Biography

Wayne Wang is a key figure in the development of independent filmmaking, alternating major Hollywood studio films such as »The Joy Luck Club« with smaller, independent work like »Smoke«. Continuing to work in the two different worlds, Wang directed an independent digital film, »The Center of the World«, with Molly Parker and Peter Sarsgaard, followed by Sony/Revolution's hit comedy »Maid in Manhattan« with Jennifer Lopez. His most recent effort, »Because of Winn-Dixie«, based on the children's novel by Kate DiCamilo, opened in 2005. His latest Hollywood film, »Last Holiday«, with Queen Latifah and Gerard Depardieu, was loosely based on a 1950 J.B. Priestly film of the same name.
- IMDb mini biography by: yusufpiskin

He has directed two films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Chan Is Missing (1982) and The Joy Luck Club (1993).

Was named after his father's favorite actor, John Wayne.

When polled by the AFI as to his favorite all-time film, Wang chose "The Kid" with Charlie Chaplin.

Member of the 'Official Competition' jury at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival in 2009.

(In response to negative reviews on The Center of the World (2001)): "I'm upset and depressed but feisty...it's almost like sex is something that nobody wants to deal with in an explicit way. I haven't seen anything other than Philip Kaufman who's out there exploring new territory. Nobody is doing it. At the same time pornography is going wild. Yet serious movies are not dealing with it."