microdrama is rapidly evolving beyond trashy volume plays. Serious players are turning it into a premium vertical storytelling space: thrillers, romance, and true crime built by Hollywood creators. The model is evolving - it isn’t static, and neither is the content. The market will determine whether this bet was right.
So it turns out that Quibi is the Van Gogh of television: a failure in life, its genius only appreciated after death. I'd imagine that this whole burgeoning field of micro-content verticals for mobile viewing has to feel very bittersweet for Katzenberg.
"My first critique is that the content is crap. My next is that their producers treat artists and crew like livestock. My last issue is that unless you have billions to spend, and/or are backed by the Chinese government, THIS IS NOT A BUSINESS MODEL."
Great take. I highlited recently in one of my substack that short vertical “dramas” “comedy” “docs” can save broadcasters and their IPs. Do you think long form content is not getting along anymore with new gens?
I have never seen a receipt from any of these companies. Are there truly any? That are verifiable? I was drinking the Kool-Aid for about 6 months, then suddenly gagged.
Evan, thanks for the excellent breakdown. I just hope some decent content will come out of these vertical vids b/c I've only heard horror stories from those on the ground so far. Of course Disney jumped in with HSM, core brand content that never gets old. Did content on it myself when the mouse was a client.
umoshiroi ! once again, facts, numbers and the white hat of facts from master Evan
will be saving the day and the night too ! thanks for the ultra laser focused article...
'micro-o-rama' article will be most useful reference for our micro-ultra-dense-drama
we are about to produce from Rio !
how would you deal w the 'quantum physics' of comenting and observing changing
behaviour ? but the real question is, would you also add some geographical data
to be a third dimension - as you may know, soap-opera is a latin america invention
awhile the numbers from south sunny tropics may not be painted with kanjii figures
emotional upgrading seems the future trend of human narratives.
cuttin long dramas in micro-shards is good for the speed, but some pleasures
are better in the long flow.
audiencemaking ettema 1994 is the sage book to re read !
https://youtu.be/9rP4PEOS9yk?si=0wfSkdGjsNCZzjQa
cheers from the beach...!
microdrama is rapidly evolving beyond trashy volume plays. Serious players are turning it into a premium vertical storytelling space: thrillers, romance, and true crime built by Hollywood creators. The model is evolving - it isn’t static, and neither is the content. The market will determine whether this bet was right.
As always, this TRUTH from @evan is exactly what the heck should be driving our business forward. I know it's driving mine.
So it turns out that Quibi is the Van Gogh of television: a failure in life, its genius only appreciated after death. I'd imagine that this whole burgeoning field of micro-content verticals for mobile viewing has to feel very bittersweet for Katzenberg.
"My first critique is that the content is crap. My next is that their producers treat artists and crew like livestock. My last issue is that unless you have billions to spend, and/or are backed by the Chinese government, THIS IS NOT A BUSINESS MODEL."
Chinese Gov't...that's classic!
Great take. I highlited recently in one of my substack that short vertical “dramas” “comedy” “docs” can save broadcasters and their IPs. Do you think long form content is not getting along anymore with new gens?
younger generations LOVE TV. They want it BOTH long-form and horizontal for lean back time AND vertical and short for toilets.
I have never seen a receipt from any of these companies. Are there truly any? That are verifiable? I was drinking the Kool-Aid for about 6 months, then suddenly gagged.
Evan, thanks for the excellent breakdown. I just hope some decent content will come out of these vertical vids b/c I've only heard horror stories from those on the ground so far. Of course Disney jumped in with HSM, core brand content that never gets old. Did content on it myself when the mouse was a client.