Director Ang Lee gestures at a press conference for his new film "Taking Woodstock" on Monday, October 5, 2009, in Taipei, Taiwan. [tungstar/sina.com]

Director Ang Lee was advised to smoke marijuana in order to grasp the feeling of the drug-users featured in his latest film "Taking Woodstock", but he resisted.

Before shooting began Lee was concerned about this aspect of the project, and some co-workers gave him the suggestion, said Lee during promotion for the film in Taipei on Monday.

Even his wife and son suggested he try, but he says he "refused, in order to maintain [his] role as a stern father."

However, he admitted he used to try when he was at college in the United States.

Lee says he hopes to examine the value of innocence and happiness through comedy, and doesn't care about box office incomes.

With his past films focusing on various subjects, the Oscar-winning director explained that he needs excitements in his life, and so does the audience.

According to earlier reports, Ang Lee's next project will be an adaptation of "Life of Pi", a fantasy adventure novel by Canadian writer Yann Martel.