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- Creator Dhar Mann, Wade and Fox Entertainment exec Tony Vassiliadis stressed the importance of learning from social platform trends and merging them with traditional storytelling<\/strong>, with microdramas being a prime example.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A common theme was for creators to find and build their niche, but also to expand their presence on multiple platforms to truly scale<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n
\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Issa](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thewrap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Robert-OkineGetty-Images-2026-04-08T141303.864.jpg?fit=300%2C169&quality=89&ssl=1\")
\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead Next<\/strong>
\n\t\t\tIssa Rae's Hoorae Media Sets First Microdrama Series \u2018Screen Time\u2019 in TikTok Content Deal | Exclusive<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nHollywood continues to contract<\/a> due to the decline of linear TV, a decrease in streaming spending and an entertainment landscape still recovering from both the 2023 strikes and the residual impacts of COVID. But the creator economy has only grown. Ad spend in the creator ecosystem hit $37 billion last year<\/a>, a year-over-year growth that was four times faster than growth in the media industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The afternoon of the summit began with a spotlight panel on Rae, an actor, writer and producer who started her creative work on YouTube before creating HBO\u2019s Emmy-nominated \u201cInsecure.\u201d Rae spoke about her journey from being a creator to becoming one of Hollywood\u2019s more influential creative voices in a conversation moderated by TheWrap\u2019s Raquel Calhoun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In many ways, Rae\u2019s journey set the stage for the courtship between Hollywood and creators that the summit explored. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Representing the major Hollywood players were executives like President of Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe Sam Register, Executive Vice President of Digital Strategy and Growth at Lionsgate Brad Haugen and Partner at 3 Arts Entertainment Dunia McNeily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the creator side, major names like studio founder Dhar Mann, \u201cChallenge Accepted\u201d host Michelle Khare, comedy star Adam W, \u201cBFFs\u201d podcast host Josh Richards and actor Andrew Bachelor shared their stories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event also shined a light on the often unsung leaders who are actively connecting these separate worlds — executives like Webtoon Entertainment President Yongsoo Kim, Vice President of Creator Partnerships at Tubi Kudzi Chikumbu, Global Senior Vice President of Social, Creator and Content Marketing for the NFL Ian Trombetta and partner at Loeb & Loeb LLP John Kulback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During a dire time in the traditional entertainment industry, TheWrap\u2019s Creators x Hollywood Summit was a celebration of the bright future ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Issa Rae’s journey from YouTube to HBO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- A common theme was for creators to find and build their niche, but also to expand their presence on multiple platforms to truly scale<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n