"Winny" Producer Kanayama Routine only produces shrinkage [Director's Interview Vol.298]

Routine only produces shrinkage.

Q: I feel that Mr. Kim has a passion for movies, but at the same time he also has a logical and business perspective. How is that balanced?

Kim: I have the impression that many people involved in film are very passionate about their work and are creative. On the other hand, there are many people in general companies who think about things objectively. I want to be that bridge. By doing so, new synergies may emerge. I want to approach movies from the perspective of how to produce business. Since KDDI is not a movie company, it is easy to try it out without being bound by industry rules and customs. It would be great if it could become a hit in business or in movies. When an industry is growing, I think it is an important process to establish a routine for business flows, but when the industry is not growing, routines only result in shrinkage. I think we need to make changes in businesses other than movie profits, such as DX.

Q: In that sense, it is extremely important to add value to movie funding.

Kim: I think that's important. When you make a movie, everyone gets absorbed in making it, but the people involved in business production need to work together to figure out how to spread the movie. The goal is not to "create a good work," but how to create a business model and spread its value, not only in Japan but also overseas and in other media. When the Window Strategy* came out, I thought it was a great business model. But now each window itself is shrinking and changing. Under such circumstances, is it really enough to just rely on a window strategy? Companies that are doing well will continue to do so, but companies that are not doing well will not be able to survive unless they change. We all tend to focus our passion on creating works, but I think it's also important for people who look at things from a bird's-eye view to understand and expand on the work. The film industry is said to be a village society, but I think the more people and companies that are not in the village get involved, the more Being There will open up.

*: A strategy in which one piece of content appears in multiple media at different times.

“Winny” (C)2023 Movie “Winny” Production Committee

Q: Now that Netflix has joined the market, there is a gradual increase in the number of people turning their attention to overseas markets.

Kim: We should move more rapidly in that direction. I think we should do more planning and production not just for the domestic market but also for the global market. South Korea has a global perspective, has great support from the country, and has successfully expanded its movies and K-POP globally. This became a role model, and a structure was created in which more people aspired to that role. I hope Japan will do the same. It remains to be seen what role KDDI can play in this situation, but I think that being involved in distribution this time will be a great reference. We don't do everything from 1 to 100, but we only succeed when we work with partners who cooperate with us. We would like to form partnerships with more companies and move forward. It's difficult to make every movie a hit, but when a big hit emerges, you can use it as a role model.

Q: It seems that Japanese films can have a good future depending on how they move.

Kim: Of course, I think there is great potential. South Korea is a clear example. Globalization has progressed because the domestic market is small. I think I was successful because there was no other way. In Japan, there are many options within the country, so it is difficult to go abroad. It may be an extreme idea, but if the current market were to be halved, we would have no choice but to go overseas. In addition to business transformation through DX, it is important to think about global strategy. If companies like us, who are not in the middle of the movie, can get more involved, I think we can work together to create new businesses and support creators. I think so.

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Producer: Kim San

KDDI Corporation Personal Business Division Marketing Headquarters au Smart Pass Promotion Department Expert

Interview and text: Fumio Koda

Editorial staff and writer for CINEMORE. My favorite movies are ``The Goonies'' and ``Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.'' My recent favorites are 4K digitally remastered classics by Akira Kurosawa and Yasujiro Ozu.

Photography: Kazunari Aoki

『Winny』

Now showing at TOHO Cinemas and other theaters with rave reviews

Distribution: KDDI/Nakachika

Planning: Satoshi Furuhashi Producer: Chikara Ito, Koji Fujii, Kanayama

Production Production: Libertas Production Cooperation: and pictures

Production: Movie “Winny” Production Committee

Director/Screenplay: Yusaku Matsumoto

(C)2023 Movie “Winny” Production Committee