VertiGals

VertiGals

by Natalie Gergely & Alison Bonn
Performing ArtsDrama
Season 1
From Running Production at Inkitt to producing "Screen Time" with Elizabeth Dell
The VertiGals were lucky enough to sit down with Production Exec, Producer, Consumer Tech Founder Elizabeth Dell. Elizabeth is a producer and consultant in vertical micro series, currently leading projects for Hoorae Media, including the recently released Screen Time, which garnered 130M+ views in less than a month, distributed exclusively on TikTok and PineDrama. As Head of Production for Inkitt (parent company of CandyJarTV), she oversaw 30+ vertical shows. She produced multiple indie features, pilots, webseries, commercials, etc. including Destination Wedding, starring Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves. Elizabeth is the founder of the romance and games couples app Amorus, co-founder of music and sensation product Groove Thing. She has a Masters in Public Health from UC Berkeley and an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Amherst College.
S1 · E16
Jul 27, 2026
1:06:51
How to Write for Vertical Prodution with Austin Herring
The VertiGals talk about vertical writing pay rates and freelance writing, and sit down with Austin Herring to talk about the business of verticals, vertical production, and how to write for vertical production. Austin Herring is the founder and CEO of Snow Story Productions, one of the largest vertical production companies in the U.S. A veteran writer, producer, and director, he has been at the forefront of the microdrama boom, helping shape the future of short-form storytelling through hit series, innovative production models, and a commitment to raising the bar for the vertical format.
S1 · E15
Jul 14, 2026
59:02
From writing Middle Grade Novels to writing Verticals with Jessica Burkhart
The VertiGals chat with the delightful Jessica Burkhart about transitioning from writing books to mobile games to verticals. Jessica Burkhart is a vertical drama screenwriter, author of over 30 books, and mobile game writer. She has written ten produced verticals for platforms including Shorts, ReelShort, and DramaShorts, and also works in localization and script doctoring. Find her at jessicaburkhart.com.
S1 · E14
Jun 22, 2026
51:43
Independent Vertical Producing with Carin Smolinski & Julie Bruns
The VertiGals met up with writers, actresses, and producers Carin Smolinski & Julie Bruns at the May 2026 Vertical Drama Market. Carin Smolinski indpendently produced "Tides of Desire" now streaming on MuVpix and Inverted. Julie Bruns starred in (along with Carin) and independently produced "Beneath Crimson Sails" on MuVpix and CandyJar. Both ladies enlightened us with exactly how much work goes into producing a vertical independently and what creatives should know before endeavoring into independent vertical producing.
S1 · E13
Jun 9, 2026
49:21
Elevating Vertical Series with Scott Brown & Stacy Howard of Second Rodeo Productions
The VertiGals meet up with Scott Brown and Stacy Howard at the May 2026 LA Vertical Drama Market to discuss the current state of vertical story telling, the data, and pushing the medium forward. Founder of Second Rodeo Productions, Scott Brown is an Emmy-nominated Director, Creative Producer, and Writer who has helped lead the digital entertainment revolution – guiding brands, studios and traditional celebrities into the creator-driven era with audience-first storytelling. Across his career, his work has generated over 1 billion organic views, transforming ambitious ideas into moments that shape internet culture. Stacy Howard works alongside Scott as Head of Development at Second Rodeo Productions. Through Second Rodeo, Brown works at the intersection of creators, brands, and media companies, with a particular focus on the fast-growing microdrama category, now fueling a $1.4B+ content economy. His breakout success, the award-winning vertical series, The Diamond Rose, became one of the category’s early proof points garnering more than 20 million views within its first 24 hours.
S1 · E12
Jun 2, 2026
53:56
Can Comedy Work in Verticals? with Eli Shell
The VertiGals sit down with Eli Shell - a Los Angeles-based writer, director, and producer and founder of Sidewise Studios, an independent micro-studio creating original series for vertical platforms. With a background in tech communications, messaging, and strategy, Shell has over 15 years of experience producing and leading high-output creative content teams. He now applies a startup mindset: rapid iteration, real-time audience response, and a willingness to experiment in public, to entertainment. His flagship vertical comedy, In-House, is a mockumentary workplace series available on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, blending documentary humor with the creative chaos of modern marketing. Season 2 is in development now, more characters, more chaos, and a lot more to say about what this format can be.
S1 · E11
May 26, 2026
1:04:04
In House Staff Writing Verticals with Astrid Carlen-Helmer
The VertiGals sit down with Senior Screen Writer for DramaWave, Astrid Carlen-Helmer. Astrid is a French-American screenwriter and a graduate of the London Film School. She began her career in development at Blackpills, a short-form series studio, where she contributed to the creation of young adult fiction intended for international distribution. She later became Head of Development at the Franco-American production company HKCorp, where she developed multicultural projects, including The Chef in a Truck (Netflix / Wild Bunch). After several years in development, Astrid transitioned into writing. She worked as an author for the Originals divisions of the digital publishing platforms Tapas Media and Wattpad: she wrote a romantasy duology for Tapas and later served as a ghostwriter and head writer for Wattpad on several titles. She is also the co-author of Space Cadet, a Hachette-published novel based on the Amazon Studios film of the same name. After working as a writer at ReelShort, writing hit titles such as Dr. Boss is My Baby Daddy and Claimed by my Ex’s Alpha Brother, Astrid is now a senior screenwriter for DramaWave.
S1 · E10
Apr 27, 2026
1:00:26
What The Fans love about Verticals with Meagan Johnson
The VertiGals sit down with Vertical Super Fan, Influencer, and industry thought leader Meagan Johnson of @realreeldrama to talk about what the fans love about Verticals, what makes this industry so fascinating, and everything that Meagan is building in the entertainment space.
S1 · E9
Apr 13, 2026
1:08:12
The Birth of the LA Vertical Drama Market with Dana Protsyshak
The VertiGals sit down with multi-hyphenate Dana Protsyshak to discuss her journey from romance novelist to her career in Vertical Drama filmmaking. Dana Protsyshak is the founder of Dana Productions, Vert-I-Go Media and the LA Vertical Drama Market, the first industry event dedicated exclusively to vertical drama storytelling, and the creator of OtheR, a dystopian series in development across long-form and vertical formats. With experience across 30+ vertical projects in writing, development, and production, she is recognized for her expertise in mobile-first storytelling and regularly evaluates vertical content for festivals, studios, and platforms. Dana develops and directs original vertical projects with international teams, builds Vert-I-Go Media app and curates industry communities through her Vertical Mixers, helping advance the vertical storytelling ecosystem.
S1 · E8
Mar 30, 2026
50:10
From Mobile Romance Games to Verticals with Rachel Zilberg
The VertiGals have the pleasure of interviewing the brilliant Rachel Zilberg, Lead Writer at "Shorts," the platform known for rom coms and feel good productions. Rachel got her start in romance based mobile gaming and took the natural next step into vertical drama writing. She has written several exceptional vertical dramas, not limited to "Love Switch: Billionaire CEO vs. Mafia King" which was the recipient of 2025 Hollywood Vertical Awards' 'Most Captivating Dual Identity'. In this episode, we discuss the world of romance based mobile gaming, what it's like to lead a team of writers at one of the industries leading platforms, and what the future of vertical storytelling holds.
S1 · E7
Mar 16, 2026
57:06
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