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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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 Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 1:21 am Post subject: What happened to the TV/Movie insutry in Japan? |
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I, for my 9th grade students do a report on different topics, from food to USA and Japan similarities and differences. My next topic is on TV and movies in America. What we watch, with who, and mention things like cable/satellite TV.
Anyhow, I also enjoy history, and since there are some old hands here, I have a question. I am not criticizing Japanese TV and movies, but what happened to them? Was it the bubble that cut funding? Japan is not a small country population or money wise, so I would think that the viewership would make for decent commercial money, that there would be some money in their budgets.
Even movies are pretty low budget. Are they this way on account of lack of investors? Was it the bubble that did them in? As from what I�ve read, many Japanese movies have probably a lower budget than a single episode of Ugly Betty.
Now, please don7t take this as me complaining about Japanese TV/movies. I just want to know what happened, and where. Or perhaps no one invested in the industry and it languished? Or have subtitled/dubbed American TV shows/movies crowded out the market? |
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taikibansei
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 811
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:15 am Post subject: Re: What happened to the TV/Movie insutry in Japan? |
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| rxk22 wrote: |
I, for my 9th grade students do a report on different topics, from food to USA and Japan similarities and differences. My next topic is on TV and movies in America. What we watch, with who, and mention things like cable/satellite TV.
Anyhow, I also enjoy history, and since there are some old hands here, I have a question. I am not criticizing Japanese TV and movies, but what happened to them? Was it the bubble that cut funding? Japan is not a small country population or money wise, so I would think that the viewership would make for decent commercial money, that there would be some money in their budgets.
Even movies are pretty low budget. Are they this way on account of lack of investors? Was it the bubble that did them in? As from what I�ve read, many Japanese movies have probably a lower budget than a single episode of Ugly Betty.
Now, please don7t take this as me complaining about Japanese TV/movies. I just want to know what happened, and where. Or perhaps no one invested in the industry and it languished? Or have subtitled/dubbed American TV shows/movies crowded out the market? |
I'm not sure I understand this post. There's been a huge revival of the Japanese film industry since about 2003, and domestic films have done better than foreign films here since 2006. More details here:
http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=720&catid=20&subcatid=132
http://www.eiren.org/statistics_e/index.html (the bottom chart shows the recent data)
http://www.jetro.go.jp/en/reports/market/pdf/2005_33_r.pdf
Moreover, you talk about "American" movies--you do realize, say, that Sony owns both Columbia and MGM, right? 
Also, I would add that, if you want to talk strictly about foreign film/TV in Japan, the big story over the last few years has been Korean productions. Don't have the figures handy, but judging at least from my local video stores--both of which have added two full rows just for Korean films/TV programs--they may soon challenge the US in popularity...at least here!  |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 8:14 am Post subject: Re: What happened to the TV/Movie insutry in Japan? |
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[quote="taikibansei"]
| rxk22 wrote: |
I'm not sure I understand this post. There's been a huge revival of the Japanese film industry since about 2003, and domestic films have done better than foreign films here since 2006. More details here:
http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=720&catid=20&subcatid=132
http://www.eiren.org/statistics_e/index.html (the bottom chart shows the recent data)
http://www.jetro.go.jp/en/reports/market/pdf/2005_33_r.pdf
Moreover, you talk about "American" movies--you do realize, say, that Sony owns both Columbia and MGM, right?
Also, I would add that, if you want to talk strictly about foreign film/TV in Japan, the big story over the last few years has been Korean productions. Don't have the figures handy, but judging at least from my local video stores--both of which have added two full rows just for Korean films/TV programs--they may soon challenge the US in popularity...at least here! |
Well you half answered my question, if the movie industry is in a state of revival, then clearly something had happened in the past.
Also if you note, movies made in Japan are very low budget. A lot of the CG is pretty sub par as well. I was wondering why. For a country that has a pretty big population and economy, why is their domestic movie industry on a fairly low level.
Thanks for the links too. It appears as though the drop off in movie theaters started a LONG time ago. It's about 1/8th of 1960 levels. That's really interesting.
Yeah, Korean dramas seem to be kicking @$$ and taking names as of late. Wonder if it's because Korean is similar to Japanese and can be dubbed better?
