Building a Hit Vertical Series: From Concept to Screen
Building a Hit Vertical Series: From Concept to Screen
What goes into building a vertical series from the ground up? This conversation looks at the full creative and production journey, from developing a concept and shaping a story for the vertical format to production, post, and release. Drawing on firsthand experience producing series for the rapidly growing space, the panel explores the creative decisions, production strategies, and practical considerations behind bringing a vertical series from idea to audience.
Saturday, October 17, 2026
11:45 AM · AMC 19th Street, Theater 5
Gary Entin
Ninety Degree Films Co-founder · Ninety Degree Films
Gary and Edmund write, direct, and produce their projects across film and vertical series. They have created 20 vertical series, including projects for FOX/MyDrama, A&E/Lifetime executive produced by Taye Diggs, and Pocket FM. In addition to their work in vertical storytelling, they have made five feature films, including the Outfest Audience Award-winning and GLAAD-nominated Geography Club, Sins of Our Youth (starring Lucas Till, Joel Courtney, and Ally Sheedy), the Lifetime original A Country Christmas Harmony (starring Brooke Elliott), and the ION/MarVista Christmas film How Sarah Got Her Wings.
Edmund Entin
Ninety Degree Films Co-founder · Ninety Degree Films
Colby Cote
Partner, Ninety Degree Films · Ninety Degree Films
Colby Cote is a PGA-nominated producer, creative, and production executive known for developing impactful, culturally resonant stories across television, film, digital platforms and immersive experiences. A forward-thinking storyteller, Colby thrives at the intersection of traditional and emerging media, crafting both long-form and short-form narratives that capture the attention of today’s hard to reach audiences. His work spans hit series like RuPaul’s Drag Race, critically acclaimed films such as the Sundance Award-winning Plainclothes, and innovative new media with tech platforms like Snapchat. At the core of Colby’s work is a passion for authentic, character-driven narratives—spotlighting people in the extraordinary and bringing those stories to the forefront of pop culture.
Mark DiCristofaro
Producer · Ninety Degree Films
Mark DiCristofaro is an Emmy-nominated film, tv, and documentary producer and production executive with over 17 years of experience overseeing a diverse $250M+ portfolio across film and television. His recent credits include Sundance Official Selections Netflix' "TEENAGE WASTELAND", "WAR GAME", Hulu’s "PRETTY BABY: BROOKE SHIELDS", Tribeca Official Selection "BS HIGH" and "WIG", and Apple TV+’s "BILLING EILISH: THE WORLD'S A LITTLE BLURRY" among other documentary, film, and television projects.
Photo credit: Page 1 Entertainment
