A very tough part of the film making process is the very real fact that sometimes scenes that have been beautifully executed do not always make it to the final cut. Sometimes the material is so rare and beautiful that it upends the structure and the momentum you are trying to create (in this case the beginning of the 2nd act). This scene is a great example. Mulan is on her long journey to take her father’s place in the Army training camp when she encounters Xianniang, the witch, who has fallen from the sky and is entangled in the trees of a petrified forest. Both Gong Li and Yifei are extraordinary in a scene that is visually and emotionally both exquisite and disturbing. What a privilege to work with the iconic Gong Li, and witness such fierce commitment and fearlessness, let alone her rare beauty and power. I urge you to check it out in the DVD extras. It’s quite something. #mulan #disney #yifei_cc #loyalbravetrue