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First Edition

The Micro Drama
Summit

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Hollywood Is Changing.
Micro Drama Is Why.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck said it on Joe Rogan: studios now want a big moment in the first five minutes because streaming audiences won't wait. Netflix optimizes for when viewers drop off. The way stories get made and watched has fundamentally shifted.

Meanwhile, micro drama hit $700 million in a single quarter. Brands are flooding ad dollars into short-form content. The format is projected to reach $12 billion by 2030, creating thousands of new jobs in writing, acting, directing, editing, and production while traditional paths shrink. (Already looking? Check the board at VerticalDramaJobs.com)

This summit brings together working creators, platform insiders, and industry professionals to share what's actually working. Twenty sessions across ten tracks. Whether you're already creating or just getting started, this is the fastest way to understand the space.

Spring 2026
0
Days
0
Sessions
0
Tracks
1st
Edition
Popular vertical drama tropes including Billionaire CEO, Mafia Boss, Supernatural Creatures, Forbidden Love, Bodyguard, Secret Heiress, Romantic Comedy, and Family Revenge

What You'll Walk Away With

01 Vertical Writing & Storytelling
How to write openings that stop the scroll, cliffhangers that trigger coin purchases, and episode structures built for the 1-3 minute format. Real case studies from top-performing series on ReelShort and DramaBox. Learn what makes viewers tap "unlock next episode" and what makes them close the app.
2 Sessions / Day 1
02 Cinematography & Direction
Everything you learned was for 16:9. Vertical drama uses 9:16. You've lost 75% of your horizontal space. This track rebuilds visual grammar from scratch: vertical blocking, stacked compositions, lighting that pops on a 6-inch screen, and how to direct 10+ episodes in a single day.
2 Sessions / Day 1
03 Performance & Archetype Mastery
Vertical drama runs on archetypes: Billionaire CEO, Alpha Werewolf, Revenge Ex-Wife. Actors who own a type book constantly. This track covers type discovery, close-up performance calibration for mobile screens, and how to build a fan empire that follows you across projects.
3 Sessions / Days 1 & 3
04 Speed Production
Traditional producing teaches 40-day shoots. Vertical drama shoots 80-100 episodes in 8-10 days. This track walks through pre-production at vertical speed: breakdowns, schedules, budgets, crew management, and minute-by-minute set management when there's no room for delays.
2 Sessions / Day 2
05 AI-Assisted Filmmaking
Holywater plans 100 AI-generated series per month. Vigloo cut production costs by 90%. ReelShort says AI has "no place" in their writers' room. Who's right? This track cuts through the hype and shows practical AI workflows using Runway, Midjourney, ElevenLabs, and more.
2 Sessions / Day 2
06 Creator Economics
Forget box office. Forget subscriptions. Vertical drama runs on coins. This track breaks down the micro-transaction model, revenue splits, and conversion psychology. Plus: how to build merchandise into your production from day one so fans can buy the necklace from episode 67.
3 Sessions / Days 2 & 3
07 Post-Production & Delivery
When production shoots 8-10 episodes per day, post can't be the bottleneck. This track covers accelerated editing workflows, template-based editing for series consistency, and the technical delivery specs for every major platform so your content doesn't sit in rejection limbo.
2 Sessions / Day 3
08 Platform Strategy & Distribution
ReelShort, DramaBox, FlexTV, ShortMax, MyDrama. Each platform has different appetites, demographics, and revenue shares. This track maps the landscape, teaches you how to pitch and get greenlit, and shows you how to spot content gaps that platforms need filled.
3 Sessions / Day 3
09 The Future of Vertical Drama
The keynote track. Opening and closing sessions each day featuring major industry voices, platform executive panels, and forward-looking conversations about where vertical drama is headed, what trends will dominate, and what opportunities to position for in the next 12 months.
6 Sessions / All 3 Days
10 The Vertifan Track
You tap "unlock next episode" and something happens. Money moves. Shows get greenlit or cancelled based on your choices. This track reveals how your viewing habits shape what gets made, takes you behind the scenes of production, and maps the path from superfan to creator.
5 Sessions / All 3 Days

This Is Your Summit If You're A

✍️
Creator
You write, direct, produce, or showrun. You know the format is exploding but you need the strategies to break through and get paid.
🎬
Talent
You act, shoot, edit, or crew up. You want to master 9:16 before the rest of the industry figures it out.
🎓
Student
You're studying film, media, or storytelling and you want to learn the format that's creating more jobs than Hollywood right now.
📱
Vertifan
You've binged every series on ReelShort. You tap "unlock next episode" at 2am. Now you want to make your own.
🔍
Curious
You keep hearing about micro drama but don't know where to start. This is the fastest way to understand the entire space in three days.
🎥
Hollywood Pivot
You've spent years in traditional film and TV but the calls aren't coming like they used to. Micro drama is hiring right now. This summit shows you how your skills translate.

"Streaming changed how audiences watch. Micro drama changed how stories get made. This summit is where you learn both."

$12B by 2030 / First Edition / Spring 2026

The MDS26 Anthem

"Turn Up" by Chi Odogwu

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Micro Drama Summit?

MDS26 is the first edition of the virtual summit dedicated to the vertical drama industry, including micro drama, short-form series, and mobile-first storytelling. It brings together creators, talent, and fans for 20 sessions across 10 tracks covering everything from vertical storytelling and cinematography to AI-assisted filmmaking and creator economics.

Who should attend?

Everyone. Creators (writers, directors, showrunners, producers), talent (actors, DPs, editors, crew), film students, fans of vertical drama, people in traditional Hollywood thinking about pivoting, and anyone curious about the fastest-growing format in entertainment. Whether you're already producing vertical content or just want to understand the space, this summit is for you.

What is vertical drama?

Vertical drama refers to short-form, episodic dramatic content filmed in 9:16 portrait format for mobile viewing. Think Netflix-quality storytelling in 1-3 minute episodes on platforms like ReelShort, DramaBox, ShortMax, and FlexTV. The industry hit $700M in Q1 2025 and is projected to reach $12B by 2030.

What is micro drama?

Micro drama is ultra-short dramatic content, typically under 3 minutes per episode. It overlaps significantly with vertical drama but can also include horizontal formats. The genre has exploded globally, with China's micro drama market alone reaching billions in revenue.

When is the summit?

The summit takes place in Spring 2026 over three mid-week days (Tuesday through Thursday). Exact dates and the full schedule will be announced to waitlist members first. Can't make it live? No problem. Full replays of all 20 sessions come with one-year access so you can watch and rewatch on your own time.

What if I can't attend live?

No problem. Sign up anyway. Full replays of all 20 sessions will be available with one-year access, so you can watch everything on your own schedule. Whether you're in finals week, at work, or in a different time zone, you won't miss a thing.

Is it virtual or in-person?

MDS26 is 100% virtual so you can attend from anywhere in the world.

Ready? Join the Waitlist.

Get speaker reveals, session details, and ticket access before anyone else. Full replays with one-year access available if you can't attend live.

You're In.

We'll send you speaker reveals, session details, and ticket info as soon as they're ready. Welcome to the Micro Drama Summit.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

The MDS26 Ecosystem

💼
VerticalDramaJobs.com
Find work or post jobs in micro drama. Writers, actors, directors, editors, and crew.
🎓
VerticalFilmSchool.com
Learn the craft. Courses on vertical writing, directing, acting, production, and AI filmmaking.
🎤
MicroDramaSummit.com
The summit you're on right now. 20 sessions. 10 tracks. Spring 2026. Join the waitlist.