25Q4 | Directing the Soap Opera 2.0 Mauricio Osaki on Crafting the Future of Short Dramas

Today’s episode features a conversation from our 2025 Q4 Short Drama Forum, with Mauricio Osaki — filmmaker and creative director of Lupi Films , where he develops original short dramas and leads localization for multiple global platforms. In this interview, Mauricio shares how he first entered the vertical-drama space, what makes mobile-first storytelling fundamentally different from film and television, and why he believes the essence of short dramas is a modern, mobile version of the soap opera. We also talk about the craft behind directing: fixing cultural mismatches in localization, choosing actors who can carry emotional intensity in one-minute scenes, and shaping pacing through table reads and post-production. Mauricio offers practical advice for new actors and writers entering the industry, and discusses which genres — from sports to military to horror — are emerging beyond CEO romance. 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