Chera TV Launches Soon With Creator-First Model
An interview with the founding team
In the rapidly evolving world of vertical content, female-led Chera TV is preparing to shake things up. The Los Angeles-based app, launching next month, is betting that audiences are ready for something different: cinematic quality vertical content with diverse storytelling that breaks free from the usual tropes.
Recently, Behind the Verticals had the opportunity to sit down with the team behind the highly anticipated new vertical app.
But first, a roundup of this week’s vertical drama news…
👀 Spotted
The Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards 2025 ceremony will be held in-person in LA.
Room 418 is open to reviewing horror and true crime projects (including early-stage concepts).
GammaTime & Idilio partner on five Latin American vertical drama series.
Microdrama platforms spend up to 90% of budgets on marketing.
Vertical Leap: Growing the free vertical drama business at Streaming Media Connect.
7 vertical drama actors and what you can learn from their success.
Why TV’s traditional sellers aren’t going mad for microdrama.
60 Second Microdrama Shows Were Built For The TikTok Generation, But Who Is Actually Watching?
Fox Sports to Deliver Vertical Coverage of FIFA World Cup with AWS Elemental Inference.
Brands and creators are experimenting with the vertical microdrama format.
Constantin Entertainment Produces First Vertical Dramas For Platform Crisp Momentum.
Jen Cooper is looking for people launching vertical drama apps.
Speaking of apps, there are a also a couple of platforms and services for (aspiring) vertical drama professionals being launched (here, here, and here). Note that these are not (yet) vetted by Behind the Verticals so DYOR.
Catch Behind the Verticals at Wenwen Han’s Short Drama Forum 2026 Q1 on March 28.
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🎥 Interview with the Chera TV team
Co-founded by Candace Mizga, Kylie Carson, and Calvin Singh, the Chera TV team wrapped their first scripted vertical series in Vancouver last December.
Behind the Verticals spoke with COO Calvin Singh, Executive Producer Candace Mizga, and Director of Public Relations Jessica Ross about what sets them apart.
From Actor to Architect
Candace Mizga entered the vertical content space as an actor in March 2023. Working alongside her co-founders, she saw both the potential and the limitations of the format firsthand.
“We thought, what if we create our own vertical app and have it be a creator-led app that focuses on higher quality cinematic verticals and more diverse storylines and casting?” Candace recalls.
Calvin Singh, with his background in traditional TV and film, sees vast untapped potential. “I feel like we’re only scratching the surface of where it’s going right now,” he says.
Breaking the Formula
Anyone who scrolls through vertical platforms knows the patterns. Similar stories, same faces, same visual shortcuts. Chera TV wants to change that.
“We want to stay in the same realm where people watch verticals because they want to escape and feel good, but we’re doing that in a new way,” Candace explains.
Their slate includes scripted dramas and an unscripted reality series following female lawyers in Los Angeles. “It’s a high-energy cast with some bold storylines,” Calvin says. The challenge? Making it work in one to three minute episodes.
Culture Matters
What stood out most in our conversation was Candace’s emphasis on set culture. She’s committed to creating environments where everyone feels valued.
“I want to make sure that everyone working on our set feels heard and supported and cared for,” she says.
Advice for Aspiring Creators
Jessica Ross keeps it practical: start local. Use casting sites, tap into community resources, and build your profile gradually.
“You can create something and submit it to incredible platforms like ours,” she adds, highlighting how technology has lowered barriers to entry.
Chera TV is actively expanding and will be bringing on creators, writers, and additional crew members as they continue building their slate.