Editorial calendar template for vertical-first video content

Hook: Stop juggling scattered briefs and missed drops — a practical editorial calendar for AI-assisted vertical episodic content

If your team is losing time on repeated setup, missing episode deadlines, or publishing vertical video that underperforms on mobile, this article is for you. In 2026, audiences expect serialized, bingeable experiences optimized for phones: short vertical episodes, microdramas and data-driven series that hook viewers in the first three seconds. But creating consistent, high-quality vertical video at scale requires a purpose-built editorial calendar and a production workflow that uses AI where it saves time — not where it creates chaos.

Top-line: What you’ll get

This piece delivers a ready-made, 12-week editorial calendar template optimized for producing AI-assisted vertical episodes, microdramas, and data-driven series for mobile-first audiences. You’ll also get a full production workflow, AI toolset and prompt examples, compliance checks in light of 2025–2026 platform controversies, and a data-first cadence framework so your series scales predictably.

Why this matters in 2026

Three facts you need to accept as the baseline for planning in 2026:

• Investors and platforms are funding vertical-first episodic formats — for example, Fox-backed Holywater raised $22M in January 2026 to expand an AI vertical video platform focused on serialized mobile content.
• AI tooling has matured to the point where guided learning, script iteration and automated editing can replace much of repetitive production overhead — Google’s Gemini-guided learning and multimodal assistants are now routinely used by content teams for rapid upskilling and creative iteration.
• Platform safety and deepfake risks became mainstream concerns in late 2025 and early 2026, so compliance, consent and provenance tracking are critical parts of any editorial calendar for AI-assisted video.

"Holywater is positioning itself as 'the Netflix' of vertical streaming — a sign that serialized vertical content is now seen as a mainstream product category." — Forbes, Jan 16, 2026

What makes this editorial calendar different?

Most content calendars are generic. This one is built around four realities of mobile-first episodic video:

• Micro-beat design: Each episode is engineered for hook, beat and pay-off across 15–90 seconds.
• AI-in-the-loop: Stage-level AI checkpoints (script drafts, voice roughs, b-roll synthesis, automated captions) that reduce rework but preserve human final approval.
• Repurposing-first fields: Every episode includes explicit deliverables for 9:16 vertical, 1:1 social clips, and subtitles for silent viewing.
• Compliance & provenance: Metadata fields for consent, synthetic asset flags, and provenance notes given platform scrutiny in 2026.

How to use this guide

1. Start at the top with the editorial strategy: define audience persona, series premise, and KPIs.
2. Use the 12-week calendar as a scaffold. Assign roles, tools, and sprint deadlines.
3. Run two-week sprints: iterate scripts with AI, lock production, then enter a continuous post-production pipeline where AI accelerates repetitive tasks.
4. Measure weekly and adjust the cadence based on retention and completion metrics.

Ready-made editorial calendar: 12-week template (copy + paste)

Below is an actionable, copy-ready template. Paste this into your project management tool or spreadsheet and adapt fields to your stack.

  Week,Episode #,Episode Title,Hook (0-3s),Length,Primary Beat,Script Status,AI Draft Version,Talent,Shoot Date,Edit Start,Edit Due,Assets (B-roll/CGI),Subtitles,Platform (TikTok/IG/Shorts/App),Publish Date,KPI Target,Repurpose Clips,Compliance/Consent,Notes
  W1,E01,Intro to Series,Protagonist drops a secret,60s,Inciting incident,Draft v0,AI v1,Actor A,2026-02-01,2026-02-02,2026-02-03,B-roll A; Synthesized city shot,Yes,TikTok,2026-02-05,Completion 45% 1st watch,2x15s teaser,Consent form signed,Syn assets flagged
  W1,E02,Microdrama: The Call,30s,Twist beat,Draft v0.1,AI v1,Actor B,2026-02-03,2026-02-04,2026-02-05,B-roll B,Yes,IG Reels,2026-02-06,Retention 60% mid,1x15s clip,Consent pending,Alt ending draft
  ... (continue through W12) 
  

Key fields explained:

• Hook (0-3s): The precise visual/text/audio element to open the video. This is non-negotiable for mobile-first audiences.
• AI Draft Version: Store the AI prompt output version to track iteration and provenance.
• Repurpose Clips: At least two microclips per episode to fuel distribution and testing.
• Compliance/Consent: Date-stamped consent forms and synthetic asset flags to meet platform audits.

Sample 8-week content cadence — choosing the right rhythm

Pick a cadence that matches your resources and audience behavior. Here are three proven rhythms:

1. High-frequency microdrama (Daily snippets)

• Deliverable: 1 primary 30–45s microdrama episode + 2 microclips daily.
• Best for: low-budget, high-velocity teams building habit-forming short narratives.
• Workflow: batch produce 5 episodes over two days, schedule releases across the week, monitor day 1 retention closely.

