S2E4 | Forum 25Q3 — Dana Protsyshak on Building LA’s First Vertical Drama Market

📘 New release: Short Drama Writing 101: From Industry Logic to Social Psychology — a 36-page practical guide on short dramas. Covers audience psychology, social trends, scriptwriting methods, paywalls, and ad-driven business models. Available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Turkish. 👉 Get your Eng copy here: 🔗 https://payhip.com/b/K82oz 👉 Available in multiple languages: payhip.com/ShortDramaAlliance Today’s episode features a conversation from the Short Drama Forum 2025 Q3 Edition, where I interviewed Dana Protsyshak , a Los Angeles-based filmmaker, former screenwriter, and founder of VertIGo . After years of writing and producing vertical content, Dana is now shifting her focus to building bridges across the global vertical drama industry . In this episode, Dana shares her journey from storytelling to community-building and introduces the LA Vertical Drama Market , the first-ever in-person industry event dedicated to vertical dramas. We discuss why she believes platforms should move beyond billionaire-werewolf fantasies, how new genres like thrillers, LGBTQ+ stories, and comedies can unlock fresh opportunities, and her mission to connect creators, producers, and platforms worldwide. Key topics we cover in this episode: · Why Dana is launching the LA Vertical Drama Market · From writer to industry connector: Dana’s personal journey · The untapped potential of genres beyond fantasy romances · Challenges and opportunities for vertical creators · Building a global community for vertical storytelling This episode offers an inside look at how vertical dramas are evolving from niche content to a global industry — and why Los Angeles is becoming a new hub for creators