Build a Media Industry Portfolio: Samples and Tips Using Vice, The Orangery, and Disney+ Examples

Stop guessing what recruiters want — build a media industry portfolio that sells your craft and your business sense

Meeting application deadlines while proving you understand pitching, IP value, and streaming-era metrics is a common pain point for students and early-career creators. In 2026, agencies and studios hire people who can show results, not just ideas. This guide gives you a checklist of portfolio elements — including case studies, pitch decks, and analytics pages — plus ready-to-use prompts inspired by recent industry moves at Vice Media, The Orangery, and Disney+ EMEA.

“Vice is moving from production-company-for-hire toward rebooting itself as a studio.”

That shift, plus The Orangery’s WME signing and Disney+’s content leadership promotions, signal three hiring priorities you must address in your portfolio: IP understanding, data-informed pitches, and international/format adaptability. Build samples that match those priorities — here’s exactly what to include and how to present it.

Executive checklist: Portfolio elements every agency or studio expects in 2026

Use this checklist as your truth table. If you can tick all boxes, your portfolio will speak to both creative leads and execs who care about budgets and audience ROI.

• 1–2 in-depth case studies (production-to-performance narratives with KPIs)
• 3–5 pitch decks (one-pagers + full decks: scripted, unscripted, transmedia, short-form)
• Analytics & results pages (clean dashboards, A/B test outcomes, retention graphs)
• One-page project briefs showing timing, budget tiers, distribution strategy
• Showreel or work samples (30s–3min highlights plus timestamps and context)
• IP value memo (rights map, adaptation levers, international appeal)
• Two tailored application packages (agency version and studio version)
• Contact & credits page with references and verified credits
• Optional: AI-assisted insights showing you used generative tools responsibly to prototype concepts

Why these elements matter in 2026

Recruiters at companies like Vice and Disney+ are increasingly focused on long-term content strategies, transmedia IP, and measurable performance. That means:

• Studios want creators who can turn an idea into ongoing IP (see The Orangery’s WME deal for transmedia leverage).
• Agencies want formats that travel across platforms and markets (Disney+ EMEA’s promotions show emphasis on international commissioning and format expertise).
• Executives want data — not vanity metrics — to estimate risk and ROI (CFO hires at media companies mean budgets and unit economics matter more than ever).

How to structure your case studies (the 6-part template)

Case studies are the backbone of a media portfolio. Use this tight, repeatable format so hiring managers can scan and assess quickly.

1. Title & One-line value prop: What was the project and the business outcome?
2. Context: Company, role, timeline, constraints (budget, platform, rights)
3. Goal(s): Creative goals and business KPIs (views, retention, subscriptions, licensing deals)
4. Approach: Creative brief, production workflow, distribution plan, partnerships
5. Results: Quantified outcomes and insights (use numbers & % change)
6. Learnings & next steps: What you’d do differently and why the concept scales

Example short template (one paragraph per section) that recruiters love: start with the bold one-liner, then bullets for KPIs and a 2-line insight.

Sample case study ideas inspired by recent 2025–26 deals

1) Vice-style studio pivot case study

Prompt: You were hired to help reposition an edgy youth-focused publisher into a multi-platform studio. Develop a pilot-to-licensing case study for a non-fiction docuseries.

• Context: Publisher moved from fee-for-hire to owned-IP development after new CFO and strategy hires.
• Approach: Create a 6-episode docuseries, short-form vertical clips, and a 5-episode podcast companion.
• KPIs: Pilot retention (target 65% at ep1-to-ep2), social engagement lift (+30%), interest from 2 international buyers.
• Result (mock): Pilot retained 68% of viewers; short-form clips drove 40% of new subscribers to the platform; pre-sales in UK and Germany secured €150k.

2) The Orangery-style transmedia IP case study

Prompt: Package a graphic novel IP for WME-style representation and studio deals.

• Context: European transmedia studio has graphic novel IP with cult audience.
• Approach: Create a 1-sheet IP memo, adaptation pathway (limited series -> game -> interactive AR social filter), and a rights map for international agents.
• KPIs: Fan conversion to mailing list, adaptation interest score from 10 distributors, potential licensing revenue range.
• Result (mock): Secured representation interest, identified three format buyers; projected 3-year licensing revenue €600k–1.2M.

3) Disney+ EMEA commissioning brief

Prompt: Pitch a scripted original for an international streamer that prioritizes local commissioning and format export.

• Context: Client aims to expand scripted slate in EMEA; leadership promoting commissioning execs signal demand for format-driven series.
• Approach: 5-page pitch, series bible, and adaptability notes for 6 European territories.
• KPIs: Commissioning roadmap, production budget ranges, target demo retention profile across markets.
• Result (mock): Pilot greenlit to development; format tested with 3 local producers; cost-per-episode optimized to local incentives.

Pitch decks that convert: structure and sample slide titles

Studios and agencies often judge a pitch in 60 seconds. Make your deck scannable and business-focused.

1. Cover & logline
2. One-line concept + why now (market hook)
3. Audience & platform fit (data-backed)
4. Format & episode breakdown
5. Creative team & production plan
6. Budget tiers & financing model
7. Distribution strategy & ancillary revenue
8. Key metrics & milestones (KPIs for 6–18 months)
9. Call to action (what you want: development, series order, financing)

Tip: Always include a “Why this IP matters” slide that maps rights, sequel/format potential, and merchandising/licensing levers. That’s what will catch the eye of agencies representing IP (like WME) and studio business teams (like Vice’s new strategy hires).

