Kristy Wang: "If you can't capture the audience's attention, the series is over"

Wenwen Han met with Kristy Wang, a Los Angeles-based producer and founder of Tiklatam, to analyze how the short drama has established itself as one of the key post-pandemic formats and why it is now structuring a new mobile entertainment economy.

For Kristy Wang, the starting point is a profound shift in usage. After the pandemic, leisure time became fragmented, and the phone became the primary screen. Short dramas fit directly into this reality: very short episodes, designed to be watched anywhere, without a long commitment. "Everyone wants to watch short content on their phone," she summarizes.

This constraint radically alters the writing and production process. Where traditional series can develop their narrative over several episodes, short dramas demand immediate impact. Kristy Wang emphasizes the importance of the opening minutes: "If you can't capture the audience's attention in the first ten episodes, the series is over."

The development of the format in Spanish is also a natural progression. According to Kristy Wang, the short drama draws on a culture already very familiar with melodramatic narratives, while catering to younger and more mobile audiences than those of traditional television.

In this context, TikTok plays a central role. For Kristy Wang, the platform is now the main driver of discovery and organic traffic. It allows for content testing and quickly gauging audience interest. "It's currently the most effective way to get organic traffic," she explains.

Finally, Kristy Wang doesn't see short dramas as a competitor destined to replace film or television. She anticipates a phase of convergence instead. Traditional actors, she believes, will seek to collaborate with this format. "They're bound to find a way to collaborate," she asserts.

Interview conducted by Wenwen Han. Check out her YouTube channel.

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