2. Episodic weekly drop (Flagship series)

• Deliverable: 1 flagship 60–90s episode weekly + behind-the-scenes microclips.
• Best for: narrative series or data-driven stories requiring more post-production polish.
• Workflow: two-week sprint per episode — week 1 script & shoot, week 2 post & distribution.

3. Hybrid (Data-driven series)

• Deliverable: 1 weekly episode + 3 rapid analysis microclips that react to real-time data (surveys, trends, or custom metrics).
• Best for: brands using editorial content to highlight proprietary data or insights.
• Workflow: pair a small analytics cell with production — publish a core episode and immediate microresponse clips within 24–48 hours.

Production workflow — stage-by-stage with AI checkpoints

Use this workflow as your default pipeline. Each stage includes specific outputs for the editorial calendar.

1. Ideation & audience brief (Sprint Day -7 to -5)

• Output: Series premise, persona, episode list (12 episodes), KPI targets.
• AI use: Use models like Gemini or custom fine-tuned LLMs to generate 10 hook variants per episode and A/B test copy for thumbnails and titles.
• Editorial calendar field: Populate Episode Title, Hook, KPI Target.

2. Script drafting (Sprint Day -4 to -2)

• Output: Final script (human-approved) and an AI draft log.
• AI use: Draft dialogue, micro-beat timing, and scene directions. Prompt: "Write a 45s vertical microdrama scene with a 3s hook, two beats, and a 5-word cliffhanger ending."
• Editorial calendar field: Script Status, AI Draft Version.

3. Pre-production & casting (Sprint Day -2 to 0)

• Output: Shooting schedule, consent forms, prop list, synthetic asset flags.
• AI use: Auto-generate shot lists and call sheets from script text. Use guided learning tools to onboard new talent quickly.
• Editorial calendar field: Talent, Shoot Date, Compliance/Consent.

4. Shoot (Day 0)

• Output: Master vertical footage + alternate takes for microclips.
• AI use: On-set assist for live captioning and auto-logging scenes via audio-to-text tools.
• Editorial calendar field: Assets list populated with master files and selects. If you need compact kits for on-location shoots, consult portable streaming kits and the broader field kit reviews for recommended camera/audio combos.

5. Edit & AI-assisted post (Day 1–3)

• Output: Final vertical edit, microclips, captions, thumbnails, CMS-ready files.
• AI use: Automated rough cut assembly (scene detection), synthetic b-roll fill, voice enhancement, and automated subtitles. Human editor checks all AI-generated content. For small teams, lightweight workflows often depend on reliable hardware — see benchmarks of on-device generators like the AI HAT+ 2 when you consider edge or Raspberry Pi-assisted tasks.
• Editorial calendar field: Edit Start/Edit Due, Subtitles.

6. Compliance, provenance & final QA (Day 3)

• Output: Signed consent logs, synthetic asset ledger, metadata for platforms.
• AI use: Use tools to detect manipulated faces/audio or flag content risks. This is essential after the deepfake controversies in late 2025 and early 2026.
• Editorial calendar field: Compliance/Consent, Notes. Build fields that reference verification playbooks like the Edge-First Verification Playbook and operational identity signals (see Edge Identity Signals) so provenance is auditable.

7. Publish, monitor & iterate (Day 4–7)

• Output: Live episode, engagement dashboard, A/B test outcomes for thumbnails, titles and hooks.
• AI use: Real-time analytics summaries and suggested optimization actions (e.g., modify thumbnail, re-cut midroll).
• Editorial calendar field: Publish Date, KPI Target.

AI tools, patterns and example prompts (2026-ready)

These tools reflect what mainstream teams are using in 2026. Integrate them in stages where they reduce manual steps.

• Script & creative ideation: Gemini-style multimodal assistants or fine-tuned GPTs. Prompt example: "Create 6 vertical-first hooks for a 60s noir microdrama about a lost ringtone with a twist ending."
• Automated assembly & editing: Runway/Descript-like tools for rough cuts and scene auto-detection. Prompt example: "Assemble a 45s narrative using takes labeled A1–A5; prioritize A3 for the first 3s hook."
• Voice and dialogue: ElevenLabs-style cloning with consent workflows. Always attach provenance and consent to the editorial calendar metadata.
• Synthetic b-roll & effects: Midjourney/StableVideo-style generators for backgrounds; add a flag in the calendar for any synthetic element used.
• Analytics & insights: Use platform APIs and an AI summarizer to produce weekly insight notes and suggested experiments.

Compliance, safety and trust: rules you must build into the calendar

Platform controversies in late 2025 elevated compliance from a legal checkbox to a product requirement. Incorporate these rules into every episode row:

• Metadata field for Provenance — list which assets are synthetic and include generation prompts.
• Consent checkbox for all voices and likenesses. Store signed consent with timestamps.
• Automated risk scan before publish (face manipulation, voice clone flag, sexual content warning).
• Versioned moderation notes — keep a changelog for edits made after AI recommendations.

