25Q4 | What Fans Want: Jen Cooper on Story Shifts, Viewer Trends, and Global Fandom

Today’s episode comes from our 2025 Q4 Short Drama Forum, Featuring Jen Cooper — founder of Vertical Drama Love , a global vertical-drama advocate, media commentator, and one of the most influential community-builders in the space. In this conversation, Jen shares how she entered the industry as a fan and became a bridge between creators and audiences worldwide. We discuss fan behavior, global viewing trends, the rise of vertical-drama awards and festivals, and how fan feedback is shaping what gets made. She also talks about shifts in storytelling, concerns around violence and AI-generated content, and why she believes women — and viewers who actually watch vertical dramas — have unique advantages in this ecosystem. Let’s dive in. 📘 Want to dive deeper into the storytelling logic behind global short dramas? Check out my book — Short Drama Writing 101: From Industry Logic to Social Psychology — a 126-page guide for producers, writers, and platform strategists. 👉 https://payhip.com/b/K82oz 🌿 Just starting out or curious about how short dramas work? Try my online course — Short Drama Writing 101 for Everyone — designed for grassroots creators and newcomers who want to understand short-drama storytelling in a fun, accessible way. 👉 https://payhip.com/b/oMALI