ONE STORY, TWO SCREENS: What Changes When a Story Moves Between Vertical and Horizontal
ONE STORY, TWO SCREENS: What Changes When a Story Moves Between Vertical and Horizontal
How does the same story change when it’s created for two very different screens? This conversation explores the creative and practical shifts between vertical and horizontal storytelling—from writing, framing, performance, and pacing to production workflow, distribution, and economics. As stories increasingly move between formats, the panel examines a central question: Is vertical simply a new way to frame a story, or does it demand a storytelling language all its own?
Saturday, October 17, 2026
1:30 PM · AMC 19th Street, Theater 5
Phil Viardo
President of Former Prodigy Media · Former Prodigy Media
Phil Viardo is a two-time Emmy Award-nominated producer and award-winning director with hundreds of aired television episodes. In 2019, he co-founded Former Prodigy Media with Christopher Knight. His credits include The Inventor, Truelove: The Film, and Emma’s Dilemmas. A pioneer in premium dual-format storytelling, Viardo has produced adaptations of Wuthering Heights, Pride & Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Beauty and the Beast, and The Great Gatsby. His upcoming slate includes Moriarty Rising: A Sherlock Holmes Tale, Billionaire's Broken Vow and Haunted By You.
Photo credit: Amy Graves
Lenny Levi
CEO · LoveHit
Lenny Levi is a Ukraine-born, Los Angeles-based film and media producer with more than 15 years of experience in business affairs, operations, production, international distribution, business strategy, and emerging media. Over the course of his career, he has held business affairs and operations roles at Sony Pictures Entertainment, CBS Television Studios, Paramount Television Studios, and Riot Games. He later joined independent film production company Melting Pot Production, where his work spans business affairs, operations, and production.
Lenny also helped found Squad.App, an AI-powered influencer marketing platform connecting brands with creators and streamlining campaign management through technology, automation, and data. He has produced multiple feature films and is currently focused on film and television production, vertical storytelling, digital entertainment platforms, and AI-driven production and media ventures.
Rob McGillivray
Producer · Tip-Top Productions & Portrait Pictures
Rob McGillivray, a University of Stirling
graduate with an extensive background in
sales, marketing, and finance, found his
true calling in film and television. As
the founder of Tip-Top Productions, he has
contributed to a variety of impactful
films showcased at renowned festivals such
as Cannes; TIFF & SXSW, accumulating
prestigious awards.
Alex Boi
Director / Showrunner / Executive Producer · Former Prodigy Media
Alex Boi is a Los Angeles-based director, showrunner, cinematographer, and executive producer with more than 15 years of experience across film, television, and commercials. His work spans comedy, action, and genre storytelling, from directing television series to developing original narrative projects. He has collaborated with major international brands and production companies and currently develops and produces original film and series projects through his Los Angeles-based production company.
