Inside Vertical Short Dramas

In this interview, I speak with Shantanu Tungare, filmmaker, narrative strategist, and co-founder of Bulb Chamka Studios—an Indian production company that has completed more than 100 microdramas and developed an in-house AI production pipeline. We discuss: • How AI-native storytelling works across pre-production, production, and post-production • Why AI should automate repetitive tasks while human...

What happens when an AI creator spends years building a YouTube channel—only to have it suddenly terminated? In this interview, Egyptian filmmaker, film critic, writer, and AI content creator Sherif Awad shares his concerns about the growing risks independent creators face on major platforms. With more than three decades of experience across film distribution, festivals, television, journalism, an...

In this interview, filmmaker and The Pulp House founder Sampat Chari shares how he combines AI with vertical storytelling. After 15 years of working across film, television, web series and audio, he entered the microdrama space after seeing the format’s rapid growth in China. We discuss: • Why a microdrama needs to hook viewers within the first three seconds • How microdrama writing differs from t...

Can AI really transform the future of short dramas? In this episode, I speak with Sophia Xing , Founder of Plot Party , an AI platform built specifically for creating hybrid and fully AI-native micro dramas. Sophia shares how AI is changing production workflows, why storytelling still matters more than visuals, and what the future of AI-generated vertical dramas could look like. In this interview,...

What does it take to build a global vertical drama platform? In this interview, I speak with Batyr, Director of Business Development at Kedoo, the company behind LoveDrama, about how the platform is expanding across Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and other international markets. We discuss: • LoveDrama's global content and localization strategy • Why one-size-fits-all doesn't work in vert...

AI is rapidly changing how short dramas are created—but what will the industry look like in the next few years? In this exclusive interview, Hollywood director and AI filmmaker Tony Shyu shares his perspective on the future of AI-powered short dramas, hybrid production workflows, and why vertical storytelling is becoming one of the fastest-growing entertainment formats. In this conversation, we di...

How will AI reshape the future of micro series? In this exclusive interview, Kai Pan, Head of Marketing & Communications at Anamana, shares his insights on the future of AI-native micro series, creator ecosystems, and the evolving global short drama industry. In this interview, we discuss: • Why Anamana prefers the term "Micro Series" over "Micro Drama." • Why AI should empower creators rather...

In this interview, I speak with Jeshua Manu, Co-founder and Producer of VertiPlay, New Zealand’s first vertical drama production company. We discuss how New Zealand is building its place in the global short drama industry, the opportunities for local creators, and where the next wave of vertical storytelling is heading. Topics include: • Why New Zealand is becoming an emerging destination for vert...

This interview is part of the Short Drama Forum 2026 Q2 Online Forum. I spoke with Victor Potrel, Executive of External Strategy at TheSoul Publishing / SHRT, about how AI is shaping the future of vertical storytelling, production, distribution, and monetization. In this conversation, we discuss: • Why “short drama” is evolving into serialized vertical content • How AI is changing production workf...

Can AI really replace filmmakers? In this interview, I speak with Vicent Llopis, Executive Creative Director at UNSHOT, an AI-focused production company based in Los Angeles. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in advertising and filmmaking, Vicent shares how AI is transforming commercial production, hybrid filmmaking, and vertical micro dramas. In this conversation, we discuss: • Why AI s...

In this interview, I talk with a short drama reviewer and founder of Vertical Films Lover, who has watched more than 2,000 vertical dramas and analyzed hundreds of titles across major platforms. We discuss: • Why short dramas are so addictive • The importance of hooks and cliffhangers • What audiences really look for in characters and stories • How reviewers can provide valuable insights for creat...

What happens when short drama actors become more accessible to fans than traditional film and television stars? In this interview, Wenwen speaks with Jaxx—widely known in the industry as the “Vertical Godmother”—about the rapid development and professionalization of the global vertical drama industry. Based in Amsterdam, Jaxx works across talent mentoring, production, industry development, and int...

What does it take to succeed in the global vertical drama industry? In this interview, I speak with an Executive Producer and Head of Creative Content at muVpix, an emerging vertical drama platform building a creator-focused content and distribution ecosystem , about the realities of producing, developing, and distributing short dramas in today’s rapidly evolving market. We discuss: • How he enter...

This special in-person interview was recorded in Los Angeles during the LA Vertical Drama Market in May and is featured as part of the Short Drama Alliance 2026 Q2 Online Forum. Wenwen speaks with Elizabeth Dell, a producer and consultant in vertical micro series who currently leads projects for Hoorae Media. Previously, as Head of Production at Inkitt, the parent company of CandyJarTV, Elizabeth...

