In the United Kingdom, a first production company takes the Duanju turn

We're in London, and a new generation of creators is taking on the Duanju format. Among them, Onset Octopus is emerging as a key player in this transition to mobile drama. Already more than 15 series produced. Founded by producer Ben Pengilly , the studio is churning out vertical dramas delivered to platforms like DramaBox and ReelShort.

Its team is cosmopolitan, experienced, and built for the vertical format. Samantha has produced six series since 2024, including My Serial Killer Lover . Award-winning director Dan Löwenstein blends dramatic tension with social issues. Hui Zhang, trained in China and at the London Film School, masters the codes of mobile storytelling. The studio also collaborates with Andrea Catinella, Jenn Ravenna Tran, and Henk Pretorius, from Italy, the United States, and South Africa, all specialists in short, visual, and effective storytelling.

Onset Octopus aims to make the United Kingdom a new creative hub for vertical drama. Located in the heart of a pool of English-speaking actors, Pengilly benefits from a strategic advantage: offering content in English, the genre's main export language.

Sources:

• The Times , July 22, 2025