Gu Chang Wei was born in the Old Capitol of China, Xi’an. He was interested in the arts at an early age. He took up painting while at school and excelled at it. In 1978, his teachers encouraged him to apply at the Xian Art Institute but his true passion emerged when the Beijing Film Academy came the same year to recruit for prospective students. Fortunately for him, a few of the skills required for acceptance were drawing and painting. Already proficient in both of these mediums, Mr. Chang Wei was accepted immediately by the academy and began studying an art form that would later be his career.
Mr. Chang Wei has been nominated for an Academy Award on three separate occasions. He has won a Golden Globe Award and numerous other international prizes, including two Silver Frog awards for his creative contributions in the Art of Cinematography, which is presented only by the highest authority of professionals in the field of cinematography.
Some of his early work includes, Red Sorghum, Ju Duo and Life on a String. More recently, Mr. Chang Wei has filmed such popular films as, Farewell My Concubine, Hurly Burly, Autumn In New York and Gingerbread Man. Mr.Chang Wei continues to win awards for his work.
Mr. Chang Wei resides in Los Angeles, California where he lives with his wife, actress Wen Lee, whom he met while filming Farewell My Concubine. They have a son Maximilian who is two months old and the first United States citizen in the family.
Cinematographer:
All the Invisible Children (2005) (segment “Song Song and Little Cat”)
… aka Enfants invisibles, Les (France)
Autumn in New York (2000) (director of photography)
鬼子来了 (2000)
… aka Devils on the Doorstep (International: English title)
Hurlyburly (1998)
The Gingerbread Man (1998) (director of photography)
Last Chance Love (1997)
… aka Hong Kong – Eine Liebe fürs Leben (Germany)
Lanling wang (1995)
… aka Warrior Lanling (Hong Kong: English title)
阳光灿烂的日子 (1994)
… aka In the Heat of the Sun
大路 (1993)
… aka The Trail (Hong Kong: English title)
霸王别姬 (1993)
… aka Ba wong bit gei (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
… aka Farewell My Concubine (International: English title)
边走边唱 (1991)
… aka Life on a String
… aka Weissagung des Meisters, Die (Germany)
菊豆 (1990)
代号美洲豹 (1989)
… aka Codename Cougar
… aka Operation Cougar (Hong Kong: English title)
… aka The Puma Action
孩子王 (1987)
… aka King of the Children
红高粱 (1987)
… aka Red Sorghum
Director:
孔雀 (2005)
… aka Peacock (International: English title)
Actor:
孔雀 (2005) …. Blind man
… aka Peacock (International: English title)
Producer:
孔雀 (2005) (producer)
… aka Peacock (International: English title)
Self:
疯狂英语 (1999) …. Himself
… aka Crazy English (International: English title)