Rising with the Times: Unveiling the Secrets Behind the Popularity of Micro-Series
On June 8, 2024, at 5:00 PM PST, the Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. held its 2024 Film & TV Forum on ZOOM, themed “Decoding the Creative Secrets of Micro-Series: Insights from the ‘Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. Cup’ Competition”.
In the past two years, with the rise of internet short videos, micro-series—a new format emerging on social video platforms—have become immensely popular.
To promote innovation in micro-series and provide literature enthusiasts with a platform to showcase their talents, the first Global Micro-Series Scriptwriting Competition (“Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. Cup”), jointly organized by the Chinese Writers Association in the U.S., Dreamood Pictures, and the World Chinese Microfiction Research Association, began accepting submissions on May 15, 2024.
The competition features five thematic categories:
Triumphant Comeback: Stories of setbacks and adversity, rebirth and triumph. Protagonists rise like a phoenix even in the darkest moments.
Personal Growth: Journeys from ordinary to extraordinary, achieving value and recognition through personal transformation.
Romantic Love: Exploring the complexities of love through passionate first encounters, lasting relationships, tacit understanding, and steadfast commitment.
Feminism: Characters break free from constraints, pursue equality and freedom, and showcase female empowerment.
Cultural Clash: Depicting interactions between people from different cultural backgrounds, exploring conflicts and reconciliation, and highlighting the beauty of multiculturalism.
The submission period runs from May 15 to August 30, 2024, with preliminary, secondary, and final evaluations. Winners will be announced by the end of 2024.
Winning scripts will be recommended to film and television production companies, and an anthology titled “Winning Works of the First ‘Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. Cup’ Global Micro-Series Scriptwriting Competition” will be published, featuring the award-winning entries.
To further promote the competition and clarify the principles of micro-series scriptwriting, the association invited Eno Q, permanent member of the association, screenwriter and producer, and Vice Chair of the competition organizing committee as well as President of Dreamood Pictures, to deliver a keynote lecture. Her presentation, “Decoding the Creative Secrets of the ‘Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. Cup’ Competition: Insights into Micro-Series Scriptwriting”, shared her experience and creative insights.
The forum was moderated by Ren Guoping, member of the Arts Committee for Fiction and Film & TV, with technical support provided by Dr. Shi Deliang.
At the opening, Dr. Li Xian, Chairman of the Chinese Writers Association in the U.S., provided a concise introduction on the significance of the forum and the competition. Eno Q then delivered a lively, fast-paced, and meticulously organized lecture covering six key aspects of micro-series creation:
Genres and Themes of Micro-Series
Business Models for Micro-Series
Script Structure for an 80-Episode Series
Plot Twists in Single Episodes
Character Development in Micro-Series
Localization of Micro-Series for U.S. Audiences
She shared her years of experience in scriptwriting and production, as well as forward-looking insights on industry trends.
Watch the forum video:
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Ufg4eCEva/?vd_source=529e269d7cc6736762dc5717465ee641
