Inside the Rise of Vertical Dramas

From left: Dale Crawford, Selina Zhang, Lisa Wang, Daniel Chua

Last Thursday’s INSIDE THE RISE OF VERTICAL DRAMA lit up the room, an inspiring reminder of why new storytelling forms matter more than ever.

Huge thanks to our MC Dale Crawford (Moon Room Films) and to our brilliant guests Selina Zhang and Daniel Chua of Turtle Media (广西海龟影视传媒有限公司) the Australian powerhouse team creating innovative vertical work across Melbourne with offices also in Malaysia and Guangxi, China.

Selina shared how vertical dramas first emerged in China during COVID as a reinvention of entertainment — driven by intimacy, immediacy and emotional resonance. Daniel took us through this wave of storytelling innovation, how Turtle Media adapts across different markets, and their hands-on experiences navigating Australian standards and guidelines while working in the 9:16 format.

For Screen Presence, exploring vertical storytelling isn’t just about format — it’s about opening new creative pathways for under-represented voices and expanding how our stories can reach audiences.

Thank you to everyone who joined us; your energy and curiosity made the night. And heartfelt thanks to our volunteers Sydney Reyes, Laurie Fletcher, Laura Him and Wilari Tedjosiswoyo — these events simply wouldn’t happen without you. ❤️