Real Reel × UCLA Vertical Storytelling Panel 2026 — Event Coverage

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EVNT. · Vertical Storytelling Panel 2026
REAL
REEL
×
UCLA
— Real Reel
— UCLA TFT
MAY 29 James Bridges Theater · UCLA
PANEL_01 // THE BUSINESS
01

THE
BUSINESS
OF
VERTICALS

4 Speakers · Moderator + 3 Panelists 6:30 — 7:30 PM
Cast — Panel 01
01
Celine Zen
Celine Zen
Founder
Real Reel / SHÙ
Moderator
02
Alex Montalvo
Alex Montalvo
Co-Founder & CCO
GammaTime
Panelist
03
John Lewis
John Lewis
Founder
muVpix
Panelist
04
Tommy Harper
Tommy Harper
Founder & CEO
VeYou
Panelist
CODE_02 // PANELIST
ALEX
MONTALVO
Co-Founder & CCO · GammaTime
"
THE PLATFORM DECIDES THE GRAMMAR.
— Alex Montalvo · GammaTime · Panel 01
Alex Montalvo
Speaker remarks and full discussion transcript will appear here after the event. Each panelist's key insights will be formatted with editorial care — contextualized, not transcribed. Published by the Real Reel editorial team in the days following May 29.
CODE_04 // PANELIST
TOMMY
HARPER
Founder & CEO · VeYou
"
THE AUDIENCE ALWAYS FINDS THE NEXT SCREEN FIRST.
— Tommy Harper · VeYou · Panel 01
Tommy Harper
Speaker remarks and full discussion transcript will appear here after the event. Tommy Harper's perspective on building VeYou after producing $6B+ at the global box office. Published by Real Reel editorial team post-event.
PANEL_02 // THE CREATIVE
02

THE
CREATIVE
OF
VERTICALS

5 Speakers · Moderator + 4 Panelists 7:30 — 8:30 PM
Cast — Panel 02
01
Celine Parreñas Shimizu
Celine Parreñas Shimizu
Dean, School of TFT
UCLA
Moderator
02
Han Choi
Han Choi
U.S. Content Lead
Vigloo
Panelist
03
Robin Tang
Robin Tang
Adviser, Content & Strategy
COL Group
Panelist
04
DJ Azul
DJ Azul
Writer
Drama Box · ReelShorts
Panelist
05
Ashlin Yu
Ashlin Yu
Head of Development
Shorties Studios
Panelist
CODE_02 // PANELIST
HAN
CHOI
U.S. Content Lead · Vigloo
"
EMOTIONAL INTENSITY CROSSES EVERY BORDER.
— Han Choi · Vigloo · Panel 02
Han Choi
Speaker remarks and full discussion transcript will appear here after the event. Han Choi on K-drama's global distribution power and what Vigloo is building for English-language vertical storytelling. Published post-event.
CODE_05 // PANELIST
ASHLIN
YU
Head of Development · Shorties Studios
"
SEVEN YEARS AT NETFLIX TAUGHT ME WHAT AUDIENCES WANT.
— Ashlin Yu · Shorties Studios · Panel 02
Ashlin Yu
Speaker remarks and full discussion transcript will appear here after the event. Ashlin Yu on developing over 25 shows for Netflix International and what that taught her about the vertical format. Published post-event.
PANEL_03 // STUDENT SHOWCASE
03

STUDENT
SHOWCASE

3 Pilots · 9 Filmmakers 8:30 — 9:30 PM
Moderator — Panel 03
01
Prof. George Huang
Prof. George Huang
Writer, Director, Producer
UCLA
Moderator

Vertical Pilots — Screening + Discussion

THREE
ORIGINALS

I
MURDER CUCK
Joe Nixon · Aiden Lavalley · Abby Oh Arroyo
II
LOCKED IN
Eli Cohen · Andy Liu · Laura Abellan
III
SUPERSTAR TWIN SWAP
Jade Johann · Ender Waters · Oriana Theo
SAID
After the Room

WHAT THE
NIGHT
SAID

A full editorial summary of the evening — the ideas that surfaced, the tensions that emerged, and what it all means for the future of vertical drama. Written by the Real Reel editorial team, published in the days following May 29, 2026.