In China’s ‘microdrama’ boom, AI moviemakers chase 2 minutes of fame

A microdrama production staffer works on AI post production and overseas translation and distribution on July 21 in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, China. As demand for microdramas surges, producers say a well-made AI series can cost as little as 50,000 yuan ($7,380) to make, with outlay on actors, locations and film crews absent. © Getty Images Ultrashort episodic video business seen worth $18bn, with tech subbing for some live shoots HONG KONG/HANGZHOU, China — Founded in 2024 on the site of a former shopping mall on the outskirts of tech hub Hangzhou, moviemaking complex Linying Studio once had as many as 10 film crews shooting simultaneously on any given day. They were there to make "microdramas" — soap opera-style video serials comprising one- to two-minute cliffhanger episodes designed for viewing on smartphones.

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