Producers gathering at the new BABEL LABEL, aiming for world standard planning and development [Director's Interview Vol.215]

rising quality standards. Sense of crisis of not being able to survive domestically

Michigami: Speaking of overseas works, the creation of distribution platforms has made it possible to compare works from various countries. Then the difference in quality becomes obvious. As a result, I think the current situation is that the top rankings are Korean dramas. In that case, if we don't reach that level of quality, we won't be able to compete domestically. Without that, I feel like I won't be able to survive any longer.

Sezaki: The creation of the brand ``Korean drama'' is also really big.

Maeda: That's right. As a country, we have a system in place. I think number one is France and number two is South Korea.

Michigami: In the case of movies, things are changing rapidly, with distribution platforms providing money from the planning stage.

Q: I understand that it will be distributed on this distribution platform after it is released.

Maeda: Yes. If you can create one or two movies that people will say are really interesting, it will be easier to convey how important planning is, and if you provide examples of success, people will recognize you. I have no choice but to. That's what I want to aim for.

Goka: Studio Dragon's partnership with LINE* means that they are completely working on the original work. (*In May 2022, CJENM, Studio Dragon, and LINE Digital Frontier announced the establishment of a joint venture called Studio Dragon Japan (tentative name)). In Japan, publishers are incredibly strong, so in order to somehow break through their stronghold, companies, mainly in the tech industry, are trying to create original IP by introducing the webtoon method, which is a successful example in South Korea. You're doing it, aren't you?

Sezaki: I feel like anime, which is content that Japan is proud of, can be created without having to go through a publisher. It also has the advantage of being easily accepted because the content is also accepted overseas.

Maeda: On the other hand, one way might be to partner with a publisher and start creating content.

The four people had a heated discussion during the interview, which lasted less than an hour. As each of them said, ``We didn't have enough time at all. I want to talk more,'' we are sure that we will continue to have many discussions and repeat trial and error regarding the ``future of the film industry.'' BABEL LABEL's new phase has just begun.

Hiroko Maeda Maeda Koko Producer/Casting Producer

Representative director and producer of Alchemy Productions, a video planning and production company. While attending university, he utilized his language skills to work on concert tours for foreign artists such as Madonna, the Rolling Stones, and Michael Jackson, as well as the production of music programs, and later moved on to movies, TV dramas, PVs, and commercials. After meeting film director Shunji Iwai, he made his debut as a film producer with the theatrical film ``Swallowtail Butterfly'' in 1996.

[Representative works]

1996 "Swallowtail Butterfly" Shunji Iwai

2001 “All About Lily Chou-Chou” Shunji Iwai

2004 “Flowers and Alice” Shunji Iwai

2003 “2046” Wong Kar-wai

2004 “Kill Bill” Quentin Tarantino

2008 “Million Yen and Bitter Woman” Yuki Tanada

2015 “Hoshigaoka Wonderland” Sho Yanagisawa

2019 “Hikita-san! You are pregnant.'' Toru Hosokawa

2020 “The Brightest Roof in the Universe” Michito Fujii

Goka kimitaka planning producer

Born in Oji, Kita-ku, Tokyo in 1975. Joined TV Tokyo in 1998. Since then, he has produced numerous TV dramas, movies, and variety shows as a producer. In March 2020, he left TV Tokyo and started an entertainment company, Maroyaka Co., Ltd.

From 2022, he will also participate in the video group BABEL LABEL as a planning producer.

[Representative works]

■TV drama

Drama “Sa Michi” series “Video Girl VIDEO GIRL” series “1 Million Yen Women”

3DCG animation “April 1st House” series “Dead Stock” “Steam Sniper” etc.

■Movie

“Knitting a Boat” “The night sky is always the deepest blue” “LOVE! Masao-kun is going.”

“God Tank Kiss Endurance Championship THE MOVIE” series, etc.

As a member of the production committee, he has worked on ``Moteki'', ``Yokomichi Yonosuke'', ``Paikaji Nankai Operation'', etc.

■Others

Documentary “Soichiro Tahara’s Will” Series Variety “Yarigigi Cozy” “God Tongue” etc.

Hideto Sezaki Producer

Born on July 31, 1981. Since 2000, he has participated in many video works as a freelance production member. Joined ROBOT Co., Ltd. in 2017. Since then, he has produced movies and TV dramas as a producer. Joined BABEL LABEL in 2022.

[Representative works]

2018 “A company is not a school” ABEMA

2019 “Scum” MBS

2021 “Scoop and Look” Yukinori Makabe

2022 “10 years left to live” Michito Fujii

Takuya Michiue Producer

Born in 1978. The Graduate from Japan Film School (currently Japan Institute of the Moving Image) in 2000. Since then, he has been involved in numerous productions, mainly movies, as a production department member or line producer.

[Representative works]

2012 movie “BRAVE HEARTS Umizaru” directed by Eiichiro Hasumi

2013 movie “Eternal 0” directed by Takashi Yamazaki

2020 movie “The Spy’s Wife” directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa

2021 movie “Intolerance” directed by Keisuke Yoshida

2022 NETFLIX “The Journalist” Directed by Michito Fujii

Interview and text: SYO

Born in 1987. After The Graduate from Tokyo Gakugei University, he worked at a film magazine editorial production site and a film information site before becoming a film writer/editor. Works on a wide range of topics including interviews, reviews, columns, event appearances, and recommendation comments. Contributed to ``CINEMORE'', ``Cinema Cafe'', ``Soen'', ``FRIDAY Digital'', ``CREA'', ``BRUTUS'', etc. Twitter「syocinema」

Photography: Kazunari Aoki