The surge of Chinese 'vertical drama' series in the U.S. market has raised concerns about potential threats to Hollywood's dominance.
New Format "Vertical Dramas" Captivates Audiences with Meteoric Rise of Chinese Filmmaker Xiang Sining
A new format in entertainment has taken the world by storm, and its pioneer, Chinese filmmaker Xiang Sining, is enjoying a meteoric rise in America. The innovative format, known as vertical dramas (or duanju), is reimagining television for the TikTok generation.
These short, vertically shot episodes are designed for quick, emotionally engaging mobile viewing, blending elements of soap opera storytelling with modern digital platform habits to create a new genre of easily consumable entertainment. Episodes typically last just a minute or two, with each one ending on a cliffhanger to maintain viewer engagement, supporting binge-watching in quick, snackable doses.
The scenes in vertical dramas are shot in a vertical format, optimized for vertical smartphone screens, allowing viewers to watch comfortably on their phones without rotating devices. The storylines are fast-paced and melodramatic, often climaxing in a screeching plot twist.
Xiang Sining's latest film, Kidnapped by the Mafia, showcases this format perfectly. The film features a wedding scene with gunfire, where a mafia boss dressed in a flamboyant white suit was at an altar in a Los Angeles garden, shooting wildly into the rows of seats during the ceremony. The guests dived for cover, while the mafia boss attempted to protect his petite bride during the shooting.
The film was a hit after its release in late June, with audiences drawn to its rapid plot twists, heightened emotional conflict, and strong, character-driven storylines. Xiang Sining, who directed the film, is hailed as a master of this new format, pushing the boundaries of storytelling to create captivating content for the mobile age.
The distribution of vertical dramas is also innovative, with platforms like TikTok/Douyin and specialized streaming apps like ReelShort targeting fragmented viewing habits of mobile audiences. These platforms cater to the desire for a quick dopamine hit, offering viewers a brief respite from their daily lives.
Vertical dramas may have started as a low-budget genre with simple sets and largely unknown actors, but newer productions are investing in deeper narratives and character complexity to overcome the stigma around "cheesy" content. This evolution is evident in Xiang Sining's work, which explores richer, more complex characters and diverse genres beyond just romance or supernatural themes, delving into mature themes such as identity and societal expectations.
In summary, the rise of vertical dramas marks a significant shift in the entertainment industry, offering a new way for audiences to consume content in the mobile age. With pioneers like Xiang Sining leading the charge, the future of this format looks bright.
Movies-and-TV produced in the innovative vertical format, like Xiang Sining's Kidnapped by the Mafia, are redefining entertainment for the TikTok generation, blending elements of soap opera storytelling with modern habits of mobile viewers. This new genre of easily consumable entertainment, known as vertical dramas, offers short, emotionally engaging episodes optimized for vertical smartphone screens, making it the perfect entertainment choice for on-the-go viewers.
