S1E1 — From MrBeast to Vertical Dramas: Scott Brown on Building a New Format

In our very first episode, host Maggie Han interviews Scott Brown — Emmy-nominated director, producer, and creative executive behind some of the internet’s most iconic content.

Scott has helped build online powerhouses, including:

• Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s YouTube channel
• MrBeast’s main channel
• Comedy projects with Kevin Hart
• Over 750 episodes of Larry King Now on Hulu

Now, he’s betting on vertical series as the next frontier in storytelling — a format he believes could rival traditional television in both scale and narrative sophistication.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why vertical series are more than just “short dramas”
• What Western creators can learn from China’s short drama boom
• How to balance data-driven production with creative originality
• The role AI could play in shaping the future of vertical storytelling

This is a must-listen for creators, producers, and platform leaders navigating the rise of shortform vertical content.