The Los Angeles City Council has taken a bold step towards supporting the booming trend of microdramas by voting to explore the creation of a $5 million subsidy for these short-form vertical videos. With a unanimous 14-0 vote, the council has directed city staff to seek out public or private funding sources to bolster microdrama production in the city.
Councilman Bob Blumenfield, the mastermind behind this motion, highlighted the challenges faced by microdrama producers in qualifying for state tax credits. He emphasized the need to address this issue and provide support to this growing industry. Blumenfield drew inspiration from his brother Jay, a TV industry veteran who recently produced microdramas like “Her Heart, Held Hostage” and “Hired to Obey” for the MyDrama platform. Jay Blumenfield expressed optimism about the potential of microdramas in reviving the creative middle class in Los Angeles, which has been adversely affected by corporate consolidations and industry changes.
One of the major hurdles faced by microdrama productions is their limited budgets, typically around $200,000 per project. This financial constraint often makes it challenging to film in Los Angeles, despite California’s increased tax incentives. While the state expanded its tax incentive program to $750 million last year, projects must have a budget of at least $1 million to qualify. In comparison, Georgia allows for a minimum spend of $500,000 and permits producers to combine budgets from multiple projects to meet the threshold.
Microdramas, which are typically non-union productions, originated in China and have gained popularity globally. Many production companies specializing in microdramas are based in China, but there is a growing interest from American players in this genre. Bob Blumenfield envisions Los Angeles establishing itself as a hub for microdrama productions, attracting both domestic and foreign companies to shoot in the city.
In line with this vision, Blumenfield’s proposal includes initiatives to reduce permit fees and streamline the permit approval process for micro-budget productions. The city aims to create a “micro-budget concierge” service that would facilitate a swift three-day permit approval process for microdrama productions.
As microdramas continue to gain traction in the entertainment industry, Los Angeles is poised to capitalize on this trend by providing essential support and incentives for producers. The city’s proactive approach towards nurturing this burgeoning sector underscores its commitment to fostering creativity and innovation in the realm of short-form storytelling.
