Fans protest Disney's editing of Asian films
Alliance gains over 9,000 signatures for online petition

By Wendy Kan
(Variety, November 11-17, 2002)
http://www.variety.com

HONG KONG -- Tired of watching films "butchered" by American
distributors, U.S.-based Asian movie buffs are demanding that Disney
stop altering Hong Kong films they distribute.

On its web petition, the Alliance for the Respectful Treatment of Hong
Kong Films appeals to Disney and its subsidiaries, Miramax and
Dimension Films, to stay true to the original when it comes to
dialogue, musical scores, footage, storylines and movie titles. More
than 9,000 people have signed the online petition.

"We do not believe that any of the following reasons is appropriate
for removing footage: to shorten the running time, to increase the
ratio of action to dialogue, to lessen the 'Asian' influence in order
to westernize, to change the pacing of a film, or to censor," the
Appeal to Disney for Respectful Treatment of Asian Films reads. "This
list is not all-inclusive, but represents some aspects that we are
concerned have or may in future cause cuts during film re-editing at
Disney subsidiaries."

Among the more high profile Hong Kong movies that have gone under the
knife is the box office wonder from last year, "Shaolin Soccer."
Miramax reduced the comedic action hit from 111 minutes to 86 minutes
and dubbed it in English, though it refrained from changing the title
to "Kung Fu Soccer" for its release outside Hong Kong and Thailand.
It opened in France in August, and will open in the U.S. next April.

Reacting to the Alliance's mission, Woody Tsung, chief executive of
the Hong Kong Motion Picture Industry Association, says, "Like
anywhere, Hong Kong directors naturally prefer that their version
remains intact but for those with commercial ambitions, they realize
that the U.S. distributor often knows the market best."

To boost its arguments, the Alliance cites the success of companies
that release films without cuts, such as U.K.-based Hong Kong Legends
and Columbia TriStar, which has distributed movies such as "Once Upon
a Time in China" (I-III), "Gen-X Cops," "Tokyo Raiders," "Time and
Tide" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

The Alliance is also enlisting film purists to boycott Disney DVDs
and to write a letter to the company airing their complaints. Through
its subsidiaries, Disney has distribution rights to dozens of Hong
Kong contemporary and classic films, both released and unreleased.
Among them are "Chungking Express" and "Fist of Legend."

"The purpose of our campaign is not merely to complain and to tarnish
the name of Disney," writes Eric Clark, one of the projects'
organizers, in a separate letter to Disney on the website. He goes on
to say that he simply wants viewers to enjoy films "as they were
meant to be seen."

P.S. the petition can be signed at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/warthkf/petition.html