Hyperlens Studios: Vertical Microdrama Masterclass II

By Richard Lawson and Denee Busby

The audience moved to the vertical screen. The institutions have not caught up. The Next Screen Masterclass by Hyperlens Studios is the only professional development experience built to close that gap.

This is not a class about cameras, apps, or posting frequency. It is a masterclass in craft. Taught by veteran actor, director, and creative educator Richard Lawson alongside business strategist and creative enterprise builder Denee Busby, The Next Screen Masterclass gives storytellers, actors, producers, and institutions the language, framework, and practical tools to operate at the highest level on the platform that is already replacing television as the world’s primary screen.

The vertical screen is not a smaller version of film. It is a different medium with different laws. This workshop teaches those laws.

Thursday, July 30, 9:00am – 11:00am
Ardmore 2, Benton Convention Center (Benton South)

Richard Lawson is an acclaimed actor, director, teacher, and founder of Richard Lawson Studios, with a career spanning nearly six decades across stage, film, and television. His work encompasses acclaimed stage productions and screen credits include Poltergeist, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, For Colored Girls, Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black, Divorce in the Black, and All My Children, earning a Daytime Emmy nomination. A longtime protégé of renowned acting teacher Milton Katselas, Lawson has mentored generations of performers while directing acclaimed stage productions and the upcoming film Black Terror. His work continues to inspire artists on screen, on stage, and in the classroom.

Danee Busby-Howard is an award-winning producer, showrunner, and capital strategist whose work spans television, film, and emerging digital platforms. A UCLA engineering graduate, she brings a unique blend of creative vision and business expertise to every project. She currently serves as showrunner for Legacy on BET+ and has produced projects including Angel, Lot Patrol, and The Stray House. A leader in the evolving micro-drama space, Busby-Howard also specializes in film financing, tax credit strategy, and distribution, championing innovative storytelling while creating greater opportunities for diverse voices across the entertainment industry.