Welcome to the vertical storytelling era.

But how do you actually break into vertical storytelling and short-form content right now?
Short-form content is reshaping the entertainment industry—and creating new opportunities for writers, producers, and creators looking to build in vertical storytelling.

In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, Wendy Calhoun—writer, showrunner, and co-executive producer behind Empire—shares how she built a powerhouse career across traditional television and the rapidly growing world of micro dramas.

We cover:

• Why vertical storytelling is growing across platforms
• How short-form content is changing audience behavior
• What makes micro dramas successful
• How to approach writing and producing for vertical content
• Where creators can find real opportunities right now

If you’re a writer, producer, or creative trying to understand how to get into vertical storytelling and short-form content, this conversation gives you a clear look at where the industry might be headed.

About Wendy Calhoun:
Wendy Calhoun is a writer, showrunner, and executive producer known for her work on Empire, and is now building projects in vertical storytelling and micro drama formats.

This episode explores vertical storytelling, short-form content, and micro dramas, and how these formats are changing the entertainment industry. If you’re interested in TV writing, digital storytelling, or building a career in film and television, this conversation breaks down how the industry is evolving.

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#InsideTheIndustry #WendyCalhoun #VerticalStorytelling #MicroDramas #ShortFormContent #DigitalStorytelling #HollywoodCareers #EntertainmentIndustry #TVWriting #ContentCreation

• (00:00:00) - Inside the Industry: Introductions
• (00:01:06) - Intro to Wendy Calhoun
• (00:07:44) - How Wendy got into storytelling
• (00:09:45) - Wendy on breaking through in her career
• (00:14:25) - Wendy on overcoming microaggressions
• (00:17:21) - Defining Micro Dramas and a Vertical Dramas
• (00:18:47) - How dopamine keeps us watching this content
• (00:20:22) - How Microdramas have changed the way we consume stories
• (00:23:23) - Shocking Microdrama statistics
• (00:25:29) - How you can get into Verticals now
• (00:30:39) - Why it's important to own your content
• (00:31:30) - The importance of authentic voices and representation
• (00:35:20) - How KPop Demon Hunters changed the game
• (00:38:34) - Why emerging creators today have the advantage
• (00:39:51) - Will AI change the way stories are made?
• (00:44:09) - Hollywood is trying to play catch up to YouTube
• (00:45:36) - What Creators should be doing right now to get into Verticals
• (00:48:39) - 3 tips for producing a Micro Drama or Vertical