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Late Life: The Chien-Ming Wang Story

Chien-Ming Wang was a supernova in Taiwan. His success as the Ace of the New York Yankees rocketed him into a cult-like status on the island nation. His face was so ubiquitous and his impact so meaningful, that he was donned the title of “Pride of Taiwan” - a national honor he was never fully comfortable with. Wang, a man of quiet, humble disposition, never sought out the attention. All he wanted to do was play.
We find Chien-Ming now at age 35, bouncing around the Independent and Minor Leagues, a fallen icon. The film delves into his comeback attempts, his life between endless rehab programs, his lengthy and often lonely stints away from home and family, and the inner struggles and weight he carries on his injured shoulders. We follow him as he works towards a singular goal: to fight his way back into the Major Leagues.
How much dedication and persistence does it take to realize a dream? How much courage does it take to make it back to the mound? Late Life : The Chien-Ming Wang Story tracks an extraordinary journey of an ordinary man, of someone who fell from the top and is willing to fight his way back up again.

  • Frank W Chen
    Director
  • Brian Yang
    Producer
  • Frank W Chen
    Producer
  • Hai-Tao Wu
    Producer
  • Chien-Ming Wang
    Key Cast
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    後勁：王建民
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 39 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 30, 2018
  • Country of Origin:
    Taiwan
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    Chinese, English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • 55th Golden Horse Awards
    Taipei
    Taiwan
    November 9, 2018
    DOCUMENTARY, Nominee
Distribution Information
  • Activator Marketing Co., LTD
    Sales Agent
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: Internet, Pay Per View, Ship, Theatrical, Video / Disc, Free TV, Paid TV
Director Biography - Frank W Chen

Frank is a Taiwanese-Canadian artist living in New York City. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, his work spans many mediums, ranging from film production, to architectural design, to musical production. He is the writer/director of the documentary short “Torpid May – Own Way Back,” a film tracing an Asian-American band’s unique route back to Asia. He also served as a production designer on the 2012 major motion picture “Bad Girls,” featuring mega-stars Ella Chen of the band S.H.E, and Taiwanese actor Mike He. As an architectural designer, Frank’s experience includes working with internationally renowned architects Bernard Tschumi and Fxfowle in New York City, and MVRDV in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. As a singer/songwriter he has written numerous songs and performed in major festivals such as the Echo Music Festival, Rock for Hope, and the Spring Scream Festival - with appearances at Times Square and Union Square in 2013 celebrating his homeland of Taiwan.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

It’s not easy trying to tell the story of Chien-Ming Wang – a household name in Taiwan, a name that conjures up so much memory for so many people. Before him, “Major League Baseball” was just a meaningless phrase to most in Taiwan, but after him, the MLB games that included his name became how most of us counted our days.

Baseball for breakfast became a regular weekly routine. Some people had to work, some had to get to school, but we would all find a way to watch. Our Grandmothers, who knew nothing of the sport, were able to recognize him on TV - that’s how ingrained he had become into our culture. His performance on the field triggered an emotional sense of togetherness in us, and he became uniquely irreplaceable. To me his name evokes a sense of nostalgia, whisking me back to a better, simpler time.

To many, the Chien-Ming Wang story is exactly that: a thing of the past. But to me, it is ongoing, as we all have our own Chien-Ming Wang story. His life is representative of something beyond baseball. The “rise and fall” is a part of us all, and it stays with us as we continue our own journeys in life.

He and I first crossed paths in June, 2005 at the old Yankee Stadium on my first trip to New York City. That was the first time I ever saw him pitch, before he was donned the “Pride of Taiwan”. From the top deck looking down, I witnessed him standing at the center of the baseball universe. Although he was far away, the impression he left was anything but. As he stood on that mound I cheered for him; the whole world seemed to cheer for him.

The next time I saw him was in May, 2013, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, a small city that not many people have heard of, let alone been to. At this point he was struggling to get back into the Major Leagues, as a series of injuries had forced him to the minors and below. We had a mutual friend who he came to meet in a small rental car that barely contained his lanky frame. In a corner, we talked and shared a meal together. I learned of his reticence, his injuries, and his reluctance to be considered a hero. Afterwards, he squeezed his six-foot-four frame back into his tiny rental car. The impression he left this time wasn’t as grandiose, but it was much more vivid.

As the taillights disappeared into the night, the two impressions of him began a dialogue in my mind. Here was a man who once stood in the center of the world, and was now exiled to the edge of the universe. This became the catalyst to a story, and the origin of this film.

We all have our own Chien-Ming Wang story, and mine is probably different from yours. I wanted to tell my version of the story; to share with you the Chien-Ming Wang I saw. Through the film, I wanted to show you a life that not many people get to see.

With him, I went on an unknown journey through 21 cities. Follow me, and you will realize that his ongoing journey is still a part of you that never left.