The Jay & Tony Show Show - Vertically Challenged

Jay goes to Cannes for MIPCOM and comes back with stories of million-dollar beach parties, clueless Hollywood executives, and an entertainment industry that's apparently collapsing while everyone drinks champagne and pretends everything is fine. Tony calls bullshit on the entire conference circuit while Jay explains why vertical microdramas are suddenly the hottest thing in the room. From AI-generated shows and the looming bubble nobody wants to acknowledge to TikTok's strategy and the future of mobile distribution, the guys unpack whether Hollywood has any fucking clue what's coming next. Instagram:  @vertically_challenged_pod_jtss TikTok:  @vertically_challenged_jt YouTube:  @vertically_challenged_pod_jtss Reddit:  @vert_challenge_pod Contact:  [email protected]

Kristen Brancaccio is back with Jay and Tony to talk about directing Screen Time for Issa Rae's company, navigating the sometimes bizarre demands of international microdrama platforms, and why a drunk guy drinking beer in a hospital might be exactly what audiences want. She also shares how Project Greenlight helped launch her career, reveals details about her upcoming horror film Crush Party, and weighs in on whether AI is the future of filmmaking or just an endless factory of digital slop. Turns out there's still something to be said for actual humans making movies. Instagram:  @vertically_challenged_pod_jtss TikTok:  @vertically_challenged_jt YouTube:  @vertically_challenged_pod_jtss Reddit:  @vert_challenge_pod Contact:  [email protected]

Director Kristen Brancaccio has made roughly 21 vertical dramas, worked with Finneas, and survived enough chaotic productions to know a thing or two about getting stuff done. She joins Jay and Tony to talk about directing at breakneck speed, why the microdrama paywall might be doomed, and whether anyone actually understands how these platforms make money. Spoiler: Even the people making the shows don't seem to know. But Kristen has some pretty compelling ideas about where this whole crazy business is headed. Instagram:  @vertically_challenged_pod_jtss TikTok:  @vertically_challenged_jt YouTube:  @vertically_challenged_pod_jtss Reddit:  @vert_challenge_pod Contact:  [email protected]

Susan Rovner is back with Jay and Tony to explain why a little jankiness might actually be a good thing. They dig into A Twist's deals with BET and Kevin Hart, bringing stars like Paris Hilton and Mario Lopez into verticals, and why the next big Hollywood stars might already be on your phone. Plus, AI, zombie musicals, and why Susan would rather shut down her app than make the misogynistic garbage some platforms keep pumping out. Instagram:  @vertically_challenged_pod_jtss TikTok:  @vertically_challenged_jt YouTube:  @vertically_challenged_pod_jtss Reddit:  @vert_challenge_pod Contact:  [email protected]

What happens when a Hollywood powerhouse decides to ditch the old playbook and jump into verticals? Jay and Tony sit down with former Warner Bros. and NBCUniversal executive Susan Rovner to talk about launching A Twist, why the microseries business model needs a rethink, and why good storytelling still beats chasing algorithms. Plus, Susan shares the wild story of how Netflix passed on a fan favorite series twice before it became a monster hit.   Instagram:  @vertically_challenged_pod_jtss TikTok:  @vertically_challenged_jt YouTube:  @vertically_challenged_pod_jtss Reddit:  @vert_challenge_pod Contact:  [email protected]