Analytics pages you must include (and how to present them)

Don’t dump raw numbers. Present clean visuals plus two short interpretive bullets per chart.

• Acquisition funnel (impressions → click-through → watch-depth): highlight where drop-off occurs and your mitigation strategy.
• Retention curve (viewership by episode timestamp): show percent retained at key beats.
• Engagement metrics (shares, comments, completion rate): map to platform benchmarks.
• Economic model (projected CPM, ROI by territory, break-even timeline): include assumptions clearly.
• A/B test summary (thumbnail, title tests): show which creative choices moved metrics and by how much.

Example analytics blurb: “Thumbnail A increased CTR from 1.2% to 1.9% and improved 1-minute retention by 8 points. We recommend running A for 2 weeks before allocating paid support.”

What agencies want vs what studios want: tailor two application packages

Short version: agencies want IP and cross-platform ideas; studios want production-readiness and economics.

Agency package

• 3 IP one-pagers
• 1 transmedia roadmap
• Short showreel (60–90s) focused on tone & creator voice

Studio package

• Two case studies with KPIs and budgeting
• Full pitch deck for one project
• Production plan & sample schedule

Practical prompts — turn news into portfolio pieces

Use these prompts to create concrete samples that nod to industry moves and hiring signals. Each prompt includes deliverables you can add to your portfolio.

Prompt A: Reimagining a publisher as a studio (Vice-inspired)

Deliverables: 1-page case study, 8-slide pitch, sample social promos (3), mock budget outline.

Key focus: Show how owned-IP reduces dependency on third-party production and increases licensing upside. Use mock KPIs and a simple five-year revenue projection including ad, subscription, and licensing lines.

Prompt B: Transmedia IP pitch (The Orangery-inspired)

Deliverables: IP 1-sheet, 10-slide deck mapping to TV/graphic novel/game, rights & localization map, sample art moodboard.

Key focus: Demonstrate format portability. Include a sample licensing asks list for agencies: representation, theatrical options, and potential co-production partners.

Prompt C: International commissioning brief (Disney+ EMEA-inspired)

Deliverables: 5-page commissioning brief, episode bible excerpt, market-specific adaptation notes for 3 markets, budget tiers with local incentives.

Key focus: Emphasize commissioning-ready materials and local partner strategy. Show sensitivity to cultural nuances and co-pro financing paths.

Tips for presentation and distribution of your portfolio

• One-click access: Host a lightweight portfolio site with downloadable PDFs and a single-stream showreel link.
• Readable PDFs: Keep case studies to one page when possible; add an appendix for deeper metrics.
• Contextualize samples: Every asset must have a 1–2 line caption explaining context and your role.
• Version for mobile: Many hiring managers review on phones — ensure readability.
• Linked credits: Link to published work or include verifiable references; studios value real credits.

Showcase ethical AI use and accessibility (2026 expectations)

By 2026, studios and agencies expect creators to responsibly use AI for ideation and tooling. Add a short note in relevant projects:

• Which generative tools you used and for what purpose (e.g., script outline, thumbnail variations)
• How you validated outputs and avoided hallucinations
• Accessibility measures taken (subtitles, audio description plans, localization strategy)

Quick templates you can copy

One-line pitch (for subject lines and openers)

“[Format] about [theme] — 6x30’ series that taps [audience] and drives [business outcome].”

One-sentence KPI summary

“Pilot achieved X% retention and Y% conversion to our mailing list, estimating Z new paid subscribers in 12 months.”

Email pitch close (two lines)

“I’d love 15 minutes to walk you through a compact deck that marries IP value and production-readiness. Can I send it over this week?”

Common portfolio mistakes to avoid

• Too many half-baked ideas — quality over quantity.
• No business context — creatives who ignore KPIs get passed over.
• Missing credits or unverifiable claims — always back numbers up.
• Not tailoring materials to the role — agencies vs studios want different proof points.

Next-level strategies to stand out in 2026

• Localized pilot scripts: Show a script excerpt adapted to two markets to prove exportability.
• Data viz for execs: One-slide “financial snapshot” with best/worst case scenarios.
• Collaborative reels: Short clips with director, DP, and producer credits to show teamwork.
• IP growth map: Timeline showing sequels, format spins, and licensing milestones.

Action plan: Build your portfolio in four weeks

1. Week 1: Choose 3 core projects and outline case studies using the 6-part template.
2. Week 2: Build 2 pitch decks (one agency-style, one studio-style) and a showreel.
3. Week 3: Create analytics pages and mock dashboards; run basic A/B tests for thumbnails/titles.
4. Week 4: Polish contact page, tailor two application packages, and rehearse a 2-minute verbal pitch.

Final takeaways

In 2026, a media industry portfolio must prove you can marry creativity with commercial sense. Use focused case studies, industry-aware pitch decks, and clean analytics to show you understand IP value, transmedia potential, and commissioning economics. The recent moves at Vice, The Orangery, and Disney+ are signals — not exceptions. Build samples that reflect those priorities and you will be interview-ready.

Call to action

Ready to turn your ideas into a portfolio that gets noticed? Get a free checklist and a 30-minute portfolio review to tailor your package for agencies or studios. Submit your work and get a prioritized action plan to land that interview.

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