Company Overview
ShortMax is a fast-growing global vertical drama platform with worldwide business coverage. As one of the fastest-evolving players in the serialized short drama industry, we are revolutionizing entertainment consumption for global audiences.
In 2025, ShortMax officially entered the AI content track and has now become the world’s top-ranked AI content enterprise. Boasting a team of over 10,000 employees and a mature global content production system, we focus on developing and distributing hit vertical dramas tailored for mobile viewing. Our productions feature tight pacing and high emotional engagement, covering diverse genres including romance, billionaire lifestyle, werewolf/urban fantasy, revenge, and family relationship dramas.
Our content is widely released on TikTok, proprietary platforms and multiple multimedia channels, reaching hundreds of millions of global viewers. We launch more than 100 new short dramas every month. Adhering to innovation and premium content creation, we strive to build a world-class, audience-centric global content ecosystem. Join us to shape the future of global short-form serialized storytelling.
Position Overview
The Vertical Drama Localization Screenwriter will be responsible for researching, adapting and polishing serialized vertical drama scripts optimized for vertical mobile viewing. You will transform web novel IPs, story outlines and creative concepts into high-quality, engaging scripts, designing complete story arcs, core emotional beats and attractive cliffhangers, and adjusting narrative pacing to fit the viewing preferences of Western audiences.
Ideal candidates possess solid dramatic storytelling capabilities and in-depth expertise in romance, young adult (YA), family drama, urban fantasy and related genres. You are efficient in writing and flexible in content iteration, with strong teamwork and communication skills. You will actively participate in writer workshops, deliver creative insights, and help elevate the overall creative standards of our global drama content.
This role is tailored for mid-level writers with 3–5 years of professional screenwriting or serialized content creation experience, especially those passionate about emotional and romance-driven storytelling. If you thrive in a dynamic creative environment and excel at crafting addictive stories, we welcome your application.
Key Responsibilities
1. Story Development & Script Adaptation
Analyze web novels and existing scripts, and adapt them into well-structured serialized vertical drama screenplays. Create original storylines, full outlines and episodic scripts (1–2 minutes per episode, 60–120 episodes per season). Restructure long-form literary content into short-form episodic narratives with compelling hooks and powerful emotional payoffs.
2. Data-Driven Content Optimization
Optimize narrative pacing, emotional scenes and cliffhanger arrangements based on viewer playback data and audience retention metrics. Refine episode openings, content transitions and overall story flow to maximize audience engagement and stickiness.
3. Original Creation & Team Collaboration
Produce original creative content for the platform’s in-house projects. Collaborate closely with writers, editors, translators and producers throughout script development and revision processes.
Participate in script table reads and evaluations, and provide professional, constructive feedback.
4. Cross-Cultural Localization
Localize and revise Chinese-origin short drama scripts for Western markets, ensuring cultural appropriateness, logical emotional progression, and authentic character motivations.
5. Production Support
Provide ongoing script updates and revisions during production to ensure final works align with the original creative vision.
Requirements
- 3+ years of professional experience in screenwriting, creative writing, serialized fiction creation or equivalent storytelling roles.
- Exceptional creative writing skills with proven experience in romance, YA, family drama, werewolf/urban fantasy and related genres.
- Bachelor’s degree in English, Creative Writing, Literature, History, Fine Arts, Film, Screenwriting or other related fields.
- Ability to write emotionally intense and sensitive content as required by project demands.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to quickly understand and implement revision feedback.
- Enthusiastic about reading web novels and serialized fiction, with solid knowledge of online romance content trends.
- Able to work under pressure and consistently meet tight project deadlines.
- Preferred Qualifications
- Hands-on experience creating vertical short-form content for TikTok or similar social platforms.
- Prior experience adapting content for Western and North American markets.
- Professional background in writer’s rooms, film studios or fiction publishing industries.
- Ability to mentor junior writers and excel in collaborative group creation.
- Adaptable to fast-paced iterative creative workflows and startup-style working environment.
- Flexible to collaborate across US-Asia time zones.
Culture & Benefits
We foster an open, collaborative and globalized working culture that empowers creators to innovate freely and deliver bold creative works to hundreds of millions of audiences worldwide.
- Full-time and project-based opportunities available
- Full-time salary range: $70,000 – $130,000 per year and potential performance bonuses
- Medical, financial, 401k and other employee benefits available for eligible employees
- H-1B sponsorship may be considered for eligible full-time roles
Equal Opportunity Statement
- ShortMax is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. We strictly prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state and local laws.
Pay: $55,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Language:
Work Location: In person
