Does the Movie You Want to Watch Exist? – The Ultimate Solution to Discovering Interesting Works

Is This Truly the Era of Diversity?

We often hear that we live in an “era of diverse values.” It’s a time when families no longer gather to watch TV together, and each individual consumes the content they personally enjoy. This means that the concept of “blockbusters everyone knows” has faded, and creators now produce content tailored to various niche audiences.

As preferences have fragmented, it’s natural that TV ratings have also become lower across the board.

But I can’t help but question this so-called “diversity.”

Isn’t it strange how, even in this age of alleged diversity, genres seem surprisingly skewed?

You can see this for yourself at a bookstore. When one novel becomes popular, the shelves are quickly filled with similar books for years, and genuinely unique works appear to vanish.

Of course, given the declining sales of books, it’s understandable that publishers lean toward producing what sells.

A Chicken-and-Egg Problem: Do Unpopular Works Fail Because They Don’t Exist, or Because They’re Not Profitable?

I’ve heard that even bestselling authors rarely make a living solely from their books. So, it’s no surprise that publishers focus on genres that are more reliably profitable.

Books are physical products, and unsold copies equate to losses. This means that “books unlikely to sell” don’t even make it past the planning stage. Once a manuscript is completed, the hefty costs of printing and distribution become unavoidable. There’s a high threshold of, “We need to sell at least this many copies to avoid losing money.”

When you reverse-engineer the situation, it’s evident that works without a sizable audience can’t recoup their costs. This discourages publishers from producing genres with smaller followings.

Personally, I’ve experienced a sharp decline in the “This is exactly the book I was looking for!” moments in bookstores compared to the past.

I suspect this is because the kinds of books I want to read and the genres I’m interested in have become exceptionally scarce. For people who favor niche genres, this reality can feel like a form of misfortune.

But what about e-books, which don’t involve the same printing and distribution costs? Wouldn’t it be feasible to cater to niche fanbases with higher chances of profitability?

While people claim books aren’t selling, I believe many, like me, might say, “I’m not reading because the kinds of books I want no longer exist.”

The Problem Extends Beyond Novels to Dramas and Movies

Dramas and movies, which require much higher production costs than books, naturally prioritize profitability even more.

Some argue that creative endeavors should be separate from commerce, but I believe that the “spectacle value” of creative works is a natural and healthy part of the creative process.

This is why I disagree with the notion that “financial aid or support is necessary to create artistic works disregarding profitability.”

Healthy entertainment, like dramas and movies, thrives when it grows naturally through a mix of commerce and creativity.

Films Lacking in Variety—and Why DIY Productions Matter

When it comes to film genres, recent years have been dominated by “safe” adaptations of popular manga and novels. This reflects the same “skewed diversity” seen in publishing.

If the currently available works perfectly align with your taste, there’s no issue; you can simply enjoy them.

But honestly, I find the variety in genres to be lacking. Perhaps this is why I’ve dedicated years to experimenting with DIY filmmaking.

For example, Japan is often praised for its expertise in horror films, but I find few Japanese horror movies featuring the rich artistic variety seen in international works.

Japanese filmmakers often attribute their creative limitations to “budget constraints,” but I see it as a lack of a culture of “making do with less.”

What I’m looking for isn’t “high-budget visuals”—it’s “creatively engaging visuals.”

Are filmmakers overly afraid of criticism for creating something that looks cheap but is imaginative?

Independent films allow us to cater to audiences who think, “This kind of movie is what I’ve been craving,” even if the genre only appeals to 5,000 fans nationwide.

Thanks to the internet, even small-scale creators can now market and promote their work effectively, reaching those niche audiences.

Whereas major studio productions require massive audiences to turn a profit, indie creators like us can operate on vastly smaller budgets, making profitability within reach.

Success Lies in Making What You Want to See

One formula for small business success is not imagining “what might sell” but creating “what you personally want.”

You might find that when you create something because “I want to see this kind of movie, but it doesn’t exist,” there are others out there thinking, “I’ve been waiting for a film like this!”

I hope this perspective proves helpful.