But still where is all the money going for TV commercials? It's clearly not going to the budgets for actual production. |
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ssjup81
Joined: 15 Jun 2009
Posts: 664
Location: Adachi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 9:45 am Post subject: |
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| Is there a possibility that movies aren't as popular here compared to places like the US? I'm just wondering since I hear about more people (around me anyway) hanging out at karaoke boxes as opposed to just going to see a movie. |
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taikibansei
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 811
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 11:40 am Post subject: Re: What happened to the TV/Movie insutry in Japan? |
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| rxk22 wrote: |
| Well you half answered my question, if the movie industry is in a state of revival, then clearly something had happened in the past. |
Actually, if you were to look at the links--especially the first and last ones--you'd see that they do include answers to your questions. I.e., they go into some detail about the reasons for the "decline" and "rebirth" as well...which is why I included them! Of course, perhaps you disagree with their conclusions?
| Quote: |
| Also if you note, movies made in Japan are very low budget. A lot of the CG is pretty sub par as well. I was wondering why. For a country that has a pretty big population and economy, why is their domestic movie industry on a fairly low level. |
Different priorities than Hollywood perhaps...? Not sure I agree 100% either--e.g., animation here is better than almost anything you find in the States.
| Quote: |
| Yeah, Korean dramas seem to be kicking @$$ and taking names as of late. Wonder if it's because Korean is similar to Japanese and can be dubbed better? |
Or, just maybe, because a number of them are also quite interesting...? In other words, I do think taste differences are an issue here too. For instance, I personally think Hollywood has been in decline for quite a number of years--a lot of wonderful CG, yes, but a lot of bad acting and a lot of trite/cliched stories...many of which are mere (failed) remakes of old Hollywood movies, or (failed) remakes of European flicks, or (failed) remakes of (dare I say it?) Japanese flicks. And yeah, there's some of the same to be found in Japanese television/film (especially the former). Still, I would argue that you're a few years late to be asserting clear American superiority in film...or anything else, really.
Just my two yen!
Last edited by taikibansei on Mon Feb 14, 2011 12:19 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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the4th2001
Joined: 04 Oct 2010
Posts: 130
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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Beyond what taikibansei has mentioned, you may want to look at the entertainment industry as whole.
・Talent agencies walk away with a good chunk of change.
・Very few movie theaters offer tickets at reasonable prices, resulting in low tickets sales and a rush to get movies out on DVD.
・Due to random contractual obligations, distribution networks, and the overall complexity of what is J-business, it's difficult to sell DVDs/CDs at affordable prices (domestically or abroad).
・The quality of entertainers, etc.
| Quote: |
| But still where is all the money going for TV commercials? It's clearly not going to the budgets for actual production. |
That's a question for Japan's largest (and the world's 5th largest) advertising firm, Dentsu. |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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| the4th2001 wrote: |
Beyond what taikibansei has mentioned, you may want to look at the entertainment industry as whole.
・Talent agencies walk away with a good chunk of change.
・Very few movie theaters offer tickets at reasonable prices, resulting in low tickets sales and a rush to get movies out on DVD.
・Due to random contractual obligations, distribution networks, and the overall complexity of what is J-business, it's difficult to sell DVDs/CDs at affordable prices (domestically or abroad).
・The quality of entertainers, etc.
| Quote: |
| But still where is all the money going for TV commercials? It's clearly not going to the budgets for actual production. |
That's a question for Japan's largest (and the world's 5th largest) advertising firm, Dentsu. |
Great reply, thank you.
I always wondered why DVDs were usually north of 3000yen. I guess too many people need to take a cut, that it would be unprofitable otherwise?
In taikis link it mentions that many people don't even go see movies in theaters anymore. I've seen about 4-5 movies total in theaters in the 2 1/2 years that I've been here.
Are talent agencies here shady? Ie yakuza?
I've read that a lot of the idols that the agency develops them, and then even when famous, they don't make much. Heard some even made just 300000 a month. Which is average money.
Which leads to boring TV. If I am an actor and I have a funny bit. I will get on TV, but it doesn't pay well. So I have to get on 2-4 shows a day, which leads me to not really put much work in adding anything to my routine.
Also if there is no money, who wants to claw their way up into it.
