This Startup Is Betting on AI Microdramas to Get More Black Stories in Hollywood
Mansa says its AI microdramas can serve as proofs of concept for what Black audiences want. Critics say the studio is selling out.
In a bid to create more Black stories in Hollywood, startup Mansa is leveraging AI to produce microdramas, with their latest offering being the AI-generated show "They Left Us to Die." The 30-episode series is entirely AI-generated, with the plot centered around a zombie virus outbreak in South Los Angeles. The show's AI creation has sparked controversy among some in the industry, as the founders of Mansa, David Oyelowo and Nate Parker, were known for their efforts to uplift artists of color.
Critics argue that using AI to replace human roles is a sellout, while Parker maintains that Mansa is using AI as a tool to bring more awareness to Black audiences and test the appetite for diverse stories before committing to more expensive production methods. Microdramas have gained popularity in recent years, due to their low production costs and the increasing attention spans of viewers.
The market for these short, minute-long shows is expected to reach $14 billion by 2027, with streamers such as ReelShort, DramaBox, Hoorae Media, Issa Rae's production company, Juccee Shorts, and Urban Operas investing heavily in the format. However, some industry professionals, like J. Christopher Hamilton, an associate professor of communications at Syracuse and entertainment lawyer, argue that Mansa needs to better understand and address concerns about technology replacing artists' opportunities.
The backlash against "They Left Us to Die" is a direct result of this rapid evolution, as audiences decide what content succeeds in this new landscape.
Written by urgent.news from Wired's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