🌍 Short Drama Alliance — Learning Resources & Industry Insights 📘 Essential Industry Book Short Drama Writing 101: Write What Platforms Want Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX45ZXK7 📙 Self-Paced Online Course Short Drama Writing 101: A Practical Course with Real Case Studies https://maggie-han.mykajabi.com/short-drama-bootcamp-1?preview_theme_id=2166150379 🎬 4-Week Online Bootcamp (wit...

🌍 Short Drama Alliance — Learning Resources & Industry Insights 📘 Essential Industry Book Short Drama Writing 101: Write What Platforms Want Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX45ZXK7 📙 Self-Paced Online Course Short Drama Writing 101: A Practical Course with Real Case Studies https://maggie-han.mykajabi.com/short-drama-bootcamp-1?preview_theme_id=2166150379 🎬 4-Week Online Bootcamp (wit...

🌍 Short Drama Alliance — Learning Resources & Industry Insights 📘 Essential Industry Book Short Drama Writing 101: Write What Platforms Want Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX45ZXK7 📙 Self-Paced Online Course Short Drama Writing 101: A Practical Course with Real Case Studies https://maggie-han.mykajabi.com/short-drama-bootcamp-1?preview_theme_id=2166150379 🎬 4-Week Online Bootcamp (wit...

🌍 Short Drama Alliance — Learning Resources & Industry Insights 📘 Essential Industry Book Short Drama Writing 101: Write What Platforms Want Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX45ZXK7 📙 Self-Paced Online Course Short Drama Writing 101: A Practical Course with Real Case Studies https://maggie-han.mykajabi.com/short-drama-bootcamp-1?preview_theme_id=2166150379 🎬 4-Week Online Bootcamp (wit...

🌍 Short Drama Alliance — Learning Resources & Industry Insights 📘 Essential Industry Book Short Drama Writing 101: Write What Platforms Want Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX45ZXK7 📙 Self-Paced Online Course Short Drama Writing 101: A Practical Course with Real Case Studies https://maggie-han.mykajabi.com/short-drama-bootcamp-1?preview_theme_id=2166150379 🎬 4-Week Online Bootcamp (wit...

🌍 Short Drama Alliance — Learning Resources & Industry Insights 📘 Essential Industry Book Short Drama Writing 101: Write What Platforms Want Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX45ZXK7 📙 Self-Paced Online Course Short Drama Writing 101: A Practical Course with Real Case Studies https://maggie-han.mykajabi.com/short-drama-bootcamp-1?preview_theme_id=2166150379 🎬 4-Week Online Bootcamp (wit...

Further Reading & Resources For those interested in exploring the short drama ecosystem, vertical storytelling, and mobile-first narrative structures in greater depth, here are several resources developed from real platform cases and industry practice: 📘 Short Drama Writing 101: Write What Platforms Want A practical introduction to how short drama and vertical drama platforms evaluate project...

🌍 Short Drama Alliance — Learning Resources & Industry Insights 📘 Essential Industry Book Short Drama Writing 101: Write What Platforms Want Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX45ZXK7 📙 Self-Paced Online Course Short Drama Writing 101: A Practical Course with Real Case Studies https://maggie-han.mykajabi.com/short-drama-bootcamp-1?preview_theme_id=2166150379 🎬 4-Week Online Bootcamp (wit...

🌍 Short Drama Alliance — Learning Resources & Industry Insights 📘 Essential Industry Book Short Drama Writing 101: Write What Platforms Want Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX45ZXK7 📙 Self-Paced Online Course Short Drama Writing 101: A Practical Course with Real Case Studies https://maggie-han.mykajabi.com/short-drama-bootcamp-1?preview_theme_id=2166150379 🎬 4-Week Online Bootcamp (wit...

🌍 Short Drama Alliance — Learning Resources & Industry Insights 📘 Essential Industry Book Short Drama Writing 101: Write What Platforms Want Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX45ZXK7 📙 Self-Paced Online Course Short Drama Writing 101: A Practical Course with Real Case Studies https://maggie-han.mykajabi.com/short-drama-bootcamp-1?preview_theme_id=2166150379 🎬 4-Week Online Bootcamp (wit...

🌍 Short Drama Alliance — Learning Resources & Industry Insights 📘 Essential Industry Book Short Drama Writing 101: Write What Platforms Want Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX45ZXK7 📙 Self-Paced Online Course Short Drama Writing 101: A Practical Course with Real Case Studies https://maggie-han.mykajabi.com/short-drama-bootcamp-1?preview_theme_id=2166150379 🎬 4-Week Online Bootcamp (wit...