Online scripted drama: what TV & film producers should know

There is movement afoot in the online scripted drama world. Which is hardly surprising considering the general upending of TV and film, changing user behaviours, the rise of the creator economy, the fallout of the first phase of the streaming wars, covid, and the impact on cinema.

Scripted drama has long been a tricky genre to get to work in the direct to consumer/creator market. Obviously a key reason for that is the cost of production is so much higher than unscripted (or sketch comedy, which has found a way to be produced cheaply while also being funny). For scripted narrative drama, trying to do it on the cheap while still aiming for TV or film sensibilities has often resulted in audiences being much more likely to spot the holes in the storytelling or performance. As a result the experience can be unsatisfying and in the past digital scripted content can sometimes come up short in comparison with both more authentic creator content or the premium output from streamers and broadcasters.

However, after a period of not much action on this front, there’s been movement on this front worth exploring:

• The rise of microdrama apps

• New funding platforms

• Streamers and broadcasters getting into vertical formats and short form drama

• Development routes for the next generation of scripted show runners and film makers.