American Hantian TV – Los Angeles, Nov 9, 2025
As a core component and in-depth extension of the International Short Drama Festival, the series of academic and industry forums continued after the Nov 7 USC forum “The Warring States Era of Short Drama.” On November 9, the festival hosted the forum “Short-Drama Storm: Igniting a Decade of Global Media Transformation” at the University of California, Irvine (UCI).
More than 50 participants—including professors, student representatives, industry experts, practitioners, and entrepreneurs—engaged in discussions on the explosive rise of short dramas, the evolving landscape of global film and media, and the challenges and innovations shaping the industry.
Leo Liu: The Origin and Pioneering Spirit Behind the International Short Drama Festival
Leo Liu, President of the International Short Drama Association (ISDA), hosted and delivered the opening remarks.
He noted that his denim outfit and cowboy hat symbolized the pioneering spirit of the American West—an image that mirrors the bold, frontier-breaking nature of short dramas.
Returning to UCI, the birthplace of the International Short Drama Festival and one of its earliest supporters, Liu emphasized the continued need for an “expeditionary, boundary-breaking, and trailblazing spirit” as the industry enters a new era of transformation.
Prof. Yong Chen: Both Education and Film Are in Disruption—Youth Hold the Future
Yong Chen, Associate Dean of Humanities at UCI, pointed out that higher education and film share many similarities.
Amid unprecedented global changes and rapid technological development, American higher education is undergoing major structural transformation. The rise of short dramas indicates that the film industry is also in the midst of a historic shift.
He highlighted that universities—centers for talent cultivation—play a key role in nurturing future creators. The early chapters of any new industry rely on both seasoned veterans and the younger generation to innovate together.
Qinno Qu: Short Drama Is Not a Simplified Film—It Is the Intensification of Emotion
UCI alumna and ISDA board member Qinno Qu, in her talk “Overseas Short-Drama Content Methodology and Structural Practice,” analyzed core elements of short-drama story mechanics: viewer psychology, emotional expectations, monetization logic, hooks, key lines, conflict, and turning points.
She emphasized:
•Card 1 must build paying expectation
•Card 2 must deliver emotional payoff and audience satisfaction
Conclusion:
Commercial short dramas must focus attention on high-impact scenes. Viewers must anticipate major dramatic moments. The denser and more intense these scenes are, the greater the viral potential.
“Short drama is not a simplified version of film; it is the heightened intensification of emotion.”
Eason Ren:Short dramas need to refer to advertising IPincubation and marketing methods.
ISDA board member Eason Ren, head of Mobking, shared insights based on a decade in global mobile marketing. Now producing micro-short dramas and managing influencers in the U.S., he explained how IP incubation and advertising strategies can empower short dramas.
Using the example of the Ming Chenghua Chicken Cup museum IP becoming a viral e-commerce product, he showed how creative content and IGC marketing reached over 20 million exposures.
He noted:
•Short-drama budgets of USD 200k–400k are common
•But a BMW commercial costs USD 3–4 million
•A strong advertising idea with USD 500k can support highly effective product placement
As brands begin exploring placement in platforms such as ReelShort, short dramas may unlock major new monetization channels through stealth product integration and brand collaboration.
Rain Chen: Overseas Expansion Requires Universal Stories Told Through Globalized Language
Independent producer and ISDA board member Rain Chen reviewed the development of overseas short dramas. Early hits generated over USD tens of millions for platforms through long-tail performance. Today, co-productions blend Chinese companies with local creators, local scripts, and local actors.
He outlined current challenges:
•Severe content homogenization
•Rising acquisition costs post-2024
•Declining traffic dividends
•Low paid conversion (<3% for most apps)
•Lack of culturally accurate storytelling
•Short user life cycles due to weak IP sustainability
He emphasized:
“The golden era of short-drama globalization is not over. The next stage is no longer about speed but depth—understanding the emotional core of overseas audiences.”
Platforms like Fox’s strategic investment in Holywater’s “My Drama” signal that Chinese platforms will soon face direct competition with Hollywood.
