Summary

Learn how to direct vertical microdramas from a filmmaker whose projects have earned over 100 million views worldwide!

Get sample script page with shot list breakdown for Verticals you can immediately apply to your own productions!

If you want to stay ahead as a director today, vertical micro-dramas are one of the fastest-growing and most exciting opportunities in the industry. In this interactive Stage 32 webinar, you’ll learn how to adapt your storytelling, pacing, and visual language for vertical formats, gain practical strategies for directing under tight coverage and accelerated production schedules, and discover how to make every shot count. You’ll walk away with a clear understanding of how to plan, prep, and direct vertical micro-dramas confidently, creatively, and professionally, positioning yourself to thrive in one of the most dynamic areas of filmmaking today!

Success in this space is about mastering a new way of storytelling. You’ll discover how to shape performance, pacing, and visual language specifically for vertical formats while keeping your narratives emotionally powerful. You’ll learn how to adapt quickly, communicate clearly with actors and crew, and make confident creative decisions under fast-paced conditions. With the right approach, you can turn the speed and intensity of vertical micro-drama production into an advantage, strengthening your skills, your vision, and your ability to deliver standout stories in this exciting, high-demand format.

Your Stage 32 educator is Amber Neukum, a writer, director, and producer whose work has premiered at top festivals and reached global audiences. A Sundance alumna and founder of the female-run production company Juice Box Films, Amber has directed multiple vertical drama features for major platforms, collectively earning over 100 million views worldwide. She brings first-hand experience across festival shorts, studio-backed productions, and fast-paced vertical shoots, giving you direct insight from someone actively thriving in the format you want to master.

You’ll learn what vertical micro-dramas are, who is producing them, and how the directing process differs from traditional filmmaking. You’ll gain practical tools for success, from script markups and shot planning to coverage strategy and director’s kit essentials. You’ll learn real-world pitfalls to avoid, the keys to prepping efficiently, and what a typical day on a vertical set actually looks like. By the end of the webinr, you’ll walk away ready to direct vertical micro-dramas with confidence, creativity, and professional precision!

PLUS! You will receive this handout to help you:

Sample script page with shot list breakdown for Verticals

Feedback from Attendees:

"The webinar offered a clear and practical overview of directing vertical microdramas, especially regarding pacing and production workflow. I appreciated the concrete insights into platform expectations and schedule realities. It would be interesting to explore future sessions that also examine how the vertical format might expand beyond fiction." - Darko

"Knowledgeable instructor. Thanks." - Jo

"Excellent, great to hear about the nuts and bolts of directing verticals. Thanks for sharing the breakdown of the script, that was really clarifying about the process!" - Chris

"I really enjoyed hearing about Amber's directing experience in verticals." - Racheal

"Well done, informative." - Danie

"The Best!!! Respect and best wishes to Amber AND your most excellent Facilitator - she rocked!!! I deeply appreciate this important conversation. Thank you STAGE 32." - Beth

Testimonial from Amber:

"Hello everyone! I’m still riding the high from wrapping my latest vertical—and wow, what a wild, electric ride it’s been. Coming down from that creative rush has sparked so many new insights about this fast-moving, rule-breaking world of micro dramas. The pacing, the emotional precision, the framing, the rhythm of performance—directing verticals is its own language, and it’s evolving in real time.

I’m beyond excited to bring all of that fresh experience into my upcoming webinar, where we’ll dive into what makes vertical storytelling tick. Most of all, we’ll explore how to stay cinematic while embracing the raw, addictive energy that defines micro dramas.

And I truly love teaching on Stage 32! It’s a platform filled with passionate, forward-thinking creatives who are curious, bold, and ready to experiment. I can’t wait to share, connect, and dig deep into this exciting new frontier of storytelling together." -Amber Neukum

What You'll Learn

An Overview of Verticals

What is a Vertical Microdrama
Stats and data
A sample Vertical episode Amber directed
Who are the players?
How studios are getting involved

The Process Of Directing

The main difference between directing Verticals and a typical Feature
The Vertical prep/production/post schedule
The hierarchy of command and crew size/ positions
A typical day on a Vertical set
The keys to prepping a Vertical for success
The coverage needed for Verticals

Sample Director Tools

Marking up your script as a director
A guide to wides, mediums and closeups

Learn From My Experiences

Vertical Director Pitfalls to avoid
The top things to NOT forget while directing
The essentials of a director’s kit
Embracing the joys of directing

Q&A with Amber

Who Should Attend

Directors who want to break into the fast-growing vertical microdrama market
Filmmakers looking to adapt their skills from traditional formats to vertical storytelling
Emerging directors seeking hands-on production experience at an accelerated pace
Experienced directors who want to stay competitive as the industry evolves
Indie creators interested in directing content for mobile-first platforms
Film school graduates or students preparing for real-world directing environments
Content creators ready to scale up from short-form or social video into narrative work
Producers and creatives who want to understand the directing workflow for vertical projects
Anyone curious about how studios, platforms, and investors are entering the vertical space

Executive

Amber Neukum

Producer at Juice Box Films

Testimonials