L.A.-Based Producer Zikun Wu Bridges Chinese Entertainment Experience and the Global Rise of Vertical Drama - MovieMaker Magazine
L.A.-Based Producer Zikun Wu Bridges Chinese Entertainment Experience and the Global Rise of Vertical Drama
By Deirdre McCarrick Updated: May 14, 2026SHARE
Los Angeles-based producer Zikun Wu has built her career across film development, vertical drama, and international production, bringing a cross-cultural production perspective to a screen industry increasingly shaped by global collaboration and mobile-first storytelling.
Trained in film at ArtCenter College of Design, Wu’s producing background connects China and the United States, traditional film development and mobile-first entertainment. That cross-market perspective was shaped not only by her later experience with Warner Bros. China, but also by her earlier work in Chinese literary and screen development, where she participated in projects including You Fei and Tiger and Crane, connected to major platforms such as iQIYI and Tencent Video.
Her experience with Warner Bros. China became another important foundation in that path. There, she gained exposure to the development and production ecosystem behind commercial theatrical features, including Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass, and saw how studio-level projects move through creative development, market positioning, localization, and large-scale release planning.
Together, these experiences gave Wu a producer’s view of storytelling: a project is not only a script, but a system of creative choices, production realities, audience expectations, market positioning, and commercial strategy. For a producer working between China, the United States, and global digital platforms, the work is also about aligning creative vision with the realities of different markets, production systems, audience behaviors, and business models.
Now based in Los Angeles, Wu works as a producer and creative producer in the overseas vertical drama space. Her credits include Callboy Punishes Me After Sunrise, Saved by a Gardener on My Wedding Day, Mute But Deadly, Her Final Bet, Fated to My Ruthless Solider and Call Me Stepmom, Fxxkboy. These projects reflect one of the fastest-moving areas of global entertainment, where China’s experience in short-form, high-volume, emotionally driven storytelling is being adapted for international audiences.
The rise of overseas vertical drama has created a new kind of production challenge. Projects often require Chinese creative or financing teams, English-language performers, U.S.-style shoots, international post-production workflows, and platform-facing delivery standards. For producers, the job is no longer limited to scheduling and coordination. It requires the ability to integrate resources across countries, align teams with different working methods, and make fast creative and logistical decisions under compressed production timelines.
Wu’s role sits directly inside that bridge. Her work can involve assembling international resources, aligning Chinese production teams with local American cast and crew, shaping scripts for different audience expectations, supporting casting and poster direction, managing shooting logistics, coordinating post-production, and keeping the project aligned with both platform demands and market realities. In a format where stories move fast and production cycles are compressed, that ability to turn cross-border complexity into a workable production system is becoming increasingly valuable.
Wu sees vertical drama as part of a larger transformation in global entertainment, especially as mobile-first storytelling moves beyond a single market and becomes more international.
“More filmmakers and producers now come from multicultural backgrounds, and that perspective matters,” Wu said. “When a project is made for a global audience, it is not enough to simply translate the dialogue. You have to understand how different audiences respond to emotion, pacing, genre, and character.”
She believes the overseas vertical drama market still has significant room to grow, particularly as more creators learn to combine local production resources with international storytelling instincts. “Some vertical drama companies are now shooting as many as nine short dramas in a single month,” Wu said. “That kind of speed shows how much demand there is, but it also means productions need people who can move quickly, integrate resources, and understand different markets.” She added, “There is a lot of opportunity in this space. I would love to see more people with cross-cultural backgrounds participate, because they can help stories travel in a more organic way.”
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