Na Gao: Distribution Must Become the Standard and Core Power of Short-Drama Globalization
Founder of ReelTree, Forest Dream, and CineDream, Na Gao stressed that 2025 marks an explosive global expansion of short dramas:
•1.8 billion global viewers
•62% Gen Z
•68% female audience
•Average 7.3 episodes watched daily
•47% CAGR, nearly triple long-form drama
She emphasized:
“Shooting a drama is only its first life. Distribution is its second life—the one that lets it take root, cross languages, and reach the world.”
ReelTree’s system enables:
•One-click upload → global distribution
•Coverage of 72 markets, 15 languages
• 24-hour global launch capability
•Ecosystem reaching 1.8B monthly exposures, 120M downloads, USD 42M revenue per month
Distribution, therefore, is not an accessory but the core engine of success.
Lan Shili: Short-Drama Globalization Requires a Sustainable Ecosystem
Lan Shili, Chairman of Eaststar Group, delivered a panoramic analysis of China’s short-drama internationalization.
•China’s 2025 short-drama market estimated at USD 63–87 billion
•Over 700 million domestic users
•~74,000 enterprises in the industry
•Overseas downloads exceed 270 million, reaching 237 countries
Future trends:
•AI deeply integrated into scriptwriting, editing, and recommendation systems
•VR/AR enabling immersive viewing
•Gamification and interactive storytelling
•Joint international production ecosystems
China’s short dramas must shift from “instant stimulation” to high-quality, story-rich artistic value, expanding into a sustainable global creative system.
Chen Weizhong: Building Bridges for Regional and International Short-Drama Collaboration
Chen Weizhong, Chairman of Yipin Film & TV, introduced the Ziyun Mountain Film Innovation Hub in Anhui and its role in strengthening regional cultural and short-drama production.
Internationally, the company collaborates with:
•ISDA
•Thai–China Media Promotion Association
•Toronto Film Festival
It supports multilingual translation via iFlytek and assists with global cultural export. Its non-profit team now operates centers in Australia, Spain, Korea, Japan, and more.
Zhao Qianqian: Content Is King—The Key to Viral Success
Director and producer Zhao Qianqian, a winner of ISDA’s Golden Unicorn Award, has produced 18 short dramas.
His first short drama “I Wish You Were You” became a major hit on Dropbox, generating substantial revenue.
He stressed:
“Great short dramas still rely on originality, strong characters, excellent scenes, and compelling conflict. Viral hits always come from strong creative content.”
Zhang Dong: New Technologies Will Reshape Creation and Viewing Habits
Zhang Dong, Chairman of Thailand’s ARTOP Media, highlighted:
•ARTOP is the largest importer of Thai dramas into China
•Has adapted numerous Chinese novels and TV shows into Thai versions
•Co-produced “Manbo Destiny,” winner of the ISDF “Best International Co-Production Short Drama Award”
He noted that wearable screens may soon surpass mobile phones, causing a new explosion in viewing formats—beyond long/short or vertical/horizontal distinctions. Success will depend on delivering strong content through diversified distribution channels.
Hai Huang: The Cultural Meaning of the Golden Unicorn Award and “Dragon-Horse Spirit”
Hai Huang, Assistant Chairman of Hantian Media Group and ISDA Secretary-General, designed the Golden Unicorn Award logo.
He explained:
•Oscars have the statuette
•Berlinale has the Golden Bear
•Cannes has the Palme d’Or
•Short dramas, as a new global art form, deserve an iconic international symbol
The “unicorn” represents purity, nobility, and loyalty in Western culture and symbolizes rarity and high-growth potential in modern business—perfectly fitting the short-drama industry.
The design incorporates Chinese symbolism through the imagery of the “Dragon-Horse”, embodying nobility, strength, and forward momentum.
He warned, however:
“The next one to two years will bring even fiercer industry upheaval. Rules may be rewritten. This is a survival-critical moment requiring strategic preparation.”
Conclusion
The forum concluded with enthusiastic discussion. Participants agreed that the rise of micro-short dramas is unstoppable and is already reshaping the next decade of global film and media.
The industry must face challenges head-on and jointly open a new chapter for global short-drama expansion.
The International Short Drama Festival and its forum series received generous support from EastWest Bank, Kweichow Moutai Group, and Snail Games.
Next Forum Preview
Topic: Going Vertical: The Vertical Short Revolution
Date: Friday, November 14, 2025, 1:00–3:00 PM (Los Angeles)
Venue: 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095
Organizers: International Short Drama Association & UCLA