
ABOUT
01
Synopsis
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.

ABOUT
02
From the Director
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, games that included his name became how most of us counted our days.
Baseball for breakfast became a regular routine. Some people had to work, some had to get to school, but we all found a way to watch. Our Grandparents, 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 as his name evokes a sense of nostalgia, whisking us 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 on-going, 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 upper 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 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.

ABOUT
03
Who is
Chien-Ming Wang?
Two time 19-Game Winner, American League Wins Leader, Ace of the New York Yankees, World Series Champion, TIME 100 Most Influential selection, Cy Young Award runner up, Olympian, an icon and a household name in Taiwan, Chien-Ming Wang had it all. But a base running incident in 2008 altered the course of his life and career. A foot injury and a major shoulder repair later, we found his velocity down with less life in his Sinkers as he struggled to stay on the Major League mound since 2011. Racing against time, he attempted his one last shot at returning to where he belonged.

ABOUT
04
What is Late Life?
So much can change during a baseball’s short journey from the pitcher’s mound to home plate.
“Late Life” is a commonly used term in baseball scouting reports describing the late movement of a pitch as it approaches home plate, usually caused by a rapid spin of the baseball.
The life of a sinker, a pitch that sinks and forces a groundball, begins at the release point of a pitcher and, if not for its late movement, would end up at a batter’s sweet spot. It is this late life that makes a perfect sinker, and it was Chien-Ming Wang’s specialty.
Going from the Independent League to the Major League, from being a starter to a reliever, from a superstar in his homeland to a journeyman in the States - Chien-Ming Wang is no stranger to movement. During the past four years he has traveled from one city to another, searching for one last chance at glory, sensing the end might be near.
The Chien-Ming Wang story, is the story of all of us. Before this documentary, you may only know about the late life in Chien-Ming Wang’s sinker. Hopefully after this, you will find the late life in yourself. For we all experience the rise and fall.
We can all change in the end.

ABOUT
05
The Team
FILM
Director
frank w chen
陳惟揚
Producer
frank w chen
陳惟揚
Hai-Tao Wu
吳海韜
Brian Yang
楊明燊
Co-Director
Tommy Chih-Wei Yu
游智煒
Director of Photography
Hai-Tao Wu
吳海韜
Cinematographer
Hai-Tao Wu
吳海韜
frank w chen
陳惟揚
Chen-Chih Chan
詹晨智
Tommy Chih-Wei Yu
游智煒
Editor
Amy Chih-Hsin Lee
李之心
Story Producer
Hui-Chuan Chan
詹惠娟
Associate Writer
Wen-Hao Winston Chou
周汶昊
Original Music
Shawn Sutta
Adam Robl
Company Credits
WEBSITE
Design / Art Direction
Fang Yi Chu
Development
Kai Shan Hsu
Major League Baseball footage and trademarks used with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. and MLB Advanced Media, L.P., as applicable. All rights reserved.
Minor League Baseball trademarks and copyrights appear with the consent of Minor League Baseball. Gwinnett Braves trademarks and copyrights used with permission. All rights reserved.
© 2018 WYC Motions, LLC. All rights reserved.