Wuhan Man, 35, Earns Over 10,000 Yuan Monthly Using AI to Create Short Dramas
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago5 MIN
Summary
A 35-year-old Wuhan man named Zhang (張) has transformed his lifelong love of novels into a thriving career through AI-generated short dramas. Starting in March 2026, he taught himself AI tools to independently produce short dramas, accumulating 80 million views and earning over 10,000 yuan (approximately 12,000 HKD) per month. Despite having only a secondary technical school education and no formal film training, Zhang handles every aspect of production himself, from story conception and scriptwriting to character modeling, voiceover, and editing. He believes the key to success lies not in mastering AI tools but in creative storytelling ability.
Key Points
- Zhang (張) from Wuhan, Hubei Province, began self-learning AI technology in March 2026 to create short dramas independently
- His AI short dramas have accumulated 80 million views, generating monthly income exceeding 10,000 yuan (approximately 12,000 HKD)
- Production costs can be as low as 800 yuan (approximately 941 HKD), making it highly cost-effective compared to traditional filmmaking
- He previously worked in food service, fruit, and clothing industries before transitioning to AI content creation
- Income comes from three sources: platform revenue sharing, advertising partnerships, and teaching AI production techniques to aspiring creators
Why It Matters
This case demonstrates how generative AI is democratizing content creation, allowing individuals without formal training or large production teams to compete in the entertainment industry. For Hong Kong creators facing high production costs and limited resources, AI-powered tools offer a viable path to reach global audiences with minimal investment. Zhang's success also highlights that storytelling remains a uniquely human skill that AI cannot replicate, suggesting creators who combine narrative creativity with technical adaptability will have the strongest competitive edge.
This case demonstrates how generative AI is democratizing content creation, allowing individuals without formal training or large production teams to compete in the entertainment industry. For Hong Kong creators facing high production costs and limited resources, AI-powered tools offer a viable path to reach global audiences with minimal investment. Zhang's success also highlights that storytelling remains a uniquely human skill that AI cannot replicate, suggesting creators who combine narrative creativity with technical adaptability will have the strongest competitive edge.