The year 2025 marks a pivotal moment for China’s short drama industry. This wave of innovation has not only swept across more than 600 million domestic users but is also expanding its global influence at an unprecedented pace — with the overseas market projected to reach USD 3.2 billion, a 200% year-on-year increase. Short dramas have evolved beyond snackable entertainment to become a new engine driving both industrialization and internationalization of audiovisual culture. As global content supply struggles to meet localized demand, the value of China’s creative and production experience is becoming increasingly evident.
Amid this wave, Hengdian World Studios has emerged as a leading powerhouse in the short drama ecosystem,agile, open, and forward-thinking. As of October 2025, Hengdian has hosted over 3,000 vertical short dramas, three times the volume of the previous year. From on-site production and studio facilities to a complete ecosystem of services, Hengdian not only provides the physical infrastructure to sustain rapid industry growth but also promotes a systemic model that integrates quality production with global collaboration.At the heart of this vision is the Hengdian International Short Drama Alliance, established in 2024 by the Global Development Division of Hengdian World Studios. As an open, project-driven platform that integrates content creation, platform globalization, technological empowerment, and talent cultivation, the Alliance aims to foster global synergy in short drama production, turning “the China(Hengdian) model”into a globally shared creative framework.
It was in this very context that a 16-member delegation from Singapore’s Mediacorp arrived in Hengdian for a multi-day study and exchange program. The group included professionals across key creative and production roles: from production management, screenwriting, and directing to cinematography, editing, and creative planning. Their visit was not a simple “fact-finding trip,” but rather a cross-cultural dialogue,a shift from learning to co-creation, from observation to collaboration.
To support this China–Singapore industry exchange, the Global Development Division of Hengdian World Studios curated a series of comprehensive seminars covering the entire short drama production chain. Participants included representatives from leading short drama production companies, academic experts, top-tier platform executives, digital marketing specialists, post-production supervisors, costume and styling designers, and experienced producers and directors.The seminars spanned every stage of production—from creative development and shooting, to art direction, editing, monetization strategies, and business analytics，offering Mediacorp a holistic understanding of how the Chinese short drama ecosystem operates.
Through this intensive and structured engagement, the Mediacorp delegation gained first-hand insights into China’s vertical short drama industry, characterized by rapid iteration, data-driven decision-making, and a seamless fusion of content and commerce. They also explored how creative storytelling in China is closely intertwined with branding, audience behavior, and algorithmic ecosystems, striking a dynamic balance between market logic and artistic expression.
The discussions naturally deepened into more reflective territory, from narrative rhythm and visual aesthetics to the psychology of audiences and industrial operations. Both sides posed crucial questions:When the speed and scale of Chinese production meet the precision and systematization of Singaporean filmmaking, can a new hybrid model emerge,the one that blends efficiency with excellence?And how can China’s homegrown creative momentum be distilled into globally transferable storytelling methodologies and management frameworks?These conversations went beyond cultural exchange,they represented a shared inquiry into how the future language of filmmaking might evolve.
To gain a more intuitive sense of China’s short drama ecosystem, the Mediacorp team visited Hua Xia Cultural Park, modern short drama sets, and period filming bases across Hengdian. What they witnessed was not only an abundance of diverse and cinematic shooting environments, nor merely the precision and efficiency of local crews, but an entire mature and interconnected production ecosystem, where creative development, costume and set design, logistical coordination, and casting operate seamlessly in unison.What impressed the delegation most was not Hengdian’s immense physical infrastructure, but its ability to export “soft power” — its creative methodologies, production know-how, professional talent systems, and cultural insight.
Hengdian World Studios is no longer just a filming base ,it is becoming a hub for global audiovisual dialogue, a platform for cultural co-creation, and a bridge for international talent mobility. As short dramas the“small spheres”of modern storytelling continue to roll outward, they are not only linking China and Singapore, but also propelling cross-cultural connection and collaboration across the global film and television landscape.