One of the highlights of 2017 was when women decided they’ve had enough of people like Harvey Weinstein and spoke about the rampant sexual harassment and abuse happening in the film industry and in the workplace. Women have united and stood up for each other as they say “Time’s Up!” to sexual assault, harassment and inequality in the workplace.
Long before the news about the allegations against Weinstein broke out, the American film producer reigned in Hollywood and was considered as one of the most powerful men in the movie world. But as powerful as he may be, he wasn’t able to make renowned Japanese film director and animator Hayao Miyazaki bow down to his wishes.
According to Metro, Weinstein has a reputation of adding “personal, possibly unwanted, touches to his films” and demanding movie cuts that earned him the nickname “Harvey Scissorhands”.
Back when Weinstein was handling the US release of Studio Ghibli’s “Princess Mononoke,” he wanted to edit down the masterpiece to his own liking but Miyazaki and his team clearly wasn’t having it. Miyazaki said in a 2005 interview with The Guardian that his producer sent Weinstein a samurai sword to send a message about his demand for cuts.
“Actually, my producer did that. Although I did go to New York to meet this man, this Harvey Weinstein, and I was bombarded with this aggressive attack, all these demands for cuts,” Miyazaki told The Guardian.
Attached to blade was the message: “No cuts.”
Miyazaki was even smiling when he recalled that victorious moment, saying “I defeated him”. And yes, he did. Harvey backed down and Princess Mononoke was released in the US without cuts.
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