Producers of the highly anticipated crime series “Blood & Sweat” shed light on the challenges faced during the production of the show at a seminar during TIFFCOM, the market arm of the Tokyo International Film Festival.
“Blood & Sweat” is an eight-episode series co-produced by Japan’s AX-ON and Finland’s ICS Nordic, starring Anne Watanabe and Jasper Pääkkönen as two detectives from different cultures working together to solve a series of murders.
The production process was a nine-month endeavor that involved extensive script development. Scripts were initially written in English, translated into Japanese, and then carefully reviewed to ensure cultural accuracy and appropriateness of the dialogue.
The differences in working culture and styles between Finnish and Japanese crews also presented challenges. Finnish crews prioritize work-life balance under strict union rules, while Japanese filming practices differ significantly. The cost of labor in Finland is higher than in Japan, adding to the production budget.
During filming, the Finnish crew’s adherence to strict time management posed challenges. In Finland, filming schedules are capped at a maximum of four 12-hour days per week, with shooting taking place Monday through Thursday and a prep day on Friday. This schedule was not feasible in Japan, leading to longer workdays or working six days a week.
Furthermore, Finnish production culture delegates decision-making to department heads more than Japanese production culture. This difference was evident when a Finnish director working on the series deferred costume decisions to the wardrobe department, emphasizing the importance of respecting their expertise.
In addition to insights from “Blood & Sweat” producers, the seminar also introduced the Local Content Bank (LCB), an initiative led by Miyazaki Telecasting Company. The LCB is an online platform that centralizes and streamlines Japanese content for the global market, allowing small and regional television stations to upload their programming. The platform uses AI to categorize and reformat content for new programming and long-form playlists.
Overall, the production of “Blood & Sweat” highlighted the complexities of international co-productions and the importance of navigating cultural differences and logistical challenges to create a successful series. The seminar at TIFFCOM provided valuable insights into the intricacies of producing a cross-cultural crime drama and introduced innovative initiatives like the Local Content Bank to enhance the reach of Japanese content in the global market.
