Taiwan’s PTS XS, Third Culture, and S11 Collaborate for Youth Drama Lab

Taiwan’s burgeoning **youth content** sector is getting a major boost as **international players** join forces to nurture the next generation of **Chinese-language storytellers**. This collaboration aims to create engaging narratives that resonate with younger audiences, particularly focusing on the needs and challenges faced by **Gen Z** and **Alpha generations**.

**Third Culture Content (TCC)**, a **Los Angeles** and **Seoul-based** production company, has partnered with Taiwan’s **S11 Partners** and **PTS XS** to launch “All Star,” a Chinese-language **incubator program** specifically targeting creators of young adult content. This initiative aims to build a robust framework for aspiring writers and producers, positioning them to succeed in an increasingly competitive landscape.

The initiative, officially dubbed “All Star: **Teens Drama Development Lab**,” is set to kick off this summer, with applications opening on June 4. The program represents a strategic play to capture the increasingly valuable **Gen Z** and **Alpha generation** markets through authentic local storytelling that maintains global appeal. It emphasizes the importance of cultural nuances unique to Taiwan while ensuring that the content has universal relatability.

Structured in two phases, the program will select 30 Taiwanese creators who will participate in industry-led **masterclasses**. From there, four standout projects will advance to a six-month development lab, collaborating with **Hollywood veterans** to refine their work. This selective process not only elevates the quality of storytelling but also ensures that the creators are well-prepared for **international co-production** opportunities, which may materialize by 2026.

Among the high-caliber **Hollywood mentors** involved are **Amy Rardin** (producer of Marvel’s “Strange Academy” and “Echo”), **Jessica O’Toole** (“American Girl” series, “Invisible Sister”), and **BAFTA winner Debbie Moon** (“Wolfblood”). Each mentor brings a wealth of experience and insight, offering invaluable guidance to the young creators. Furthermore, the program provides an NT$260,000 ($8,600) **script development grant** per selected project, facilitating financial support during the creative process.

“As the YA genre continues to grow globally, it remains relatively nascent in Asia,” noted **Janice Chua** and **Sean Dulake**, co-founders of TCC. “This partnership provides a unique opportunity to explore and innovate within this space, combining the rich cultural nuances of Taiwan with our expertise in creating universally relatable stories.” Their approach underscores the potential for local content to bridge gaps and resonate with viewers across different cultures.

The lab builds on established industry relationships. Chua and **Cora Yim** from S11 previously collaborated on “Emerge,” another Taiwan-based development initiative that successfully incubated five TV series and six features between 2022 and 2024. This previous collaboration serves as a testament to the outcome-driven focus of these partnerships.

“Adolescence is a powerful threshold – full of questions, change, and possibility,” stated Yim. “We’re honored to partner with **PTS XS** and **Third Culture Content** on this teen drama development lab, giving young Taiwanese storytellers the tools to shape their own **teen drama narratives**.” By using storytelling as a medium, young creators can explore contemporary issues faced by their peers, contributing to a broader dialogue on youth experiences.

**PTS XS**, which was launched in 2024 as Taiwan’s first cross-media platform exclusively for viewers aged **3-18**, is strategically positioning itself in the competitive **Asian youth content market**. This collaboration enhances their offerings and helps attract a younger demographic while fostering local content production.

“We are deeply grateful to our partners at **Third Culture Content** and **S11** for their collaboration and expertise,” expressed **Yu Pei Hua** of PTS XS. “Their support is instrumental in actualizing this vision.” Such collaborations indicate a growing recognition of the significance of localized content tailored for younger audiences.

The initiative is part of a broader spectrum of development programs spearheaded by the partners. Yim previously led the **Fox Creative Lab** in 2018, while Chua and Dulake currently serve as faculty leads for **CAPCA (Canada-Asia Pacific Co-Production Accelerator)**, which focuses on developing TV projects for North American distribution. This experience ensures that creators involved will benefit from comprehensive mentoring and support.