The Guide to Japanese Film Industry & Co -Production - UNIJAPAN

Chapter 2
Co-production System in Japan Development of Co-production System and Its Structure
by Hong Kong and China in 2004. This treaty allowed the entry of Hong
Kong films to the Chinese market without being restricted under the
import quota on imported film. As films of any country may enter the
Chinese market through co-production with Hong Kong, the international
co-production of films between Hong Kong and other countries has
increased. Furthermore, the number of co-production films between
China and Hong Kong has also been following an increasing trend. While
the film market in China is still not big at the moment, expectations are
high that it will develop into a gigantic market in the near future together
with its economic development. As such, countries of the Chinese-speaking
regions such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia are thought
to further enhance their ties with China. In addition, the number of joint
projects between Korea and China is also increasing since the film market
in Korea is small despite its high level of film planning, development and
production skills, as well as because Korea has seen a limit in the Japanese
film market. These governments are also actively providing support for
international co-production of films in their countries. In Korea, Korean
Film Council (KOFIC) actively supports the promotion of Korean films
and co-productions with Korean filmmakers. In China, China Film Co-
Production Corporation serves as a central body for acknowledging
international co-production of films as a national policy.
The Japanese industry, on the other hand, has not been too eager
about international co-productions mostly because it is the second largest
film market in the world. In recent years, however, Japan has shifted its gear
as it can be seen in UNIJAPAN initiative J-Pitch, a support program for
international co-production launched in 2006 with the support of Japan’s
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. J-Pitch seeks film projects with
international co-production potential and helps Japanese film producers
participate at international project markets including among all those in
Cannes, Pusan and Berlin.
The interest in international co-production of films has been growing
gradually in Japan partly because of the support offered by the government.
However, the stance taken by the Japanese film industry for co-production
is generally one of the following two. Major film companies are showing a
more conservative stance as they maintain a stable share in the domestic
market and do not have much need to venture out into other overseas
markets. In addition, they are passive about the international co-productions
as there are few successful cases of international co-productions that Japan
was involved in as well as skeptical about the credibility of the international
co-production project partners.
On the contrary, the producers with projects of strong storyline
and companies for independent films that face difficulty in the domestic
market are more eager for international co-production of films. The areas
and genres of involvement is also starting to expand, including investment
to the directors of artistic films such as Jia Zhang Ke (China), Abbas
Kiarostami (Iran) and Kim Ki-Duk (Korea), as well as entertainment films
such as A Battle of Wits and Red Cliff.
3. Trying to Define International Co-production
There is no clear-cut definition of international co-production in Japan.
J-Pitch program recognizes projects as international co-productions if
there is the participation of more than one country to invest in the film
and the participation of a Japanese producer in the project. In Japan
international co-productions take on various forms and a number of factors
must be considered and included when creating its definition. These factors
would be for instance, co-production of several countries, investment of
several countries in a well-known director or in a project which surely has
a potential of becoming a success. In the past, Oshima Nagisa directed In
the Realm of the Senses with the investment of a French company. Both the
cast and crew were Japanese, but the film nationality was French. Oshima
has since directed a number of international co-productions including
Max mon amour and Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence. Similarly, Kurosawa
Akira has also directed such works as Dersu Uzala, Ran and Dreams with
investments from several countries. These are cases of international capital
investment to allow the esteemed directors of Japan to shoot films, but
there are many other works that have been produced as international coproduction.
4. Works Recognized as Co-production in Japan
Three Patterns and Recent Cases
¡Pattern 1: Producers, cast and crew from several countries are involved in a film
invested by those countries.
list of recent major works
A Battle of Wits 2006; invested by China, Hong Kong, Korea and Japan;
cast includes Chinese, Korean and Hong Kong actors
Crossing Over 2007; invested by China and Japan;
cast includes Nakai Kiichi and Miao Pu
Dream 2008; invested by Korea and Japan;
cast includes Odagiri Joe
hana kage 2007; invested by Japan and Korea;
cast includes Kim Rae Won and Yamamoto Mirai
Last Life in the Universe 2003; invested by Thailand, the Netherlands, France, Singapore
and Japan; starring Asano Tadanobu
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