a breakout thing.
So for us we were very satisfied with the release, however modest it was.
It was a profitable venture for us.
So thank you, Ang.
That helps us make the next one.
It also means that youre opening doors for other people.
I dont think I shy away or keep pushing the envelope.
I desire to make movies the best they can.
I worked with him onUnleashedand hes a gem.
He was really nervous, kept asking if its okay.
They are open to many interpretations.
There is room for many Hulks.
Whats next?SCHAMUS:Were kind of playing around with a couple of things.
Hopefully something on the less heavy side.
Were going to go back to Angs early, funny movies.LEE:Ive made six tragedies in a row.
Whats wrong with me?
So the next movie will be a comedy?LEE:The material will tell me.
Its not that Im passive-aggressive, but the material just hits me and then I know.
Can you share any memories or thoughts about Heath Ledger?LEE:I miss him.
Hes a great talent and I wish we would have gotten to see more movies made with him.
All the memories we made while makingBrokeback Mountain, I treasure them.
My consolation is that I got to share with him a best part of life in the movies.