Guys like Ken Watanabe have gone Hollywood. I guess Japan just can't afford to keep the good talent. |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 12:46 pm Post subject: Re: What happened to the TV/Movie insutry in Japan? |
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| taikibansei wrote: |
| rxk22 wrote: |
| Well you half answered my question, if the movie industry is in a state of revival, then clearly something had happened in the past. |
Actually, if you were to look at the links--especially the first and last ones--you'd see that they do include answers to your questions. I.e., they go into some detail about the reasons for the "decline" and "rebirth" as well...which is why I included them! Of course, perhaps you disagree with their conclusions?
| Quote: |
| Also if you note, movies made in Japan are very low budget. A lot of the CG is pretty sub par as well. I was wondering why. For a country that has a pretty big population and economy, why is their domestic movie industry on a fairly low level. |
Different priorities than Hollywood perhaps...? Not sure I agree 100% either--e.g., animation here is better than almost anything you find in the States.
| Quote: |
| Yeah, Korean dramas seem to be kicking @$$ and taking names as of late. Wonder if it's because Korean is similar to Japanese and can be dubbed better? |
Or, just maybe, because a number of them are also quite interesting...? In other words, I do think taste differences are an issue here too. For instance, I personally think Hollywood has been in decline for quite a number of years--a lot of wonderful CG, yes, but a lot of bad acting and a lot of trite/cliched stories...many of which are mere (failed) remakes of old Hollywood movies, or (failed) remakes of European flicks, or (failed) remakes of (dare I say it?) Japanese flicks. And yeah, there's some of the same to be found in Japanese television/film (especially the former). Still, I would argue that you're a few years late to be asserting clear American superiority in film...or anything else, really.
Just my two yen! |
Didn't read past the top section, as the site had links, so I thought it was the end of actual content.
Animation is by far better in Japan, I'd even say comics are generally better here too.
Oh Hollywood is awful, most the stuff is cringeworthy when it comes out. I am a history nut, and I die a little whenever I see a bad historical drama or whatever. I do like a lot of the WWII Japanese movies, not too much good action scenes, but getting the feeling of the times is pretty good.
Hollywood is running off of budget and not talent at this point. The Japanese film industry has much less money. I've seen a lot of the budgets for under $5M. Even big movies like Rookies had a fairly small budget compared to most Hollywood nonsense. So it really isn't fair to compare to be honest.
Movies like Deathnote, though entertaining, had some crap CG in them. Really 90's level. Which makes it hard to export it, I believe.
For TV, remember when Jerry Seinfeld was making a million an episode? I am sure a lot of dramas aren't budgeted that for an entire season.
Let me be clear, in no way do I think Hollywood is great, or vice versa. I am just pointing out some differences that I've seen. |
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the4th2001
Joined: 04 Oct 2010
Posts: 130
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Are talent agencies here shady? |
Business is business. I'd assume that entertainers know what there getting into before signing their contracts, so I don't think it's fair to call the agencies 'shady'.
| Quote: |
| Which leads to boring TV. |
That depends on your language ability and overall tastes. I love Japanese TV programs, dramas aside. My friends know not to bother me on Wednesday evenings 'cause Sanma-san's Honma Dekka?! Terebi is on.
No HDT, no life. |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 1:32 pm Post subject: |
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| the4th2001 wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Are talent agencies here shady? |
Business is business. I'd assume that entertainers know what there getting into before signing their contracts, so I don't think it's fair to call the agencies 'shady'.
| Quote: |
| Which leads to boring TV. |
That depends on your language ability and overall tastes. I love Japanese TV programs, dramas aside. My friends know not to bother me on Wednesday evenings 'cause Sanma-san's Honma Dekka?! Terebi is on.
No HDT, no life. |
True, just wondering if they had any underworld connections. Not sure where the Yakuza reach ends. I was a big Pride FC fan =C
Not saying all Japanese live programming is boring. Though a lot of it is TBH. I like some of the dramas as well. Though my Japanese is still not good enough to fully understand everything. Especially when a punk stars talking or a lawyer like person does. Then I am doomed! |
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the4th2001
Joined: 04 Oct 2010
Posts: 130
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I was a big Pride FC fan =C |
Pride was bought out by UFC. You should be pissed at the US about that one. |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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| the4th2001 wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I was a big Pride FC fan =C |
Pride was bought out by UFC. You should be pissed at the US about that one. |
Dude I was! But a anti-yakuza crusader brought down Pride. As it had some major connections. As does pro wrestling. I suspect that Sumo has a lot of connections. Not to say that they run it. They can be legit, and still be yak. |
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