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The Vertigals

@vertigalspodcast

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Hilarious MicroDrama writers @ngergely & @bonn2gram explore the vertical storytelling world📱. Inquiries: @tinacontogenis @erisverticaltalent

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The VertiGals were lucky enough to chat with the writer of “Playback” on @my_drama_series, @pastelcali (Joelle Sellner). We chat about her varied writing career as well as ways in which vertical producers and platforms can work with the WGA in a way that works for everyone. As an advertising copywriter, Joelle worked in various media including TV, print, digital and radio. This experience, and her passion for storytelling, has inspired her to become proficient across many genres in entertainment. Joelle has written several produced romantic comedies including Hallmark Channel’s Paris, Wine & Romance and AMC’s Saving Christmas Spirit, which was shot in the Scottish Highlands. Her most recent project is the pop musical vertical drama Playback, for Holy Water/Fox Entertainment.
In addition to film and TV work, Joelle is an experienced comic book and videogame writer, with books published by Blizzard, DC, Lion Forge, Marvel, and Zenescope Entertainment. Graphic novels include a reboot of Saved by the Bell, and her most recent original YA graphic novel Werewoofs. She has also appeared as a superhero expert on the Minor Adventures With Topher Grace podcast.
In addition to her comics work, Joelle has written for a variety of animated TV shows and web series, including DC Super Hero Girls, LEGO Friends, and Al Roker Entertainment’s Weather Hunters. by @vertigalspodcast

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11 days ago

The prince of Verticals, @sirdannyfarber, joined us for an incredibly fun and insightful deep dive into the evolution of vertical content since 2023. @sirdannyfarber is a director, actor, writer, and producer born and raised in Chicago, IL. With over a decade in the entertainment industry, Farber’s diverse filmmaking portfolio includes vertical dramas, music videos, commercials, narrative projects, and branded content. Farber has found success working in various international markets as a Microdrama Vertical Director and actor. As a director, Farber has made over twenty feature-length vertical dramas for various platforms including (but not limited to) ReelShort, Dramabox, Goodshort, and many more. As an actor, Farber has appeared in critically acclaimed TV shows like “1923,” “Chicago Fire,” and “Proven Innocent.” Farber continues to act and direct in projects that he creates for himself. taken in Los Angeles, California by @vertigalspodcast

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25 days ago

In this episode, The VertiGals do a deep dive into the AIGC gold rush with director, producer, and creative executive @kayzhang__ . Kay is a director-producer and creative executive whose work has screened at Cannes and received honors from the Directors Guild of America and the Student Academy Awards. She began her career in independent film before moving into literary management at Range Media Partners, where she supported writers, creators, and screen-based IP. Zhang later emerged as a leading executive in the vertical microdrama space, serving as an executive producer at two of the category’s leading platforms. At @goodshortdrama , she produced four of the platform’s ten most commercially successful titles. She most recently produced exclusively for @dramabox_official , where she has produced multiple hit series that have contributed to the platform’s top-grossing performance through the first three quarters of 2026. Across her work, the titles she has produced have generated more than 2 billion combined views. taken in Los Angeles, California by @vertigalspodcast

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The VertiGals chat with @matraney about his journey as a writer in various worlds to Chief Creative Officer of @invertedapp . Mat Raney is a screenwriter, novelist, and the Chief Creative Officer of Inverted Media. He has written for network television, wrote the multi-award-winning vertical series Pizza Guys vs Vampires, and is the writer of the forthcoming indie animated feature RIVER. As James Matlack Raney, he is also the author of the Jim Morgan adventure series, the award-winning Lord of the Wolves, and his most recent novel, LAST. taken in Los Angeles, California by @vertigalspodcast

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2 months ago

Do you want to go on a writing retreat with a group of incredible and talented women in Tuscany? Good news! After hosting Her Plot Twists at Sea, our friends at @onceupona.script are now heading to Italy for She Writes Under the Tuscan Sun, a women-only writing retreat happening October 14–19 in Tuscany. The retreat includes dedicated writing time, workshops, feedback, and mentorship, with a Vertical Series track led by @isabeldrean for writers developing short-form vertical projects.
If writing in a private villa in Tuscany with a group of women storytellers sounds like your kind of thing, there are still a few spots available.
And for VertiGals listeners, Once Upon a Script is extending the early-bird pricing. Just mention VertiGals when you register to receive the special rate.
Learn more at OnceUponaScript.com taken in Tuscany, Italy by @vertigalspodcast

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2 months ago

Excited to be representing @vertigalspodcast and discussing all things Vertical on “The Vertical Revolution: The Future of Premium Story Telling” panel at the @accesscanadasummit in partnership @tiff_net on September 15th! Want to join me? Tickets are still available online! #thr_acs2026 taken in Toronto Ontario Canada by @vertigalspodcast

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2 months ago

We got to chat with the wonderful and talented @claire_epstein about her journey from ghostwriting Romance Novels to writing for TV to, now, writing MicroDramas - and the challenges that come with each medium.

Claire grew up in Washington, DC, and attended Vanderbilt University and Circle in the Square Theater School. In New York, she performed at the UCB by night while ghostwriting romance novels by day. Fifteen of her novels have been published, selling several hundred thousand copies and becoming Amazon bestsellers. She staffed on the Emmy-nominated Quibi/Roku show IMMORAL COMPASS and was the associate writer for Disney’s Emmy-winning show HAMSTER & GRETEL. She’s also had a few plays published, written for a podcast network called Parcast, a DreamWorks show, and the app Calm. She has developed projects with Big Breakfast, Powderkeg, Audity, Realm, Eko, and The Cartel, and producers Kristin Burr, Debbie Liebling, and Scotty Landes. She recently worked at DramaBox, where two of her vertical series were produced and received millions of views, and is now the head writer for a new American vertical startup. by @vertigalspodcast

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2 months ago

We were lucky enough to sit down with Production Exec, Producer and Consumer Tech Founder @elizabethdell_la

Elizabeth is a producer and consultant in vertical micro series, currently leading projects for @hooraemedia, 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 @inkittcandyjar), 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. by @vertigalspodcast

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3 months ago

After a short summer break, we sat down with @austinherring to chat all things Vertical Production. @austinherring is the founder and CEO of @snowstoryproductions , 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. by @vertigalspodcast

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3 months ago

The VertiGals chat with the delightful @thejessburkhart 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 twelve produced verticals for platforms including Shorts, ReelShort, and DramaShorts, and also works in localization and script doctoring. Find her at jessicaburkhart.com by @vertigalspodcast

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4 months ago

Interested in independently producing your own vertical series but don’t know where to start? We met up with @carinsmolinski & @julie.bruns at the @la_vertical_dramamarket to chat all things indie vertical producing and distribution. @tides_of_desire_vertical is now streaming on @muvpixapp & @invertedapp and you can watch @beneathcrimsonsailsvertical on @muvpixapp & @watchcandyjar. When you’re done listening to this episode, go watch them! taken in Los Angeles, California by @vertigalspodcast

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4 months ago

The VertiGals met up with @scottbrowndirects and @stacyohoward of @secondrodeopro at the May 2026 @la_vertical_dramamarket to talk about the current state of Vertical storytelling, the data, and pushing the medium forward with “The Diamond Rose” and “Playback” on @my_drama_series. This is such an insightful episode, you don’t want to miss this one! by @vertigalspodcast

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