“Mulan was shot almost entirely primarily in New Zealand. And in an effort to accurately portray some of the unique landscapes and geography of China for this historically dramatic part of the play, we shot the scenery at 20 different locations in China,” McCarthy told the conference. , Which took place virtually.
McCarthy said it was “common sense” that shooting in China requires permission from the government’s publicity departments, noting that “it is standard practice to accept film credits, national and local governments have allowed you to film there.”
“So in our credits, it got recognition, places in both China as well as New Zealand. And I’ll leave it at that,” he said. “But it raises a lot of issues for us.”
McCarthy did not elaborate on what those “issues” were, and Disney did not immediately respond to a request for further comment outside of US business hours.
In credit, the company accepted several Chinese government institutions. Outside Xinjiang’s capital, Urumqi, a city of about 3,633,000 people, the Xinjiang government’s propaganda department and public security and tourism bureaus for Tirpan: some of the red flags that were specially raised.
U.S. The Turpan Public Security Bureau has been listed by the government as an organization involved in “human rights violations and abuses” in the region.
Beijing has long defended the need to crack down on extremism and terrorism in Xinjiang, saying it is consistent with Chinese law and international practice, calling the allegations of large-scale detentions “baseless lies” and “sensational rumors.”
On Friday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the film’s note thanking the Xinjiang government for “facilitating” the film was “normal practice.”
“Xinjiang affairs and Hong Kong affairs are entirely China’s internal affairs,” spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters at a regular press briefing. “No foreign government, organization or individual has the right to interfere.”
The move by Disney to give credit to Chinese agencies received an immediate backlash. Critics demanded that Disney clarify its dealings with officials in Xinjiang, while some social media users called on people to boycott the film.
On Thursday the analyst asked if she thought the controversy would affect the film’s performance, McCarthy denied.
“I’m not a box office forecaster [or] Progressivist, “he said.” But I will say that it has caused a lot of publicity. ”
Earlier this week, McCarthy told investors at a separate conference that the studio was “very pleased” with the initial response to the film’s release over the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Opening in China
The film was embroiled in controversy even before it was released.
On Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao praised Liu, calling him a “modern-day visitor.”
“I want to give him a thumbs up. He did a good job,” Zhao said.
But arguably the most important test for “Mulan” is its theatrical entry into mainland China this weekend.
China is home to the world’s second largest box office fee and is a crucial market for Disney. Analysts say the storyline of the film has been determined in the country and a new remake of the international cast, with an ethnic Chinese star, “Mulan” tailored to the audience there.
But it is also not clear whether Mulan will succeed in mainland China, where many grow up learning about the traditional legend of Hua Mulan, who disguised himself as a man and took his father’s place in the military.
On China’s most popular film rating website Dub On Na, “Mulan” is rated 4.7 out of 10 – lower than other Disney live-tit titles such as “Cinderella” and “Maleficent”.
Harold Lee, a 29-year-old software engineer in Shanghai, said he saw the film on Friday and came back disappointed.
He told CNN Business, “Disney’s interpretation is full of stereotypical traps.” I don’t think the Chinese audience will buy. [it]”
That sentiment was echoed by many users who raised the issue with the accuracy of the conspiracy.
However, some Chinese viewers expressed their approval on social media, saying the film was “not as bad as some critics say.”
According to Chris Fenton, former president of DMG Entertainment, a Beijing-based global media company, this has been difficult to pull off from the start.
He said he was adopting a myth close and dear to China, and then taking an iconic American company like Disney and making it Hollywood-Eyes.
“In potential circumstances, you make feathered fish where it doesn’t succeed in both markets. For Americans it’s ‘multi-Chinese’ or for the Chinese it’s ‘multi-American’. It’s very difficult to operate in both countries.”
– Selena Wang, Ben Westcott, Sereni Wang and Laura He contributed to this report.
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