A Chinese movie star is using his fame for a good cause by starring in an “adrenaline-fueled’ animated-short film about “human trafficking and sexual exploitation that have plagued the country, and for Asia, for decades.” (Ben Blanchard, Reuters) Zhang Hanyu, China’s newest critically acclaimed film star, who just won a Chinese Academy Award, lent his voice to the serious film “Intersection,” which will be shown on MTV China this weekend.
Thai and English versions will be broadcast on MTV’s Southeast Asia channels as well, and other versions are being planned. The film is from the perspective of 5 characters including a brothel owner, a trafficker and a victim. Designed in Anime style, filmmakers hope the format will be something young people can relate to.
“I hope the animation will stir meaningful conversations among youth about how we can fight against the tragic form of modern-day slavery,” Zhang told the press. “Intersection” is produced by MTV EXIT’s (End Exploitation and Trafficking) campaign, which is connected to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to raise awareness on the subject. “We’re using a different medium, animation, to alert young people about the risks of human trafficking,” Olivier Carduner, USAID’s Mission Director for Asia, said.
Drug and human trafficking is a massive problem in the region. The United Nations estimates that out of 2 million women and children who are trafficked every year, a whopping 30 percent are in Asia. The Chinese government has turned to harsh punishments for these crimes, including the death penalty. A recent high profile news case of the two American journalists, Euna Lee and Lisa Ling, were arrested after crossing the North Korean border into China to report on human trafficking.
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