Good morning. We’re so excited to announce our first partner for Press Publish LA: The Hollywood Creator Summit. Here’s a hint: It’s how Colin and Samir became creators.
Keep scrolling for the answer.
Today’s lineup:
Why Disney+ is prioritizing vertical content
The creator making films for startups on X
A creator film gets a multimillion-dollar projection
Streaming Services Double Down on Short-Form Video
Disney+, Netflix, and Google TV invest in short-form content / Illustration by Moy Zhong
In the last week, multiple streaming platforms announced investment in short-form vertical content →
Disney+ said it will invest more in short-form video after its new “Verts” mobile feed reportedly drove deeper engagement in the last month. Users can browse clips from shows and films, save them to a watchlist, or start watching directly from the clip.
Netflix launched a mobile short-form feed and a clipping feature—allowing users to save up to 15 seconds of a show or film on the mobile app. Previously, Netflix blocked screenshots and screen recordings from the app.
Google TV will soon feature YouTube Shorts on the home screen, giving audiences personalized Shorts recommendations for quicker access to YouTube.
Why now? One possible reason could be the rise in microdramas, vertical series producer Matthew Ko told us. Daily users are spending more time on microdrama platform ReelShort than on Netflix, Disney+, or Prime Video, according to media analyst company Omdia.
“I think it was bound to happen, and they're really just meeting the audience where they are,” Ko said. “[This is] basically the [streaming platforms] understanding that they have to adapt.”
Will you watch vertical clips or content on a streaming platform?
How This Creator Earned $1M Making Films on X
Alli Gooch (second from left) produces films and documentaries highlighting the behind-the-scenes of the tech startups like Syncere (right) / Photography courtesy of Alli Gooch, Offscript
The tech world has money, ideas, and ambition—but not always a good eye for video. Creator Alli Gooch's creative agency Offscript is changing that.
Last July, Gooch—whose resume includes video production at Vice News Tonight, Zach King, and Dude Perfect—launched Offscript with cofounders Juliana Glodek and Cameron Dennis. They made a launch video, posted it to X, and watched it hit 100K views. Within two months, the studio had grossed $1M in revenue.
Zoom in: Offscript’s services include client work (commercials, docs, branding), behind-the-scenes content, IRL events, and experimental projects.
They’ve made films for startups including AI platform Hark and tech hardware brand Pickle (a video that caught the attention of MKBHD).
Offscript went experimental fast. Two months after launch, the brand hosted a startup film festival at one of San Francisco's oldest Chinese theaters—including a live jazz band, awards ceremony, and strict "no Patagonia" dress code. Nearly 500 people showed up. AI meeting tool Cluely took home the viral video category; coworking space Socratica won best bootstrapped video.
"A lot of these guys in tech want to feel creative," Gooch told us. "They've been put in a box. If we provide an opportunity for people who don't usually get to feel creative to feel like they're a part of something creative for a night—that was the idea."
Looking ahead: Offscript is doubling down on more IRL events, live streaming tech and hardware moments, and building in public on X and YouTube.
"When you truly are passionate about something and execute to the highest level that you can at any given moment, just out of care—that's when things really follow,” Gooch said.
A note from Press Publish LA
Announcing Our First Partner for Press Publish LA
Samir here 👋🏾
In 2011, Colin and I uploaded our first video to YouTube sitting in a warehouse in Los Angeles.
The dream was simple: find a way to tell stories for a living. We had no idea what would happen next—but over the next decade, the publish button would take us to places we never could have imagined.
That's why I'm so excited to share this: YouTube and Google Gemini are the title sponsors of Press Publish LA
The name "Press Publish" comes from the feeling we've had over the past 16 years of hitting that button. It changed our lives. It reshaped the entertainment business. And it's only fitting that the platform that started it all is the one bringing us all together.
Here's what you can expect at Press Publish:
From the YouTube team—what's next for the platform, and how YouTube is supporting the next era of shows, studios and creators on the platform. You'll also hear directly from creators who are launching shows, building studios, and shaping the next chapter of Hollywood.
From the Gemini team—the next wave of creativity. Learn how we're integrating Gemini into our creative work flow; from organizing ideas and design packaging to experimenting with Nano Banana.
YouTube and Google Gemini have empowered millions of creators and entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life. Now they're empowering us to bring everyone together under one roof.
I couldn't think of better partners for this. See you in LA.
Inside a Creator Film’s Opening Weekend Projections
Horror creator Kane Parsons’ debut film Backrooms (based on his YouTube short film of the same name) is currently on track to gross $20M during its opening weekend later this month.
If this happens: The film would earn double its budget in the first three days. For reference, Markiplier’s Iron Lung and Racka Racka’s Talk to Me made $18M and $10M during opening weekend, respectively.
On The A24 Podcast, Parsons told Saw director James Wan that he learned VFX skills from creators like Corridor Crew, while recap YouTube channels like Nexpo and Night Mind helped popularize his short films.
“I found a rough thing I could achieve [...] with free software on a laptop,” Parsons told Wan. “I just keep working on refining that until it becomes a unique product.”
🔥 Press Worthy
Ryan Trahan teases his summer video series, embarking on a two-week “bucket list” trip.
Target launches a creator program with social shopping platform LTK.
Hunter Prosper is launching a companion podcast to his video series Stories from a Stranger, made in partnership with the Obama’s media company, Higher Ground.
Issa Rae’s TikTok microdrama received 18 million views in its first 24 hours.
Creators Doctor Mike and Vivian Tu join a Creators 4 Mental Health marketing campaign across the NYC subway system.
📚 Thank You for Pressing Publish
The content we’re looking forward to reading, watching, and playing this weekend.
Read: For Dazed, Laura Pitcher makes the case for why you should wipe your Instagram grid and start over.
Watch: If Tim Burton and Tinkerbell had a crossover, it would be the music video for Bella Poarch’s new single “Ribcage.”
Play: Hank Green made a website where you can see all the Artemis II photos arranged in a timeline, synced to the crew's time and position in space.
