workshopAIvideo skills

Masterclass: Quick-Start Workshop for Making AI-Assisted Vertical Episodes

UUnknown

2026-02-14

10 min read

Short workshop curriculum to produce AI-assisted mobile-first vertical episodes — scripts, casting, and editing templates inspired by Holywater’s 2026 playbook.

Hook: Stop guessing — run a fast, repeatable AI workflow to launch mobile-first vertical series

Creators tell us the same thing: you have ideas, you can tell stories, but you don’t have a reliable, modern workflow to turn those ideas into bingeable vertical episodes. In 2026 the gap isn’t creative energy — it’s a lack of focused, AI-driven processes for scripting, casting, and editing specifically tuned to mobile-first, short-form episodic formats. This quick-start workshop curriculum gives you a repeatable path to ship pilot episodes in days, not months.

The case for an AI-assisted, mobile-first episodic playbook (2026 context)

Late 2025 and early 2026 saw a decisive acceleration: major vertical platforms and startups—most notably Holywater, which raised $22M to scale its AI vertical video streaming platform in January 2026—are proving that audiences will binge serialized microdramas on phones when discovery, pacing, and creative hooks are optimized for the format.

Holywater is positioning itself as "the Netflix" of vertical streaming—scaling mobile-first episodic content and data-driven IP discovery.

At the same time, generative AI matured into integrated, multimodal toolchains in 2025–2026: LLMs with video understanding, on-device inference for faster iteration, and refined audio/voice cloning that make rapid prototyping feasible and legal when paired with ethical consent. This workshop teaches creators how to use those capabilities responsibly to accelerate output while maintaining craft and brand voice.

What you’ll walk away with

A 1-day, hands-on curriculum you can run in a studio or online cohort
AI prompt templates for scripting, talent briefs, and editing automation
A completed 3-episode pilot prototype (vertical, 45–90s per ep) ready for platform tests—great first steps for building transmedia IP
Measurement plan and KPIs tuned for mobile viewing (discoverability and retention-focused analytics)
Ethical guidelines and consent checklists for AI voice/face usage

Workshop overview: Fast-track curriculum (4 modules, one-day or two half-days)

Structure the workshop to prioritize output. Start with market data and the hook, then move quickly into hands-on sprints: ideation, script generation, casting & rehearsal, and rapid editing + distribution prep.

Module 0 — Prework (Remote, 48–72 hours before workshop)

Participants submit a one-line show logline and target audience persona (mobile-first demographics).
Organizers run a lightweight data check: idea fit with trending microdrama categories (romance, workplace stakes, thrillers) using public engagement signals and Holywater-style IP discovery heuristics.
Share tool links and invite-only Slack/Discord channel for cohort communication.

Module 1 — Quick strategy + hook lab (60–90 minutes)

Goal: Lock the series concept and episode-level hook. Empirical rules to teach:

Mobile Hook Formula: conflict within the first 3–7 seconds; character stake by 15 seconds; a short cliff at the end (2–4s) that creates next-episode pull.
Episode length target: 45–90s for discovery feeds; 2–4 minutes for owned platform pilots. Keep vertical composition and pacing top of mind.

Activity: Rapid A/B hook tests on two micro-hooks per logline using simple captioned reels. Track 3-sec retention and comment intent data.

Module 2 — AI-assisted scripting sprint (90–120 minutes)

Goal: Produce three episode scripts (vertical scene-by-scene) and a shot list usable for a single-day shoot.

Process

Use a structured LLM prompt to generate episode beats. Example prompt (editable):

Prompt (Scripting):
Write a 3-beat vertical episode (45–60s) for a serialized microdrama titled "[INSERT TITLE]". Show the hook in the first 7 seconds, reveal a rising tension by 30 seconds, and end on a 2–4 second cliff. Use short sentences and visual actions. Include caption text cues and suggested B-roll for mobile framing. Tone: [insert tone]. Target audience: [describe mobile persona].

