TikTok and Singapore's IMDA partner on microdrama initiative

TikTok and Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) have launched a joint initiative to develop local expertise in microdrama production. The programme aims to create a pipeline of original intellectual property rooted in Singaporean culture and perspectives.

Media professionals from 20 accredited companies will participate in the initial phase, receiving training over six to nine months. The curriculum covers storytelling techniques for vertical content, including shot design, composition, and cliffhanger creation. Participants can choose between two tracks: a live-action track that may use AI for assistance, and an AI-enabled animation track utilizing tools such as ByteDance’s Seedance 2.

The initiative targets the growing short-form video market, which is projected to generate $150 billion in global revenue this year. The training is designed to help creators produce series of 50 to 100 episodes, with each episode lasting between one and three minutes.