Universities Embrace Microdramas: A New Trend in Education and Industry
The world of entertainment is witnessing a fascinating shift as microdramas, short and captivating stories designed for mobile screens, are gaining immense popularity. Amid this boom, educational institutions are incorporating microdramas into their curricula, preparing students for a rapidly evolving industry.
Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts in California has integrated microdramas into its writing for evolving mediums class, which also covers podcast and video game writing. UCLA has launched the Picture Start initiative, offering extracurricular masterclasses on this emerging medium. The University of Cincinnati has taken it a step further, teaching students how to act in microdramas, including the production of three short films.
This trend coincides with a production 'gold rush' in Hollywood for microdramas, or 'verticals' as they're called, due to their phone-screen-friendly format. These series, often resembling soap operas, typically consist of 60 to 90-second episodes, which first gained traction in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, platforms like ReelShort and DramaBox, along with investments from major entertainment companies, have brought them to the U.S. market.
Professors are embracing this new programming to diversify students' skill sets, especially in a challenging landscape for traditional acting and writing jobs. George Huang, a professor at UCLA's school of theater, film, and television, notes the anxiety among students about post-graduation employment. Verticals, he says, are currently booming and growing, offering a potential career path.
At the University of Cincinnati's Digital Performance Lab, students have produced a medical drama, a sitcom set in a Midwest grocery store, and an upcoming high school demon-hunting diary. Professor D'Arcy Smith, who teaches acting for the camera, shifted his focus to microdramas after discovering that recent graduates were auditioning for such roles. The acting demands in microdramas differ significantly from typical screen work, requiring actors to deliver compelling performances in very short episodes with cliffhanger endings.
Smith explains that creating a memorable performance in 90 seconds requires a more theatrical approach, emphasizing body language. The scenes are then shared on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, and casting agents are informed, providing students with industry exposure before their senior showcases.
However, the lack of resources and course guides is a challenge for educators. Michael Weiss, a lecturer at Chapman, who teaches screenwriting seniors to write for verticals, admits to having little prior knowledge of microdramas when he started teaching in August. He had to research the topic as it gained media attention, reaching a level of popularity comparable to AI discussions in Hollywood.
To prepare his class, Weiss sought guidance from DramaBox employees, obtaining their internal scriptwriting guide, which includes a mathematical formula for episode scripting. He acknowledges the difficulty in acquiring professional vertical drama scripts for reference.
Students have been actively studying microdramas, deconstructing them, and learning from writers in the field. Weiss advises them to write for a single location, considering the low-budget nature of verticals, and to include multiple characters per scene. He describes the overall style as a blend of 'Twilight' and soap operas.
Despite the apparent job opportunities, there's a debate about integrating verticals into traditional screenwriting and film curricula. Some worry that it might be the 'nail in the coffin' for the film industry. However, Huang believes that the younger generation has the potential to elevate verticals to a more artistic and meaningful level.
Nikolai Gray and Dinithi Fernando, senior acting majors at the University of Cincinnati, were initially unfamiliar with verticals but have embraced the acting challenges. Gray, who played a demon in one microdrama, finds the format unique and engaging. Fernando highlights the fast-paced nature of microdramas, requiring quick decision-making to capture and retain viewers.
Both students plan to pursue acting careers in New York, viewing verticals as a valuable addition to their skill set. Gray acknowledges the industry's unpredictability but feels prepared due to his educational experience with microdramas.
As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, the integration of microdramas into education and the industry's response to this trend will shape the future of storytelling and acting.
