013 - Deep Dive with Ally Morgan: What I Learnt About Storytelling from TikTok

Julie chats with emerging screen talent Ally Morgan, creator of the 15-part TikTok musical series Girl Crush. Originally envisioned as a TV series, Girl Crush became a groundbreaking short-form series that reached and resonated with queer audiences online.

Ally opens up about how she greenlit herself, the creative and logistical pivot from television to TikTok, and what the project taught her about episodic structure, vertical storytelling, and building an audience from scratch in the digital age.

Listen to this episode if you’re interested in:

• Why Girl Crush pivoted from long-form TV to a 15-part TikTok musical series
• How Ally mastered writing hooks and sustaining story over one-minute episodes
• The creative constraints—and unexpected freedoms—of vertical storytelling
• Lessons in crafting for short-form platforms, from writing to visual style
• How to cultivate a micro-niche audience instead of chasing viral fame
• Marketing strategies that actually worked (and what didn’t)
• Why authentic, unpolished content often outperforms glossy production on TikTok
• The power of starting today—even without a green light
• What every production company can learn from creators like Ally

Top Takeaways:

• Start early and start raw — audiences value authenticity over polish

• Every second counts — grab attention in under 1 second on TikTok

• Craft still matters — shorter doesn't mean easier, it means sharper

• Find your people — lean into specificity to build a loyal audience

• Marketing is not optional — plan content and community alongside story

• Go cross-platform — TikTok is powerful, but don't skip Instagram and YouTube Shorts

Watch Girl Crush:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlcrushseries

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlcrushseries/

Trailer: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3WdAt9PfPx/

Connect with Ally Morgan:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/allymorgan1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allykmorgan/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@allykaymorgan

Website: https://allymorgan.squarespace.com/

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This Deep Dive interview is hosted by ⁠⁠Julie Eckersley⁠⁠⁠, and proudly brought to you by ⁠⁠CrewHQ⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠Expanding Media⁠⁠.

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