Hooked in 60 Seconds: How ReelShort Changed Storytelling

If you've wondered what it means to work on a Vertical, join us for an in-depth conversation on what they are, what it means to work on one, and how to get involved with a platform like ReelShorts. Moderator: Creative Conference Producer Linda Burns Panelists: Bofan Zhang (Senior Executive Producer), Jocelyn Zhao (Senior Executive Producer) and Sylvia Sun (Executive Producer) Bofan Zhang is a bilingual creative producer based in Los Angeles, with an MFA in Creative Producing from Columbia University. She is a BAFTA Connect member, a Film Independent Fellow, and a judge for the Telly Awards. With experience across the U.S., China, and South Korea, her work has been recognized and awarded by BAFTA, the DGA, Focus Features, SXSW, DOC NYC, and the National Board of Review. Her producing credits include #1 BAD DAD (Slamdance, LA Shorts), BLEEDING (Featured in New York Times “Five Horror Movies to Stream Now”, Best Midnight Feature at Dances with Films: NY, Best Screenplay at Grimmfest), VOGUE China x Vivian Wu, VOGUE China Ashley Park x Jia Ling, CHILDREN OF LIGHT (DGA, BAFTA Shortlist, Student Oscar Finalist, Cine Gear Expo, Focus Features Award), THE UNINVITED (SXSW, starring Elizabeth Reaser, Walton Goggins, Pedro Pascal), SÉANCE (starring Scottie Thompson), and GO THROUGH THE DARK (DOC NYC, Big Sky). Bofan has held roles at Ubisoft Film & TV (Asian operations), Foton Pictures (Director of Content Ops), and as Producer’s Assistant to Lynda Obst. She now serves as Executive Producer at ReelShort, leading hit vertical mobisodes that garner tens of millions of views. Jocelyn JC Zhao is a Senior Executive Producer at ReelShort, where she leads production across the U.S. and international markets, overseeing original and commissioned projects, physical production, and cross-border workflows. A 2024 Women in Film Producing Fellow, she has executive produced numerous short-form series, short films, and commercials, bridging new media storytelling with disciplined, premium production standards. Her independent short films have screened internationally, including at the LA International Film Festival, SoCal Film Awards, Experimental Film Guanajuato, and Oniros Film Awards. Sylvia Sun (she/her) is an AFI graduate and Executive Producer at ReelShort, where she has produced some of the platform's most-watched vertical microdramas — including Accidental Surrogate for the Alpha, Mommy Don't Cry Daddy is Sorry, and Married the Mafioso I Saved. Based between Atlanta and Los Angeles, she's focused on what comes next for the format: stronger craft, a tighter creative community, and stories that travel — across genres, cultures, and screens.