China’s fast-growing vertical micro-drama industry—smartphone-native series with one- to two-minute episodes designed for vertical viewing—has become a cultural phenomenon. In 2023, the sector generated roughly US $5.2 billion in China and is now expanding to Hollywood, where micro-drama apps are projected to reach US $1.3 billion in revenue by 2025. Once dismissed as a low-budget novelty, the format has evolved into a global storytelling medium attracting studios, investors, and young audiences worldwide

Behind many of these emerging cross-border collaborations is Shuainan ( Shannon) Yang , a producer recognized for connecting film schools, studios, and global platforms to cultivate new talent and develop unified production standards.

As co-founder of Spring Reel ( Hangzhou Xili

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