An Inside Look at Sea Star Productions

Video interview with Bethany Thomson

Today we bring you a Behind the Verticals first: A video interview with Bethany Thomson, Creative Lead at Sea Star Productions, a leading vertical production company based in London.

Bethany shares with us insights into the world of vertical drama, highlighting the company’s unique approach to storytelling and production quality.

But first, a roundup of this week’s vertical drama news…

Credit: Behind the Verticals

👀 Spotted:

• HOLYWATER raises record $22 million to turn microdramas into mainstream entertainment in the U.S.

• Like & Subscribe from Natalie Jarvey: TikTok and BuzzFeed jump into the microdrama race.

• Taye Diggs is Hollywood’s newest vertical drama star, playing a aan romancing his best friend’s daughter in CandyJar original.

• Vanderpump Rules fan fave to star in upcoming vertical drama.

• LA Council to explore grants for vertical content creators.

• You can now watch mini dramas on TikTok’s standalone ‘PineDrama’ app.

• Vertical microdramas gain momentum as Hollywood searches for its next act.

• Microdramas gain momentum at MIP London 2026.

• Shorts App Interview by Vertical Drama Love: How we built and grew a vertical drama app from scratch.

• Some vertical drama film stage BTS.

• The latest on vertical drama in Latin America.

• Behind the Verticals was in London and Toronto last week. Vancouver is next. Will we meet you there?

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🎥 Video Interview with Bethany Thomson:

Sea Star Productions is working to establish itself in the competitive world of vertical content by focusing on British narratives and high-end production quality. Bethany discusses the company’s recent projects, including a festive vertical drama and their partnership with a new app dedicated to premium storytelling.

Our conversation explores where vertical drama stands in the UK right now, how it compares to the American market, and why major networks are showing increased interest. Bethany talks about the potential for British stories to resonate globally and the opportunities emerging as the vertical drama landscape continues to evolve. She also addresses how AI is being integrated into production workflows, making sure the human element stays at the heart of storytelling while improving efficiency.

Watch the full video interview below.