Sunday, May 31, 2026

Vertical drama

The previous post discussed the new money-maker, Duanju, the Chinese term for the micro-dramas they created that are sweeping cell phones and reaping big financial rewards, and I submitted two draft episodes. Now I read in the Los Angeles Times (4/31/26) that the vertical/micro/cell phone genre has arrived in the U.S. and is raking in big bucks on Tik/Tok and other sites. What am I waiting for? While China procrastinates, America, here I come!

Suggested first episodes for two US produced vertical dramas:

Trump the Great

Episode 1

Open in Oval Office. President leans back in his chair, smirking as he reads a newspaper. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth paces anxiously behind the president, trying to attract his attention.

Hegseth: Sir, your ratings are sinking to new lows, even beneath last week’s 38%! Don’t we need to do something?

President (continuing to smirk, still looking at his paper): Like what? Pete, you’re ruining my morning.

Hegseth: With all due respect sir, how long can a president go on like this, in terms of screwing our allies…in terms of screwing yours and… well, my future careers?

President: Pete, you worry wart! You know, don’t you, that catastrophic turmoil is about to engulf the US and most of the world?

Hegseth: Well, I….

President: Yeah Pete, you know. And don’t you realize that when people are rushing around trying to survive, they won’t have time to protest their president? They’ll be too busy looking for food, shelter and so on.

Hegseth (smiling broadly): Sir, once again you prove the greatness of your vision!

President (broadening his smile and leaning back more): Good boy, Pete!

Estimated time of episode: 5 minutes.

Ricky, Boy Wonder

Episode 1

Open on Ricky, a 15 year old prodigy, known by teachers and friends (but not by his mother, Doris) for uncanny powers of prophesy. Ricky is lying on the bed in his room, writing in his notebook, when his mother bursts in.

Doris (putting hands on hips): Ricky, at it again? I’ve been asking you for two days to rake the back yard leaves!

Ricky: Mom, I’ll do it, but I’m on to something really critical, about….

Doris: I’ll give you something critical, young man, if you don’t rake those leaves!

Ricky: Please mom, at least let me tell you what I’m working on, then I promise I’ll rake the leaves.

Doris: You’ll rake them right after you spout your latest?

Ricky: Yes mom, right after you listen to me.

Doris: All right, Mr. Know-it-all, let’s hear it.

Ricky: Ok mom, I’ve been considering how the internet and cell phones are making it less and less necessary for people to be in each other’s presence in order to have relations.

Doris: Hey, why didn’t I think of that? Are you done? The leaves, you promised, remember?

Ricky: No mom, I’m not done. Also consider how every time you write something on your laptop, a message comes up asking if you’d like to improve your writing by letting an AI do it.

Doris: Ok, I’ve considered it. The leaves are waiting, buster.

Ricky: Mom, don’t you see what this means? It’s not just human jobs that will be phased out- it’s humans!

Doris: Don’t get smart with me buster! Get off that bed and do what you promised!

Ricky: Mom, we are developing ourselves out of physical existence! Future humans won’t need proximity, all they’ll need is to be plugged into each other.

Doris: Your big words don’t work on me, smart ass! Get off that bed and rake the leaves!

Ricky: Aw, mom.

Estimated time of episode: 5 minutes.

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