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The Hindu
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Power of micro-dramas
In February this year, Kuku FM launched Kuku TV, a new vertical dedicated to micro-dramas — short-form TV shows with episodes lasting just a couple of minutes, shot entirely in vertical format for smartphone consumers. The platform features a vast catalogue of dubbed micro-dramas from around the world, alongside original in-house Hindi productions with titles such as Rented Husband, Revenge of My Fake Boyfriend, and Gumshuda Waris (The Missing Heir). Micro-dramas have emerged as a significant trend in the world of streaming since their inception about six years ago. According to a 2025 study by Omdia, Asia's top five micro-drama apps, for instance, reached a cumulative MAU (monthly active users) total of 150 million. Today, most major streaming platforms have micro-drama projects in the pipeline, with smaller players like Kuku — and their American predecessors such as DramaBox and ReelShort — joining the fray. With attention spans shrinking in the age of endless scrolling, it's easy to see why studio executives are placing big bets on this radically condensed storytelling format. Data-driven dramas How did creators and producers discover the potential of micro-dramas? It all began with data. After the initial streaming boom between 2013 and 2016, platforms took a step back to analyse vast amounts of viewer data collected over the years. They asked: what are people watching during the day, at night, during commutes, or just before bedtime? At what exact moment were viewers tuning out? How long do typical binge-watching sessions last? What's the maximum episode length before viewership starts to drop? This treasure trove of data allowed streamers to come to certain 'organic' conclusions about our collective viewing habits, paving the way for the current wave of micro-dramas. In Hollywood, this business model gave rise to Quibi (2018-2020), a startup that has since become a cautionary tale in the streaming industry. Quibi experienced exponential subscriber growth in its first year, focusing on high-quality short-form content designed for on-the-go consumption — the name itself derived from 'quick bites.' In 2018, its founders raised over a billion dollars from industry giants such as Disney, WarnerMedia, and Sony. The service launched amidst much fanfare, with original programming that included Most Dangerous Game by Nick Santora (creator of Amazon's hit Reacher) and the horror anthology 50 States of Fright, featuring renowned actors like Rory Culkin and Rachel Brosnahan in standalone episodes under 10 minutes. However, Quibi's rise was short-lived. The company expanded too rapidly without a clear strategy for sustainable revenue generation. It soon folded, and in 2021, its entire content library was acquired by the streaming platform Roku. TikTok did it first Like any disruption to an established ecosystem, micro-dramas come with both benefits and drawbacks. On the positive side, they offer a valuable crash course for emerging actors, directors, and crew members. They learn to shoot quickly and efficiently — often on shoestring budgets — since elaborate sets aren't necessary when even the sofa the character sits on is barely visible. The rate at which smartphone cameras have advanced has helped the micro-drama thrive. Editing also becomes especially crucial in this format, providing young editors with a unique opportunity to hone their skills. However, the downsides are equally apparent. Aside from a few notable exceptions, many micro-dramas suffer from amateurish execution. The acting is over the top, the editing is frenetic to the point of being a seizure-risk, and the overall tone sometimes resembles adults trying to watch cartoons with a straight face. It's a shame because the amateur Indian productions that predated (and undoubtedly influenced) today's micro-dramas were often far more imaginative, both in storytelling and performance. Several western creators have even acknowledged the influence of these early Indian TikToks, known for their brevity and fast-paced thrillers. In my view, those videos (now defunct since the app is banned in India) were superior in almost every way to the professionally produced mini-dramas currently circulating. If the likes of Amazon and Netflix are indeed looking to make micro-dramas a part of their libraries, I feel like they'd do better (especially outside of the metros) if the products are a little rough around the edges, a little 'amateurish' on purpose. After all, it's not just the brevity that makes these two-minute dramas and thrillers work; it's also the DIY ethos of it all. Unfortunately, that aspect is often the first to go out of the window once corporate behemoths enter the picture. The writer and journalist is working on his first book of non-fiction.