Measurement: KPIs to track weekly and why they matter

Don't rely on vanity metrics. These are the KPIs that tell you if your editorial calendar is working:

• Completion rate (30s/60s/90s): The primary signal for episodic content. If completion drops below target, rework hooks or pacing.
• Series retention (7-day): Percent of viewers who watch the next episode within 7 days — indicates stickiness.
• Microclip CTR: How well repurposed clips drive viewers to the episode.
• Cost per engaged viewer: Useful for advertiser or branded-series decisions.
• Share & save rate: Social proof signals for discovery algorithms.

Onboarding & adoption: reduce friction for operations teams

Teams resist change when tooling is fragmented. Use these tactical playbooks to onboard operations and creators quickly:

• Ship a one-page SOP with the calendar: show the 7-step workflow and where to approve content.
• Run a 2-hour live demo sprint: ideate, script, and publish a microclip within the project tool to prove speed gains.
• Provide role-specific dashboards: editors see deadlines & assets; producers see budgets & consent forms; marketers see KPI targets.
• Automate notifications for at-risk deadlines (48-hour rule) so producers intervene early. Also ensure network and proxy policies are clear — pairing your PM tool with robust proxy management helps small teams avoid operational surprises when assets are uploaded from remote locations.

Advanced strategies & future predictions (2026–2028)

Plan beyond the immediate. Here are advanced strategies likely to matter over the next two years:

• Adaptive episodes: Short episodes that change order based on viewer signals — you'll need calendar fields for alternative cuts and versioning.
• Data-driven IP discovery: Use viewer behavioral clustering to spin off micro-series quickly. Holywater and similar platforms are funding playbooks that treat vertical episodes as IP — expect more investment in this space. If you plan tokenized release models, read up on the Serialization Renaissance and how tokenized episodes change release strategies.
• Composable licensing: Store granular rights and licensing metadata per asset so repurposing is fast and legally safe.
• AI co-creative roles: Job titles like "AI Narrative Producer" will become common; add a calendar role field for AI oversight.

Actionable checklist — launch your first 12-week vertical series in 30 days

1. Week 0: Define series premise, audience persona, and KPIs. Populate the first 4 episodes in the calendar.
2. Week 1: Run ideation + script AI drafts for episodes 1–4. Complete consent templates and asset flags.
3. Week 2: Batch shoot episodes 1–4, log assets in the calendar with tags for synthetic content.
4. Week 3: AI-assisted editing and QA for episodes 1–4. Publish episode 1 and microclips; monitor metrics.
5. Week 4–12: Continue two-week sprints, refine hooks based on data, and accelerate repurposing cadence.

Case study vignette: a brand’s first month

A small DTC brand used this calendar in early 2026 to launch a 10-episode microdrama series tied to a product narrative. They used an episodic weekly drop cadence, Gemini-assisted script drafts for speed, and Runway-style auto edits. Results after four episodes:

• Completion rate improved from 38% to 56% after hook A/B testing.
• 7-day series retention reached 22% (industry average for short serialized verticals sits around 15–20% in 2025–2026).
• Time from script to publish shortened by 40% after adding AI-assisted editing checkpoints.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Over-relying on synthetic assets: Use them to save time, not to replace human judgment. Flag and document every synthetic element.
• Ignoring short attention windows: The first three seconds dictate survival on mobile. Use the calendar’s hook field as your single source of truth for opener testing.
• Poor repurposing planning: If you don’t schedule microclips and subtitles at creation time, repurposing becomes expensive.
• No compliance metadata: Without it, a single takedown or investigation can derail a series and cost brand trust.

Final checklist before you publish each episode

• Hook tested and documented
• AI draft versions logged with prompts
• Consent & provenance stored
• Subtitles and microclips exported
• KPIs and dashboards configured

Actionable takeaways

• Adopt a calendar that enforces the production workflow and stores AI provenance — this reduces friction and legal exposure.
• Design every episode for repurposing: 9:16 master + 2 microclips + captions + thumbnail.
• Use AI to accelerate drafts and edits, but require human final approval and compliance checks.
• Measure completion and series retention weekly; tweak hooks and pacing quickly.

Call to action

Ready to stop firefighting episode drops and build predictable mobile-first series? Download the editable 12-week editorial calendar CSV (copy it into your PM tool) and run a 2-hour pilot sprint with your team. If you want a tailored rollout plan for ops and creators, schedule a consultation with our content systems team at planned.top — we’ll map the calendar to your stack and run the first sprint with your creators. To level up on live discoverability, keep an eye on platform feature notes like Bluesky’s new features and how they impact live content SEO.

Start small. Ship often. Use AI where it saves time — and document every synthetic asset. Your audience is mobile-first; your editorial calendar should be too. Consider supplementing operations docs with a review of automation tooling (e.g., PRTech Platform X) and hardware guides — from the best ultraportables for viral reporters (ultraportables) to recommended wireless headsets for on-set comms and portable streaming kits for location shoots. If you need compact kit recommendations, the field kit reviews are a good operational starting point (Field Kit guide).