The Vertical Direction – Exploring the Vertical Revolution

Presented by WebSeries Canada in partnership with the Celluloid Social Club. 

Sponsored by CreativeBC.

TICKET PAGE | FB EVENT

ABOUT
Join industry insiders as they share insights on the Vertical Web Series Industry – and where it’s going…

Free for members of WebSeries Canada.

Alliance Française, 6161 Cambie Street, Vancouver

6:30pm – Doors open / Mingling
7:00pm – Panel begins
8:45pm – Panel ends / Mingling
9:30pm – Event ends

Meet your Panelists
Monika Dalman is a casting director and vertical production consultant with deep expertise across traditional and emerging vertical formats. She has cast 100+ vertical series worldwide, along with UBCP/ACTRA and SAG-AFTRA projects for major networks including CBC, PBS, Disney, and Marvel. As co-founder of the Vertical Film & Short-series Alliance (VFSSA), she helped guide UBCP/ACTRA in establishing North America’s first vertical production test contract, while consulting with networks to bridge mobile-first storytelling and professional standards.
Known for discovering emerging talent and shaping on-brand characters, Monika bridges legacy studio’s DNA with the new language of verticals.

Alicia Read is an actor, writer, and producer whose screen work has reached 300M+ viewers across leading vertical platforms including ReelShort, GoodShort, and Dramawave. Known for her emotionally intelligent performances and creative range, she has become one of the defining faces of vertical storytelling. She recently co-produced/co-starred in the first ReelShort Original developed in Canada.
With more than 20 years in the luxury beauty industry, Alicia is a seasoned executive who has led major campaigns with Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Neiman Marcus, and goop. A storyteller at heart, she now channels that expertise as co-founder (with Monika Dalman) of the VFSSA, supporting a sustainable entertainment ecosystem in Canada that bridges artistry, innovation, and opportunity.

Julie Bruns is an actor, writer, director and producer with over a decade of experience. She’s created multiple award-winning shorts and webseries before diving into verticals in 2024. Now, she’s acted in over 25 vertical productions, and branched into independent production—writing and starring in the upcoming action-adventure vertical, Beneath Crimson Sails.

Meet your Moderator
Robert Randall is an award-winning BC based filmmaker and the creative force behind one of Canada’s most popular YouTube channels – YAP TV – which boasts over 550 million views and 2 million subscribers.
His short films and web series have appeared on CBC, Crave, and in numerous film and web festivals. Over the past 3 years his projects have won 4 Leo Awards – including Best Web Series for the viral hit “The Girl Without a Phone” and multiple Best Performance Leo Awards. His series “Clickbait” and “Me… In Real Life” were given the “Best of BC” awards at the TO WebFest 2023 and 2025.
Prior to starting his YouTube journey Robert spent 15 years working in the Vancouver film industry, primarily as a DGC First Assistant Director on various US and Canadian film and tv productions. He is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts as well as the UCLA Extension Film and TV Program.

Meet your Event Producers
Robert Randall, WebSeries Canada
Suzette Laqua, WebSeries Canada
Paul Armstrong, Celluloid Social Club
Sierra Wilson-Furr, Celluloid Social Club

Sponsored by CreativeBC.