In a recent award ceremony, Jon M. Chu, the director of ‘Wicked’, shared profound insights about courage and the moral dilemmas faced by individuals when speaking out against injustice.
Jon M. Chu Discusses the Courage to Speak Out
As Jon M. Chu, director of Wicked and its upcoming second part, accepted an award from the Motion Picture Association this week, he emphasized the significance of courage and the tendency to weigh the risks of speaking out.
The Heart of the Story
In front of an audience comprising lawmakers, journalists, and lobbyists, Chu stated, “The story of Wicked encompasses many themes — friendship, truth, power — but it fundamentally revolves around a pivotal decision made by one character, Elphaba. She stands up alone, despite her fears and the cruelty directed towards others. Not only does she confront power, but she also resists the advice of friends who urge her to tone down her stance and compromise her core values for the sake of comfort. She chooses to sacrifice her own dreams to uphold what she believes is right.”
Moral Heroes and Personal Reflection
He continued, “Throughout storytelling history, we have admired moral heroes who refuse to back down, from Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird to George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life. I resonate with these characters because we all wish to believe that, when faced with difficult choices, we would embody the courage of Atticus or Elphaba. However, if we are honest, most of us, including myself, are more like Glinda. We weigh the risks of speaking out and often choose the safer path. We desire to do what is right but fear losing what we have. Fortunately, heroism is not a finite resource; it holds value regardless of when we choose to act. As my daughter wisely said, ‘You don’t gain courage until after you face your fears, Dad.’”
The Political Context
While Chu did not mention Donald Trump or delve deeply into politics, his comments resonate in a climate of corporate caution regarding the risks of opposing the White House and the complexities of public dissent.
In Hollywood, Trump has threatened investigations into celebrity endorsements of Kamala Harris, urged the FCC to revoke broadcast licenses from certain media companies, and recently labeled Tom Hanks, one of Hollywood’s most cherished actors, as “woke” and “destructive.”
Comcast, Universal’s parent company, has also faced scrutiny from Trump’s FCC chairman Brendan Carr over its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, which the company has promoted by referencing Wicked.
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Celebrating Courage in the Industry
The MPA event, hosted by chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin, highlighted lawmakers from both parties who have defended the industry on issues such as piracy and copyright, typically garnering bipartisan support. Honorees included Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), who sent a video message in lieu of attending in person. The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center was also recognized, with Ivan J. Arvelo accepting the honor.
Chu connected acts of courage to the creative process and studio support, stating, “I believe that creation is an act of courage. It requires more than a leap of faith; it’s akin to jumping out of a plane without a parachute and trusting that you will devise a way to build one before you land.”
He concluded, “Courage can be contagious. As members of the MPA, you embody this spirit daily as you advocate for the people in this industry. As filmmakers, we recognize this too. Witnessing someone dare to operate at their highest creative capacity inspires us to push further and dream bigger, often beyond our perceived limits.”
Chu was later interviewed about the creative process by Kristen Welker, the moderator of Meet the Press.
