BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN - LEE TO SERVE AS CULTURE CONSULTANT FOR 2008 OLYMPICS

LEE TO SERVE AS CULTURE CONSULTANT FOR 2008 OLYMPICS

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN director ANG LEE has been selected as an arts and culture consultant for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games to be held in China. The 51-year-old Oscar winner will advise a creative team headed by fellow director ZHANG YIMOU that also includes STEVEN SPIELBERG. Gay cowboy romance Brokeback Mountain was banned in China because homosexuality is still not widely accepted, although the film was popular on pirated DVD. Lee became a huge star in China in 2001 when he was nominated for an Oscar for CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON. Although Lee was born in southern Taiwan, he is viewed on the mainland as a native son.