“ Everyone wants to get involved and it's generating huge amount of work for actors and crew all around the world, which is very hard to find in other parts of the media. So Hollywood is now involved as well, and every major Hollywood studio you can think of is looking or experimenting with this format and sort of seeing how they can bring the Hollywood touch to it.” Latest guest is Jen Cooper, founder of Vertical Drama Love.

Jen is an expert in the rapidly growing area of vertical dramas, we talk about what vertical dramas are and the rapid rise in popularity of vertical dramas in the west and the change in the format from its beginnings in China.

We talk about what moving from niche to mainstream in the west may mean for the format, how large players like Disney starting to offer vertical content may change things and also the impact for Jen as someone who has been involved in the sector initially as a fan and now as a consultant.

Website: https://www.verticaldramalove.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verticaldramalove/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@verticaldramalove

Guardian Vertical Drama Article: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/feb/18/vertical-drama-phone-films-to-watch

Find More about ‘Making Creativity Pay’

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Making Creativity Pay Newsletter: https://makingcreativitypay.substack.com/

“He said ‘[I hate] loud Northern women who swear’ and he’s obviously talking about me” Latest guest is Martha Pailing whose show ‘Chat Sh*t, Get Hit’ is on at Soho Theatre on Feb 5th and 6th.

We talk about developing the show over a number of years and the importance of Arts Council Funding, her Fringe experience, working with a team behind the scenes on her solo show as well as the differences between Spoken Word and Stand Up.

Website: https://www.marthapailing.com/

Soho Theatre Tickets: https://sohotheatre.com/events/chat-sht-get-hit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marthapailing/

Find More about ‘Making Creativity Pay’

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Beyond_the_Pod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makingcreativitypay/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danjbarnett/

Making Creativity Pay Newsletter: https://makingcreativitypay.substack.com/

“The mission is to educate and promote mental health through the arts, mostly through Comedy and for people to talk about mental health and difficult subjects through comedy”

Latest guest is Charlotte Laidet who is Festivals and Programme Director for Leicester Comedy Festival which is running from the 4th to the 22nd February.

We talk about what it takes to put the festival together, why Leicester has an important place in the festival calendar and the other work that Big Difference Company who run the festival do around promoting health and well being using Comedy and promoting Comedy as an art form.

Website: https://www.comedy-festival.co.uk/

Big Difference Company: https://bigdifferencecompany.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leicscomedyfest/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leicscomedyfest

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeicsComedyFest

Kids Festival and other links: https://t-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/leicscomedyfest

Find More about ‘Making Creativity Pay’

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Beyond_the_Pod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makingcreativitypay/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danjbarnett/

Making Creativity Pay Newsletter: https://makingcreativitypay.substack.com/