TikTok has partnered with Made By Us Studios to co-produce a slate of creator-led vertical micro-series for TikTok and PineDrama, unveiling the first two projects at MIPCOM Cannes.
The initial titles are Player, a romantic revenge thriller starring Hannah Stocking (pictured), and The Knock, a genre series starring Adam Rose opposite Zaria Simone.
“Micro-series are pioneering a new language of storytelling,” said Dawn Yang, global head of entertainment & micro-series at TikTok. “We’re thrilled to partner with Made By Us on a slate that puts creators at the centre, alongside established producers and industry talent, to tell stories designed for the feed from the start. This is an exciting step forward in our continued investment in the next generation of premium vertical storytelling on TikTok and PineDrama.”
Made By Us Studios is powered by creator management company Made By All and led by co-CEOs Tanya Cohen and Leanne Perice. The partnership aims to bring creators together with established producers and industry talent to develop scripted projects for vertical viewing.
“Creators have already transformed how audiences discover talent, culture and entertainment. Vertical series are the next evolution of that relationship,” said Cohen. “The opportunity isn’t to make smaller versions of television – it’s to build an entirely new premium storytelling language around the way audiences actually consume entertainment today. TikTok understands that behaviour at a global scale, and together we have the opportunity to build franchises with creators who arrive with audience, community and cultural relevance already built in.”
Player is produced by Jonas Barnes and written by Arun Blair-Mangat and Chela Reyna, with co-story by Stocking, who also serves as an executive producer. Louiza Zouzias directs. Stocking has 29.7 million TikTok followers, according to the announcement.
The Knock is created and directed by R.H. Stavis and executive produced by Spooky Pictures in collaboration with Moby’s Little Walnut Productions. Moby also composed the music. Rose, who has seven million TikTok followers, stars alongside Simone, whose credits include Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.
Perice said: “This partnership with TikTok opens an exciting new path for creators to develop scripted stories, take on leading roles and help shape the projects they’re part of.”
The agreement follows TikTok’s partnership with Issa Rae’s Hoorae on Screen Time, which launched exclusively on TikTok and PineDrama in April. TikTok said the series has generated nearly 580 million views globally, making it the highest-performing show across the two platforms.
Made By Us also recently formed an alliance with Denstu Entertainment, a sign that brands are also planning to muscle in on the burgeoning micro-series opportunity.