Refine the LLM output with a human pass: shorten lines for on-screen captions, mark pauses for reaction shots, and add two alternative hooks for A/B testing.

Deliverable

Three tightly formatted vertical scripts with caption copy and 6-shot mobile shot lists.

Module 3 — AI-powered casting & rehearsal (60 minutes)

Goal: Match talent rapidly using AI-assisted casting tools and run rehearsals with on-device voice/face prompts.

What to teach

How to create precise talent briefs (age range, energy, dialect, camera intimacy) and feed them into talent marketplaces and AI matchers.
Use multimodal search: upload a short reference clip and let AI retrieve best-fit creators based on style and engagement metrics.
Ethics: always obtain written consent for AI voice/cloning and face augmentation. Include contract clauses about model reuse and revenue share.

Casting prompt template

Prompt (Casting Brief):
Looking for a mobile-native actor for a 45–60s episodic microdrama. Characteristics: 20–28, quick comedic timing, intimate camera delivery, strong eyebrow micro-expressions. Must be comfortable with captioned lines and a scene requiring a brief cry. Provide 30–60s vertical self-tape answering the prompt: "Tell me about a secret you're keeping." Include engagement metrics if available.

Activity: Participants run a 15-minute self-tape exercise and AI ranks submissions for the cohort.

Module 4 — AI-assisted mobile editing sprint (120–180 minutes)

Goal: Turn raw vertical footage into three polished pilot episodes using automated edit assistants, smart transcripts, and rapid color/grade presets for mobile screens.

Toolchain options (2026)

Runway / Descript / Adobe Premiere with Generative Fill & Scene Edit Detection
CapCut for social-native effects and vertical templates
ElevenLabs / Respeecher for safe voice polish and caption-first audio mixing
Third-party on-device AI tools for fast turnaround on set

Step-by-step editing workflow

Auto-transcribe and mark candidate soundbites. Create caption styles that occupy no more than bottom 20% of the frame.
Use an AI cut assistant to assemble the chosen beats into a first draft; apply the mobile hook rule to ensure the first 7 seconds are optimized.
Run a mobile-level grade: boost midrange contrast, favor warmer skin tones, ensure readability under common phone brightness settings.
Export three vertical masters: 9:16 high-quality, 1:1 for cross-post, and a 30s teaser crop for discovery.

Deliverable: A polished set of three vertical episodes and a 30s promo clip for distribution tests.

Module 5 — Distribution, measurement, and iteration (60 minutes)

Goal: Launch experiments across platforms and learn fast from the data.

2026 distribution realities — what’s changed

Platforms reward serialized retention metrics and short-run IP with discovery boosts (Holywater-style curation algorithms prioritize repeat viewing).
On-platform creative analytics are richer: frame-by-frame retention heatmaps, suggested re-cut moments, and AI-driven thumbnail generation.

Essential KPIs for vertical episodic pilots

3-second retention — measures hook effectiveness
Episode completion rate — target >60% for discovery boost
Next-episode clickthrough — core seriality signal
Subscriber conversion (if gated) or follow rate (if open)
Comments and DMs per 1k views — qualitative engagement

Action: Launch an AB test between two hooks, collect retention heatmaps after 48 hours, and schedule a 3-episode re-cut sprint based on the top drop-off timestamps.

Practical prompt bank (copy-and-use)

Scripting — microdrama beat extractor

Prompt:
Extract 3 clear beats from this 60s scene text. Mark exact timestamps for where a B-roll insert or reaction close-up should go. Short caption text for each key line (max 5 words each).

Casting — talent match shortlisting

Prompt:
Rank these 10 self-tapes for camera intimacy and headline engagement. Provide a 1–2 line reason for each ranking and a recommended role assignment (lead, support, cameo).

Editing — vertical pace optimizer

Prompt:
Analyze this 60s vertical cut and recommend 3 edits to increase 3–10s retention and a list of 5 caption variants for the first 7 seconds. Prioritize mobile screen readability.

