Upscale Media Films is officially expanding into a full-service production company focused on the rapidly growing microdrama and vertical content market.
Founded by CEO Malik Davis, the company is building its business around acquiring and controlling published book properties, then developing, casting, producing and delivering projects through an in-house production pipeline. The model is designed to reduce traditional development and packaging costs while allowing the company to move quickly from existing intellectual property to vertical series and potentially longer-form film and television adaptations.
Upscale is currently using the strategy through its partnership with Hartbeat on a slate of vertical series adapted from bestselling author Blake Karrington’s novels for microdrama platform aTwist. The projects could later be developed into feature films or traditional television series.
Karrington’s catalog includes more than 20 titles slated for adaptation. His books have reportedly sold over 16.5 million units and generated more than 271 million page reads. The author is now working directly with Upscale’s development team to bring his stories and characters into the vertical format.
In addition to adapting existing IP, Upscale is developing original projects. The company is currently producing Exotic Foods, a 10-episode horror anthology created through its hybrid AI-assisted production workflow. Other projects in development include Trapstar, The King of the South, Single Ladies, Scandalous and the feature film R.I.C.O. ATL.
Upscale has also secured rights to a story involving actor Quinton Aaron, titled Blindsided by Love, which is being developed for Hartbeat. Another upcoming microdrama, The Brown Family, will feature original music from Organized Noize, alongside a companion album released through Universal Music Group’s Chamber Studios.
The company’s growing team includes Davis, Karrington, CFO and executive producer Tiffaney Collins, casting director Rhavynn Drummer, Latino division executive producer Liana Mendoza, Chief AI Officer Delmone Rivers and director of photography Kareen “Curley the 5th” Oda, along with a full production crew.
As vertical storytelling continues to gain momentum, Upscale Media Films is positioning itself to develop, produce and scale content from existing audiences and original ideas under one production ecosystem.