25Q4 | How 9:16 Productions Builds High-Performance Vertical Dramas for Mobile-First Audiences

Today’s episode comes from our 2025 Q4 Short Drama Forum,

featuring Max Jiang and Joy Quinn, co-owners of 9:16 Productions, one of the most organized vertical-drama teams in the U.S.

In this interview, they discuss how they approach performance, pacing, casting, and localization for mobile-first audiences—and why new genres like horror and thriller may be the next frontier in vertical dramas.

Let’s dive in.

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Check out my book — Short Drama Writing 101: From Industry Logic to Social Psychology — a 126-page guide for producers, writers, and platform strategists.

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