Who Survives the Vertical Boom: Building the Business of Vertical Drama
Who Survives the Vertical Boom: Building the Business of Vertical Drama
As vertical drama grows, what will it take to build businesses that last? This candid executive conversation explores the economics and evolution of the format, from financing, ownership, and distribution to the changing roles of creators, studios, and platforms. Panelists will examine what creator-led models can teach the industry about audiences and creative control, whether vertical can stand as a lasting format, and how companies are building sustainable models around a rapidly expanding global audience.
Sunday, October 18, 2026
10:30 AM · AMC 19th Street, Theater 5
Todd Spicer
Executive Producer
Todd Spicer is an Executive Producer who has scaled premium content across vertical drama, YouTube, documentary and branded storytelling. As founding leadership on Pocket FM's US Live-Action Division, he executive produced six series that generated 4.5B+ combined plays, including one 1.5B+ play breakout. His lifelong work in the industry spans premium scripted, documentary and creator-led content, with award-winning campaign work across national brands and Fortune-level clients. He writes and speaks publicly on the future of vertical drama and premium creator content, with focus on the operational, creative and business decisions that will shape the next era of the medium. He is currently executive producing a premium horror vertical for Pixie USA and TikTok's Pine Drama.
Amanda Needham
Managing Director · The Telly Awards
Amanda Needham is the Managing Director of the Telly Awards, a global award program founded in 1979 honoring excellence in video and TV across all screens. She has directed international documentaries for Al Jazeera, produced commercial campaigns for Philips, gone viral on social, and advised on feature films headed to Sundance. She is a Fulbright Scholar with a B.A. in History from Yale University and an M.S. in Multimedia Journalism from the U. of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communications. Her expertise is rooted in the cross-over between branded, creator and traditional production in today's industry.
Photo credit: The Telly Awards
Jay Blumenfield
CEO · The Jay & Tony Show Vertical Studios
Jay Blumenfield is co-founder of Jay & Tony Vertical Studios, where he develops, produces, and directs vertical microdramas for the rapidly expanding mobile-first entertainment market. A veteran producer with more than 25 years in television, Jay is now focused on helping shape the creative and production language of vertical storytelling. He also co-hosts The Jay & Tony Show Show: Vertically Challenged, an industry podcast dedicated to the format’s evolution, business, and future.
Photo credit: Lucy Blumenfield
Jeffrey Schenck
Co-Founder, vertTV · vertTV
Jeffrey Schenck is a prolific producer and writer with over 278 producing and 113 writing credits across film and television, spanning networks such as Netflix, Lifetime, Hallmark Channel, SYFY, OWN, GAC, and UPtv. Prior to co-founding Hybrid in 2008, he served as President of Regent Studios. Schenck is a defining figure in high-volume production, managing projects from concept through distribution with a focus on scalability and commercial viability across thriller, romance, and holiday genres.
Photo credit: Natalie Kiwi
