Study Group on Future Film Production Compiles Report

1. Background and purpose

The Japanese film industry has been producing many films backed by efforts of workers in film production who have a variety of professional talents. To continue to create quality films for years to come, the industry should improve contract conditions and working environments for such workers, including freelancers.

METI considers it important for the industry, a front runner of Japan’s soft power, to continue to develop film production in a sustainable manner while placing eyes on further business development in overseas countries. To this end, METI conducted a questionnaire survey from June to September 2019 in order to ascertain the current conditions and overview surrounding human resources committed to film production and released the results of the survey on November 22, 2019.

This report is a compilation of the results of discussions held by the Study Group on Future Film Production and the Working Group on Environments for Workers in Film Production from October 2019 to March 2020. At these discussions, participants took into consideration the survey results uncovering facts about workers engaging in film production, such as the details of their jobs, the conditions of their daily lives, their career paths and contract conditions.

2. Outline

The study group held discussions on challenges extracted from the results of the questionnaire survey and interviews by categorizing them into five groups: [i] challenges in management of production processes, etc., [ii] contract conditions, [iii] working environments, [iv] training of workers in film production, and [v] business environments, and in light of the responses from the working group, it organized future directions of specific efforts for solving these challenges into two points: (1) introduction of digital tools and (2) enhancement of fairness among workers in film production.

3. Future actions

Aiming to establish an autonomous system of the industry for enhancement of fairness among workers in film production, METI will support inauguration of a Committee for Establishment Preparations and discussions by the committee, bringing together stakeholders of the film industry as a whole.

4. Related material

• Summary of the Report compiled by the Study Group on Future Film Production (PDF:442KB)

5. Links to related information

• Film Industry Survey Planned to Further Develop Human Resources in the Business
• Results of the Fact-finding Survey Targeting People Engaging in Film Production Compiled

Division in Charge

Media and Content Industry Division, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau