Hollywood stars join the microdrama market
Hollywood actors, producers and investors are increasingly entering the microdrama segment — short scripted series designed for viewing on smartphones. James Franco, Issa Rae, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Taye Diggs are already working in this format, while Kim Kardashian has invested in GammaTime, TechCrunch reports.
Microdrama episodes usually last several minutes, while plots are often built around dramatic twists and cliffhangers intended to encourage viewers to watch subsequent episodes and often pay for them. The format gained popularity in China and is rapidly spreading across international markets. According to Omdia, microdrama revenue in the United States could reach $1.5 billion this year.
Actors in microdramas
James Franco played the lead role in the series “Love, Lies & Frank,” which is streamed exclusively by Shortical. His character is the head of an advertising agency who becomes drawn into a criminal story involving werewolves and a forbidden romance. The project became one of the first microseries created under SAG-AFTRA's new agreement for low-budget microdramas.
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Issa Rae's company Hoorae Media launched the thriller “Screen Time” in May together with TikTok's new PineDrama app. The series tells the story of a double date during which an unknown person takes control of the television and forces the couples to reveal their secrets. The project received nearly 75 million views in its first week and later surpassed 150 million.
New projects and investments
“Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson joined work on the upcoming musical comedy “Theater Kids Vs. Zombies” for vertical storytelling platform aTwist. In the plot, members of a school theater group find their school overrun by zombies and see staging a musical as their best chance of survival.
Taye Diggs became the lead actor and executive producer of the microdrama “Off Limits & All Mine” for CandyJar. In addition, he launched his own mobile vertical storytelling platform, Microhouse Films. Eight projects were presented at launch, including “Tides of Temptation,” created in collaboration with Lifetime. Kim Kardashian, together with her mother Kris Jenner and other angel investors, invested in GammaTime.
