Chan with four protagonists in American Dreams in China at a Beijing promotion. Jiang Dong / China Daily

Q+A

If you could talk to a former great in your industry, who would you choose and why?

Alfred Hitchcock, because my father likes him a lot. I would love to introduce my father to him.

If you could take one book or movie to an island, which would it be?

For the book I would take Big River, Big Sea - Untold Stories of 1949 (by Taiwan writer Lung Ying-tai about those who escaped to Taiwan after Kuomintang lost the Civil War from 1945-49).

The movie I would take to the island would be a film adaptation of the book, one directed by myself.

Of what are you proudest?

Being a film director.

What would you do if you weren't a director?

I wouldn't choose another profession at all.

If you could change one thing about your looks or character, what would it be?

I would like to change how tall I am, because it is one of the factors that influenced my personality, growth and confidence.