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Beyond Kung Fu: Japan's Own Martial Arts Inspire New Films
7 Nov
Summary
- Stephen Chow advised Japanese filmmakers to use karate, judo, and kendo for action films.
- K2 Pictures fund closed a $33 million round and may reopen for more investors.
- K2 Pictures aims to shake up Japan's traditional film production committee system.
Stephen Chow famously advised Kii Muneyuki of K2 Pictures that Japanese filmmakers should build action films around their own martial arts, such as karate, judo, and kendo, instead of imitating kung fu. Kii shared this anecdote, highlighting Netflix's "Sanctuary" as an example of culturally unique Japanese projects.
K2 Pictures' $33 million equity fund, K2P Film Fund I, which supported Kore-eda Hirokazu's "Look Back," may reopen to new investors following significant interest after its initial closure. This fund, with initial backing from MUFG Bank and others, aims for a total of $100 million to produce 50 films over seven years.
Director Nagata Koto's upcoming film, "The Nuke Crab," is being developed with a "Japan plus one" strategy, targeting markets like Poland and Ukraine where audiences may connect with themes related to the Chernobyl accident's aftermath. K2 Pictures was established as an alternative to Japan's traditional production committee system, which Kii believes limits foreign investment and creator returns.
K2 Pictures operates on a profit-sharing model of 70% for investors and 30% for the creative side, calculated title by title. The company completed six films this year and aims for six to seven releases annually, while also expanding its distribution reach into Taiwan and Korea to directly promote Japanese films abroad.
Kii also advocates for legal changes to allow content securitization, similar to real estate investment trusts in Japan, to further stimulate investment in the film industry. His vision includes nurturing new directors and ensuring they achieve success, emphasizing the importance of managing costs against revenue for both arthouse and commercial projects.