Forbes
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Arnold Schwarzenegger And Carrie Anne-Moss On ‘FUBAR' Season 2's Tango Scene And More
Carrie-Anne Moss and Arnold Schwarzenegger in "FUBAR" Season 2. The hit Netflix action comedy FUBAR is back with Season 2 and as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carrie Anne-Moss found out, series creator Nick Santora had some tricky moves in store for his stars. Moss is new to the FUBAR cast after the success of Season 1 of the series in 2023. In FUBAR Season 1, retiring CIA Agent Luke Brunner (Schwarzenegger) gets the shock of his life on his final mission when he discovers a fellow agent he needs to rescue from a dangerous situation is his daughter, Emma (Monica Barbaro). To begin FUBAR Season 2 — which premieres on Netflix on Thursday — Luke, Emma and their fellow CIA team and family members are stuck living together in a safe house after ending the events of Season 1 in peril. The danger isn't over yet for the group, though, since a mysterious crime figure is planning to take down the entire U.S. power grid, which will plunge the world into chaos unless Luke and his team can stop it. One of the people they must go through to thwart the plans, however, is Greta Nelso (Moss), a former East German spy whom Luke had a romance with during the Cold War. Carrie-Anne Moss and Arnold Schwarzenegger in "FUBAR" Season 2. In the second episode of FUBAR Season 2, Schwarzenegger and Moss stage one of their most complicated scenes of the series, and it had less to do with action and more to do with dancing. As such, Schwarzenegger admitted in a Zoom conversation Tuesday that his and Moss' tango to flamenco music had him a bit nervous so he made sure he was well-rehearsed. 'There are certain scenes where I'm a little bit worried and that was one of the scenes,' Schwarzenegger said. 'I felt like, 'I don't know what it's gonna be like working with Carrie Anne' since I did not know her at the point when I read the scene." That all changed, though, when the two started practicing the dance scene together. But, Schwarzenegger added, dancing was only one of the key elements of the scene. 'Right away I felt relaxed because I felt like there was someone that believed, just like I did in doing a lot of reps to get in there and to work really hard,' Schwarzenegger noted. '[Plus we needed to] study the lines because it was four pages of dialogue during the dance sequence that we had to deliver and to make it fun at the same time. 'So for us to pick it up and to really be well prepared was the most important thing,' Schwarzenegger added. 'Carrie-Anne was just such a joy to work with, and I think because of her, we were able to put it off and make it one of the favorite scenes in the TV series.' Carrie-Anne Moss' Greta Nelso proves she's a force to be reckoned with from the minute she appears on screen opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in FUBAR Season 2. In the same Zoom conversation with Schwarzenegger, Moss said she loved bringing a wicked vibe to Greta, who has an amped-up Bond villain sort of charisma. I think she was written really well, and it was explained to me very clearly,' said of the role created by showrunner Nick Santora, who is also the acclaimed writer-producer behind the Prime Video hit Reacher. 'And then it's my job to try to slip in there and make it my own. I really enjoy playing characters that are just outrageous, [which is something] that I don't get to do that very often.' As such, Moss said she loved having the opportunity to be a commanding presence in FUBAR Season 2 and do things like 'walk into the room and smack Luke's butt with grace.' 'I mean, who does that, right? I mean, what woman does that in cinema?' Moss said. 'If we saw a guy doing that and we would be horrified. We'd be like [mimics a 'shocked' look]. But there's something so funny about her and that kind of confidence.' Also starring Fortune Feimster, Milan Carter, Travis Van Winkle, Fabiana Udenio, Jay Baruchel, Aparna Brielle, Andy Buckley and Scott Thompson, all eight episodes of FUBAR Season 2 — as well as Season 1 — are now streaming on Netflix.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Reacher' Season 3 Becomes Prime Video's Most-Watched Returning Season Ever With 54.6 Million Viewers After 19 Days
'Reacher' Season 3 is the most-watched returning season ever on Amazon's Prime Video, drawing a total of 54.6 million viewers globally. The figure, which is based on the season's first 19 days, marks a 0.5% increase from Season 2. More than half of the season's audience (56%) is based internationally, with outsized performance in UK, Germany, and Brazil. In addition to being the most-watched returning season for a Prime Video show, 'Reacher' Season 3 is also the most-watched season on the service since 'Fallout' Season 1 for the 19-day period. Based on Lee Child's novels, 'Reacher' is written for television by showrunner Nick Santora ('FUBAR,' 'Prison Break') and is produced by Amazon MGM Studios, Skydance Television, and CBS Studios. Season 3, which pulls from the 2003 book 'Persuader', sends star Alan Ritchson's righteous drifter to Maine, where he gets pulled into an investigation by a local DEA agent — and runs into a foe from his past. Child, Santora and Ritchson executive produce the series alongside Don Granger, Scott Sullivan, Mick Betancourt, and David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Matt Thunell for Skydance. Carolyn Harris and Kenny Madrid are the executives-in-charge of the series for Skydance Television. The post 'Reacher' Season 3 Becomes Prime Video's Most-Watched Returning Season Ever With 54.6 Million Viewers After 19 Days appeared first on TheWrap.
