S2E9 | Forum 25Q3 — From Hollywood to Vertical Hits: Chris Wicke’s Short Drama Pivot

Today’s episode features Chris Wicke, a 25-year veteran of the film and TV industry and the founder of Embr Entertainment.

Chris has been producing vertical mini dramas for platforms like ReelShort and Salty TV, with hits such as Truth or Dare (which ranked #4 on Salty TV) and Married to the Assassin. Before founding Embr, he produced vertical dramas at Be Here Media and has since built Embr Entertainment to focus exclusively on short drama production.

With a background spanning film, television, and digital formats, Chris brings both traditional production expertise and hands-on experience in the fast-evolving short drama market. He views short dramas as “feature-length films with 65 to 70 cliffhangers” and has been at the forefront of experimenting with genres like romance, horror, thriller, and action in the vertical format.

In this conversation, we explore:

· Why short dramas resonate so strongly with audiences

· How genres like horror and action translate to the vertical screen

· The challenges of adapting Chinese-influenced storytelling for U.S. viewers

· What genres and trends may define the next wave of short dramas

Chris’s perspective combines industry depth with a pioneering spirit in one of the most disruptive storytelling formats today.