What Are the Essential Qualities of a Producer?

First, by chance, both films I rented featured "film producers" as their protagonists. One was the French film "Summer of Kids." The other was the American film "Hollywood Homicide," starring Robert De Niro (in a role he was born to play!). Their broadly similar storylines make it interesting to see the differences in scale and perspective between France and the US. However, the immediate impression after watching either was a very straightforward "Being a producer is tough." They face demands from both sponsors and actors, and their job is to skillfully appease everyone while ensuring smooth progress. The producer's mobile phone, constantly ringing with complaints and requests, is a more intimate companion than their wife! Both the French and American films feature a scene where the wife says something like, "Don't answer the phone when you're with me!" This line perhaps best encapsulates the profession.

Furthermore, it's common for production sites to go over budget, no matter how much funding is available. It's the producer's role to grapple with this. Therefore, this profession is not suited for those who are overly sensitive, meticulous, or perfectionistic; rather, it requires someone who can, in a sense, maintain a more carefree disposition. And without the ability to placate others with a "there, there" attitude, even when faced with unreasonable demands, one simply cannot do the job. If I were told such things, I'd surely end up arguing, "That's not right!!" I think most women tend to be more particular, but that's not always good or right. Moreover, this profession of producer has a high probability of backfiring. It seems that producers need to be not only shrewd but also capable of prioritizing others' needs over their own principles, and to be people who genuinely like and care for others. Come to think of it, when I worked on various commercial shoots, the producers I encountered did share a certain commonality in their personalities...!

Still, the fact that these two films were released around the same time (in Japan in 2010) suggests that the profession of producer was being highlighted. Or perhaps, in today's networked society, the very human (in a good way!) producer archetype has become a nostalgic and endearing figure. Unlike machines, humans are creatures who don't always operate according to logic and reason—these are films that make you cry.

Why Do We Feel the Urge to Cry Periodically?

Speaking of crying, "tearjerker movies" are something I feel the urge to watch periodically. When I'm in that mood, choosing an animal film is usually a safe bet. The other day, I watched "My Dog Skip," a film about the bond between a boy and his dog. You can probably guess the general story from that description, so I'll skip the details, but it's a heartwarming film recommended for when you want to shed some tears. Speaking of dogs, I also cried when I saw "Hachi: A Dog's Tale," the remake of the story of Japan's loyal dog Hachiko, starring Richard Gere! Watching him wait endlessly for his master, who would never return, in the falling snow, brought forth torrents of tears! While crying, "Oh, how pitiful! Oh, how cute!" at Hachi's innocent and devoted eyes, I was also moved to tears by the difference between my own lazy mutt, who was chewing on my slippers while whimpering "Awooo~" at my feet, and the intelligent HACHI...!

But why do we feel the urge to cry periodically? My assistant once told me, "You should cry periodically because it purifies your soul." Perhaps crying allows us to wash away various things. Is it because we instinctively know this that we feel the urge to cry periodically? As we age, we tend to become more emotional, and I used to think it was because we gain depth as human beings and become more empathetic to the pain of others. But perhaps that's not the whole story. As we get older, perhaps our desires, our negative impulses, and other superfluous things accumulate, and this instinct to wash them away kicks in. If crying can indeed cleanse us, then we'd be foolish not to cry. We must watch plenty of "tearjerker movies"! ...Or is the very thought of that a sign of greed?

My assistant also insisted, "If you cry while bathing in the light of a full moon, your skin will be completely different and much clearer the next morning!!" I haven't had the chance to try this yet due to timing, but when I do, I'll try to shed tears while thinking of dog movies. Oh, and while thinking of the humanistic producers, too!