Japan's indie film industry reeling
TOKYO - Kaoru Ikeya, check out his documentary on China's Cultural Revolution, Daughter from Yan'an. Set for release in November.
Quote ----Kaoru Ikeya: "I had spent close to five years on the documentary and had to take an enormous gamble," said Ikeya of the film that focuses on the woman's search for her birth parents, former Red Guards who had abandoned her on the day she was born.
"Japan just does not nurture small filmmakers like most other countries do," said Ikeda, who heads Ren Universe Inc, a production company.
Yadacity word up, it’s no secret that Japan's independent film industry is at a crossroads.
Young Japanese directors face a difficult situation, facing a lack of capital in an investor environment that shuns risk-taking.
This, in turn, leads to a film market that is increasing relying on proven sequels, remakes, or films based on popular manga cartoons and television dramas.
Money-money-money: the economic recession has contributed to the gloomy picture. Directors are finding it almost impossible to secure loans because banks are saddled with debt and lack experience in film financing.
"The heyday of Japanese movies is gone," lamented Seiya Araki, head of the Japan Filmmakers Association, a conglomeration of independent filmmakers. "Gone are the days of big names such as [Akira] Kurosawa, who won international recognition as artistic directors in the '60s. Today, the [Japanese film industry] is bogged down with bland, predictable productions that play second fiddle to Hollywood."
Indeed, the Japanese film industry used to churn out more than 65 percent of annual film releases, but this has now dwindled to 30 percent.
WE ARE ALL ONE BREATH and yadacity is still breathing!
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