Screentime
China’s 60-Second Dramas Head to the US After Beating Box Office
- New kind of web series tell stories in ultra-brief episodes
- Chinese companies are now exporting mini dramas to the US
Venture capitalists and startups convened at the Conrad Beijing hotel in mid-December, looking to exploit the newest phenomenon in Chinese media: the mini soap opera.
Unlike traditional TikTok clips, which often revolve around goofy challenges or lip-syncing dances, mini dramas are professionally produced series for the web, with clear storylines and big cliffhangers. Clips run just 60 to 90 seconds and a series can span more than 50 episodes.