A large chunk of big films relies on international markets to earn their major source of revenue. Big budget Hollywood films need one country to release their films every year, that country is China. Though China is a big market for Hollywood, there is a certain problem which, they need to deal with every time their film releases in the country.
What is that problem? China has a strict censorship body that is conscious of the way, the country is depicted in Hollywood films. If they find it to be inappropriate, a film’s release comes in jeopardy. Considering this, Hollywood is taking a drastic measure this year.
The desire to please Beijing has led to Hollywood self-censoring their films as per a report from Pen America, an anti-censorship group. Further, the report states that screenwriters, directors, and producers are making changes to films so that the Chinese censor board does not get offended.
These drastic actions have led to the removal of the Taiwanese flag from Tom Cruise’s jacket in the upcoming, Top Gun: Maverick and removing China as a hub of Zombie in 2013’s World War Z.
As weird as it may sound to you, but this is what’s happening right now. Now, this also means that Hollywood films will have to be careful while portraying sensitive topics like Tibet, Taiwan, Hong Kong politics, Xinjiang, and the portrayal of LGBTQ characters as per the report.
If Hollywood film producers don’t take these actions, what will happen? For first, their films will get blacklisted from China and the cost will have to be borne by other films too, not intended to release in China. A peculiar problem indeed.
Well, Pen America brought this issue to light, so that people can know the restrictive censorship practices in China. They pose harm to freedom of speech. In fact, Pen is a global organization that speaks out for protecting the freedom of expression of writers and artists worldwide.
The issue with China’s censorship is deep, it means that if Hollywood is bowing down to China then film producers from other parts of the world, will have to follow their path soon.