Disney’s <Mulan>, which tells the story of a female hero in 6th century China, has been boycotted due to its live-action film. This is because the actress who plays Mulan mentioned supporting the Hong Kong police’s brutality against the pro-democracy protesters. And a scene was filmed in Xinjiang, where detention camps that Uighurs have been detained are located. Disney is blamed for sitting on the sidelines and even justifying where human rights are being abused. The background of a work is also a part of it and can have an influence in evaluating a work. Therefore, a producer should consider its background more importantly when producing a work.
First, the contradiction between the message that the producer wants to convey and the external elements of the work decreases the quality of the work. This is because the audience cannot fully acquire or concentrate on the work. In order to fully deliver the meaning of the work, the producer must pay attention to the external elements of it. In the case of the movie <Mulan>, she joins the army instead of her weak father pretending to be a man. She overcomes physical limitations by working twice as hard as others, and is proudly recognized for her own strength and wins the war. On the contrary, Liu Yifei, who plays Mulan, left comments on Weibo in August last year, saying, "I also support Hong Kong police." and "What a shame for Hong Kong." This was in support of the suppression of those clamoring for democratization. It is paradoxical and unacceptable if the actor who plays a role of a character fighting against discrimination and oppression actually supports the abuse of human rights in reality.
Second, if the main target of the work is children, the producer needs to pay more attention to the external elements of the work. That’s because most adults don't identify real actors with fictional characters, but children lack the ability to distinguish fictional characters from real actors. Thus, if a character can be portrayed as a role model and a hero for children, it is necessary to cast actors more carefully. In addition, expressing gratitude for permission to shoot in places where human rights are being actively suppressed is an act of deceiving children who don’t understand or don’t know the situation. There is also a risk of glamorization and justification for such places and deeds. Considering these external elements of a work can be important for viewers to evaluate and consume the work, and the producer should care for their child viewers in the production process.
Internal elements of the work do not complete the work. The process in which it is produced also should be the part of the evaluation of the work, especially if it is related to ethical issues such as human rights. Once the external and internal elements of the work are unified, it brings about a mutual positive effect in which viewers can concentrate more on the work itself and the producer can fully convey their message. Thus, the producer must also be meticulous on its external elements. Through the boycott of <Mulan>, CAH hopes to create a culture where the external elements of film are valued in the film market.