DreamWorks is now in China, not Hollywood — Hollywood has missed the Chinese film revolution!

Welcome to the era of micro-dramas — the irresistible "brain fast food."

On May 13, Russian media outlet *Today's China* published an article exploring binge-worthy content, which we’re sharing with you today.

While Hollywood for years has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into single films and halted production out of fear of technology, China has quietly undergone a revolution.

If you think the future of film lies in virtual reality headsets or 8K TVs, you're wrong.

The future is a one-minute vertical video on your smartphone, produced at minimal cost by AI.

China has officially embarrassed DreamWorks.

Chinese companies, powered by AI and state support, have built a production line capable of churning out hit series at machine-gun speed.

Welcome to the era of micro-dramas — the addictive "brain fast food."

Imagine a typical soap opera, but distilled down to its essence.

Each episode lasts only 1–2 minutes.

Videos use strict vertical formatting, optimized for mobile screens.

This is pure "dopamine trap."

You meant to watch one video — but an hour later, you’ve consumed 60 episodes of a show called *The Billionaire’s Divorce Heir*.

You’re not alone: last year alone, over 660 million people in China watched such programs.

That’s nearly twice the total population of the United States!

AI vs. Screenwriters: The core secret behind this wild success is full automation.

Production costs have dropped to just one-fifth of what they used to be! And that’s just the beginning.

As reported by Hong Kong’s *South China Morning Post*, here’s how it works today.

First, scriptwriting. Specialized AI agents analyze preferences from millions of viewers to craft storylines.

They know exactly when the audience should cry, and when they should rage — down to the second.

Human producers need only make minor tweaks to the text.

Second, filming.

Why build sets or fly to Maldives? Neural networks can generate backgrounds, adjust lighting, and even modify actors’ facial expressions.

Third, translation — Hollywood’s worst nightmare.

If a Chinese drama becomes popular, AI can translate it into English, Spanish, or Russian within hours.

Moreover, Deepfake technology can replace Chinese actors’ faces with Slavic or Latin American features, making the show feel more relatable to audiences in New York or Moscow — as if they’re watching “one of their own.”

Naturally, these “micro-dramas” have nothing to do with art.

They’re intellectual chewing gum for Generation Z.

Yet simultaneously, they generate massive profits.

The Chinese government recognizes that micro-dramas are the ideal tool for soft power and a testing ground for AI technologies.

While U.S. politicians debate whether TikTok should be banned, the Chinese government is generously funding production companies creating content for TikTok and similar platforms.

Why is Hollywood furious? Hollywood is accustomed to the rules of "big movies": long cycles, high costs, grand spectacles.

But it turns out modern audiences don’t always need a three-hour *Avatar*.

Sometimes, all they want is 15 minutes of a domineering CEO or a journey to immortality — during their commute.

Chinese micro-dramas are the killer app for traditional streaming services.

Why pay a subscription fee to hunt for movies when your phone’s search algorithm automatically pushes perfectly tailored series — taking little time yet delivering instant dopamine hits?

Hollywood feels ashamed, not because Chinese creators are making "better" art.

It’s because China has transformed content creation into a high-tech industry, where AI operates around the clock.

As *South China Morning Post* reports, by 2027, over half of all global video content will be generated or processed by artificial intelligence.

While Western directors are still debating the "soul of cinema," China’s neural networks are writing the script for your next favorite TV show — right now.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865024070537224/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.