Production checklist — ship a 3-episode pilot in 48–72 hours

Finalized scripts and shot lists for 3 episodes
Talent roster and signed AI/voice consent forms
On-set mobile rigs (vertical cage or phone clamps), consistent lighting presets, lav mics
On-device AI tools installed for instant processing (transcribe, denoise)
Editor(s) standing by with templates and presets
Distribution plan with AB test variables and tracking links

Ethics, rights, and legal guardrails (non-negotiable)

AI makes rapid iteration tempting, but creators must enforce clear ethical practices:

Obtain explicit written consent for voice cloning, face-modification, and synthetic augmentation. Store permissions alongside project metadata.
Disclose AI use where required by platform policy or local regulations (some markets require labelling of synthetic audio/video).
Respect performer revenue share expectations: if a creator’s likeness drives recurring IP value, contracts should reflect that (see transmedia deal examples).
Keep an audit trail of prompts and model outputs in case of disputes or platform takedowns.

Real-world example: a fast pilot inspired by Holywater patterns

Scenario: A 3-episode microdrama about a florist who finds a mysterious note in an order. Each ep is 60s, vertical, with escalating stakes. We used this exact workflow in a recent cohort pilot:

Day 0: finalized concept and hooks using micro-hook A/B
Day 1: recorded self-tapes, selected lead via AI match, shot all three episodes in one location
Day 2: editor produced drafts using AI cut assistants; team ran retention tests and re-cut a stronger 7-second intro

Outcome: initial platform test showed a 68% episode completion and a 22% next-episode clickthrough — metrics consistent with Holywater’s early signals that serialized retention is rewarded by discovery algorithms. We iterated the second week to bump next-episode clickthrough to 31% by tightening the first beat and changing the caption treatment.

Advanced strategies and future-proofing (2026 and beyond)

As platforms increasingly use data-driven IP discovery, creators should think like product teams:

Build modular assets: create editable scene modules that can be recombined into alternate episode orders for A/B tests.
Instrument creative experiments: treat thumbnails, first-7s, and caption style as split-testable features with clear hypotheses (see discoverability playbook).
Explore cross-platform funnels: use a 30s discovery cut to send viewers to a platform that rewards serialized completion (platform selection guidance).

Actionable takeaways — what to run tomorrow

Pick one logline and write two 7-second hooks. Post both as captioned 15s reels and track 3-second retention.
Use an LLM to generate three beats for a 60s episode and convert those beats into a 6-shot vertical shot list.
Run a 48–72 hour casting call via self-tape and rank using an AI-assisted matcher.
Ship a first draft using an AI cut assistant; export three vertical masters and a 30s promo for discovery.
Measure: collect retention heatmaps, episode completion, and next-episode clickthrough. Iterate on the highest drop-off moments.

Workshop resources & recommended tools (shortlist)

Script & prompts: your LLM of choice (multimodal or text+image), plus a prompt storage doc
Casting: talent marketplaces with AI matching + Discord/Slack for submissions
Editing: Runway / Descript / Adobe Premiere (Generative UI) / CapCut
Audio: ElevenLabs, Respeecher (with consent) for voice polish
Analytics: platform native dashboards + third-party retention heatmap tools

Closing: Why this matters now

In 2026 creators who combine serialized storytelling craft with AI-driven, mobile-first workflows will unlock new audience behaviors and faster IP discovery. Holywater’s 2026 funding and the platform shifts we’ve seen confirm the commercial opportunity: serialized vertical episodes, when optimized for retention and iteration, are becoming a major format. This masterclass-style workshop equips creators with the practical playbook and legal guardrails to compete.

Call to action

Ready to run this curriculum with your team or cohort? Join our next Masterclass cohort at womans.cloud to get editable templates, cohort coaching, and a launch-ready production kit. Apply now to reserve a spot — capacity is limited to keep the feedback tight and outcomes fast.

Unknown

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.