Women in Vertical Media Launches in Los Angeles. What Changes for Creators?
Updated: Oct 9
A new professional group called Women in Vertical Media announced its launch in Los Angeles at the end of September. Its own statement says women working across platforms, production, development, talent, creative and business are organizing to increase visibility, professional standards and opportunity as vertical entertainment grows. Alicia Read and Tina Randolph Contogenis are among the people leading the launch.
That may sound like an industry-insider story until you have tried to make a living in a new format. Fast growth creates work, but it can also create vague job titles, unclear rates, missing credits and contracts that assume everyone should be grateful just to be included. A field becomes more sustainable when the people doing the work can compare experiences and ask for clearer terms.
What the group is trying to do
The organization's announcement describes a leadership group bringing together senior women from across the vertical ecosystem. It names visibility, credibility, standards, opportunity and a voice in the industry's direction as its priorities. Those are stated aims, not completed programs. I have not seen a public membership process or a list of services that would justify telling a new writer that joining will get them work.
The distinction matters. A launch is a beginning. The useful questions over the coming months are whether the group publishes guidance, opens events to emerging creators, supports fair practices and gives writers, directors, performers and crew a place in the discussion alongside executives.
Why this matters beyond one organization
Vertical drama is sometimes treated as though it appeared overnight. It did not. Writers learned to build short emotional turns. Producers learned to schedule a huge amount of story into tight shoots. Actors learned to make a reaction readable on a phone without playing every emotion at maximum volume. Editors, designers, marketers and platform teams helped the format find an audience. Much of that labor has been done by women.
As more traditional studios move into the space, the risk is that the people who developed its working language become invisible once bigger names arrive. The opportunity is to make a stronger industry while the rules are still being written. A professional network can help, but its value will be measured by what it makes possible for people doing the work, not only by the launch photograph.
For independent creators, there is an immediate takeaway: keep records of the work you created, the parts you led and the results you can accurately claim. Ask about credit and rights early. Talk to other professionals before accepting an agreement you do not understand. You do not need to wait for the industry to settle before taking your own work seriously.
What to watch next
Look for the group's public programs and whether people at different stages of their careers can participate. A new organization will be most useful if the next generation can actually see a path into the room.
Sources:Women in Vertical Media's launch statement, shared by cofounder Alicia Read;Variety's report on the launch.
Thinking of entering vertical drama?
It is not too late to start. The format is still being shaped by the people making it. If you want to understand the writing, pitching, production and business side, browse myVertical Drama articles. Start with the practical guides, then come back to the news as the industry changes.
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Viola Musaraj is a writer, novelist, micro and vertical drama producer, and interactive narrative designer with more than 140 million reads worldwide.
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