Hollie, Donelle, Michelle “Michi” chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos about the upcoming VertiCon event in Los Angeles, which will take place from August 21st to the 23rd.
Serena Williams once said: “”Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we cheer each other on.” This quote applies to Hollie, Donelle, and Michi of VertiCon. This marks their second annual event.
VertiCon 2026
On VertiCon 2026, Hollie remarked, “We just launched meet-and-greet ticket sales this weekend, so it has been a busy time. We’re excited about everything we have planned—from meet-and-greets and fan panels to photo ops and autograph sessions.”
“It’s shaping up to be an incredible weekend, and we can’t wait for everyone to experience it,” Hollie foreshadowed.
Regarding the idea for VertiCon, Hollie stated, “The idea really grew out of my own experience attending conventions. I had gone to Stargate conventions, Wizard World, and other sci-fi events over the years.”
“When I discovered the vertical film space, I thought it would be fascinating to meet the actors and hear their perspectives because vertical productions are so different from traditional television. The pace, the production style, everything about them is unique,” she said.
“I started talking with fans in online communities and realized there was genuine interest in meeting these actors. So I reached out to a few performers to see if they’d be interested in participating in something like this. Once they said yes, everything snowballed. What I thought would be a small gathering turned into something much bigger, and this year it’s grown even more,” she elaborated.
The Verties Awards
Donelle opened up about the Verties Awards. “The Verties are our awards show, and it’s a really unique concept. Industry professionals nominate the projects and performers across all the categories, and then the fans vote to determine the winners,” she said.
“We will have presenters, live entertainment, and even a surprise musical guest who has performed elsewhere before but is making their Verties debut. It’s going to be a fun celebration,” she exclaimed.
“One of the things I love most is that it brings the industry and the fans together,” Hollie said. “Unlike many awards shows, where creators can submit their own work, our process allows the industry to decide what deserves recognition while giving fans the final say. It’s a true collaboration.”
“We also introduced a fan-nominated category for Best App, where fans selected the finalists before voting for the winner,” Donelle said.
“Another special award is the Lionheart Award, created in partnership with our charity partner, I Am Courageous,” Hollie said. “This award recognizes actors for their charitable and philanthropic work rather than their acting achievements. It’s about honoring the positive impact they’re making in their communities.”
Panel discussions
Hollie noted that there will be panel discussions with the actors at this year’s event. “Throughout Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, we will have Q&A panels where fans can ask questions directly to their favorite actors and really help shape the conversation,” she said.
“It’s important to remember that VertiCon and the Verties are connected but they are pretty separate events,” Michi said. “You don’t have to attend the full convention to attend the Verties, which gives people another opportunity to be part of the weekend even if they can’t participate in every convention activity.”
Lessons learned from this VertiCon journey
On the lessons learned from VertiCon, Hollie said, “I’ve learned how important it is to delegate. That’s not always easy when something is your passion project, but I’ve also learned to trust my team completely.”
“Michi and I have known each other for nearly two decades, and Donelle joined us more recently. Together we’ve built an incredible partnership, and I’ve learned I can rely on these two amazing women with everything,” Hollie said.
“I think we’ve all discovered that we are capable of far more than we imagined,” Michi said. “At the same time, we’ve learned where our limitations are, and that’s where having a strong team matters. We each have different strengths, and together we fill in the gaps for one another.”
“We’ve also learned how to disagree in a healthy way,” Donelle said. “We’ve definitely had our moments, but we’ve always talked things through and kept our focus on the shared vision. We are all strong personalities, but those conversations have ultimately made us stronger as a team. We are the Golden Girls!”
Donelle remarked, “Running a convention requires incredible organization, and Michi deserves a lot of credit for keeping us on track. I work in logistics professionally, and even I think she’s better at it than I am. I like to think it’s because I’m just a little neurotic—but somehow it works for us!”
Future plans for VertiCon
On their future plans, Hollie shared, “Our goal is to continue growing while helping bring greater recognition to the vertical entertainment industry. We want to help bring it to the public eye a little bit more. The people creating these projects—both in front of and behind the camera—deserve to have their work recognized.”
“We also hope to strengthen relationships between fans, creators, and platforms so that audience feedback continues to shape the future of the industry,” she added.
“There are still many misconceptions about vertical films,” Michi said. “VertiCon gives people the opportunity to see the creativity, innovation, and talent behind these projects. We also want to champion human-created storytelling and support actors and filmmakers who are building sustainable careers in this space.”
“Growth is definitely the goal, but we want to maintain the intimate atmosphere that makes VertiCon special. None of us are trying to become Comic-Con. We’d rather continue creating meaningful experiences while welcoming more fans and creators from around the world,” Hollie said.
“We’ve already welcomed attendees from countries including Denmark, Azerbaijan, Australia, and many others. That’s a reminder that the vertical entertainment community is truly global,” the ladies concurred.
AI on the future of the entertainment industry
They went on to share their thoughts on AI on the future of the entertainment industry. “AI is one of the biggest conversations happening right now. We understand why businesses are interested in it, especially in a fast-moving industry like vertical entertainment,” Michi said.
“At the same time, it’s impossible to ignore the impact AI is having on creative professionals. We hope the industry finds a balance that embraces useful technology while preserving human creativity, storytelling, and employment,” Michi noted.
“AI should be used as a tool—not a replacement for people,” Hollie said. “There are situations where it makes sense. For example, using AI for visual effects like destroying a building can save significant production costs. But the performances themselves—the emotions, facial expressions, and human connection—can’t be replicated. Personally, I don’t enjoy AI-generated verticals because they lack the emotional depth that makes storytelling meaningful.”
Donelle stated, “Even the human voice matters. Emotion comes through performance, dialogue, and delivery. That’s something audiences connect with instinctively. Sometimes AI-generated scripts even produce awkward translations or dialogue that human actors naturally recognize and correct. That’s another reminder that technology should support artists, not replace them.”
The consensus from all three, including this journalist, was that art should stay human.
Success
On their definition of the word success, Hollie and Donelle remarked, “Success means continuing to grow VertiCon while helping actors build their careers and creating an even stronger fan community. Watching those friendships develop has been one of the most rewarding parts of this experience.”
“Success will be when VertiCon becomes a well-oiled machine. Every year we’ve learned something new. Eventually, we’ll spend less time solving logistical challenges and more time innovating and creating exciting new experiences,” Michi added.
Message for vertical fans
For vertical fans, Michi said, “Thank you for trusting us. Last year, many people traveled to a convention they’d never experienced before, organized by people they didn’t know personally. That trust meant everything to us, and seeing how the community came together was incredible.”
“We truly couldn’t do this without you. Watching friendships form before, during, and after VertiCon has been one of the most meaningful parts of this journey,” Donelle said.
“Your enthusiasm gave me the courage to keep building this event and to continue reaching out to actors and creators. Thank you for believing in this vision. We love this community, and we’re excited to see everyone again,” Hollie added.
Closing thoughts on VertiCon 2026
For fans and attendees, Hollie expressed, I hope they make new friendships from this year’s event.”
Donelle echoed Hollie’s remarks. “I would love to watch people meet, reconnect, share meals, and build lasting friendships; that has been amazing,” Donelle exclaimed.
“I would also encourage everyone to be present. Put the phone down once in a while. Not every moment needs to be posted online. Take time to connect with the actors, the fans, and everyone around you,” Michi concluded.
For three days, vertical fans from all over the globe have the chance to experience this community in person. Those genuine moments are what make VertiCon truly special.
To learn more about VertiCon 2026, visit its official website, and follow their Instagram page.
