Life & Work with Engjell Hasula of Tirana, Albania

Today we’d like to introduce you to Engjell Hasula.

Hi Engjell, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
From as early as I can remember, I have loved writing. As a child, I would spend hours reading books, fascinated by the worlds hidden inside their pages. Classics, especially, became my constant companions, they inspired me, challenged me, and stirred something deep within me. Over time, this fascination turned into a calling. Pursuing an MSc in Literature was not just an academic path for me, but a way to understand the power of storytelling in greater depth. What many might see as “just stories,” I came to recognize as catalysts, forces that shape us, open our minds, and reflect the human condition in ways both subtle and profound. Fiction, at its best, is never merely fictional; it is a heightened mirror of our own world, showing us how people perceive life and how they weave their realities into narratives.

That love for stories eventually guided me to what I do today. My brand now focuses on covering the stories of actors, actresses, and creators, as well as reviewing projects in the emerging field of vertical dramas, also known as micro-dramas, a new format originally popularized in Chinese television. This space is vibrant, fast-growing, and uniquely positioned at the intersection of cinema, technology, and culture. While I am still growing as a writer and a renewed journalist, I feel grateful to be where I am. I love hearing these voices, exploring their creative journeys, and sharing them with a wider audience. At its heart, my work continues the same passion that began when I first opened a book: finding stories that matter, and giving them the space to be seen and heard.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been an easy road. In the beginning, many actors ignored my calls and emails, some still do. I know that a few, who aren’t willing to think outside the box, have even said things about me. I try to act like I don’t notice, but deep down it was discouraging. There were countless unanswered emails, and for a while, it felt like I had started something I loved so much only to face rejection at every corner.
This whole journey, though, truly began with my good friend Teig Sadhana. Almost unconsciously, he helped me discover my calling. What started as me covering his story turned into the very first step toward what would become my entire world. I’ll always be grateful to Teig for unknowingly setting me on this path.
From there, I began slowly, covering stories of other friends who were involved in the vertical drama format. One by one, more people joined in, until eventually, a big star agreed to be featured. I poured everything I had into that piece, and once it was published, everything changed. That article became my strongest work at the time and marked a real shift in my journey.
I have to say, though, that one of the most defining moments was with actress Sarah Moliski. I was on the verge of giving up when her story came along. She has no idea to this day, but writing that article saved my brand. Her willingness to trust me with her story gave me the push I needed to keep going, to keep fighting for this path I love so much.
Little by little, the attention started coming, and now people in this format know who I am. I’ve had the privilege of writing about and interviewing so many incredible talents. Of course, there are still those who choose to ignore me, but that’s fine. Not everyone has to bow to my writing, just as I don’t feel the need to chase those who don’t want to be part of it. In the end, you take what you give, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work revolves around giving voice and visibility to a format that is still carving its place in the world, vertical dramas. This new wave of storytelling, often dismissed at first glance as “too small” or “too experimental,” has proven to be anything but. It is cinema adapted to the palm of your hand, a new stage where actors, directors, and creators are redefining how stories are consumed. I saw in it not just entertainment, but the rise of a new cultural movement, and I knew someone needed to chronicle it.
That is where my contribution comes in. I cover the journeys of actors and actresses who dedicate themselves to this unique craft, as well as the creators who dare to break traditional molds and experiment with vertical formats. My writing is not just about reviewing projects, it is about capturing the heartbeat of the people behind them. I believe interviews are not merely questions and answers; they are windows into the humanity, vulnerability, and passion that fuels creativity. Through my articles, I want readers to feel like they are sitting in the room with us, hearing the laughter, the hesitation, the dreams, and the struggles of these artists.
What sets me apart is that I approach vertical dramas not as a niche, but as a legitimate, powerful form of storytelling deserving of critical attention. Many people underestimated this medium at first. But I treat each story with the same reverence one might give to film classics, because I truly believe the seeds of tomorrow’s art often sprout in overlooked corners. My voice, then, is not just a reviewer’s, it is an advocate’s. I stand for the recognition of vertical dramas as a genre that can move, challenge, and inspire just as much as any traditional work of cinema.
I am most proud of the fact that my platform has grown into a space where these creators feel seen and respected. I started from scratch, often facing silence or rejection, yet today many of these actors and creators trust me with their stories. That trust is something I treasure, because behind every screen presence lies a human being waiting to be understood. And if my writing can reflect even a fraction of their truth, then I have done my job.
At the end of the day, my contribution is about more than reviews or features,it is about preserving a moment in time. Vertical dramas are still young, still evolving, and by documenting their rise and giving space to the voices that fuel them, I feel I am helping write a small but meaningful chapter in the broader story of modern storytelling. That, to me, is both my purpose and my privilege.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned on this journey is that with patience and hard work, you can achieve great things, even when the road feels long and uncertain. Nothing worthwhile comes overnight, and I had to learn to embrace the small steps, the quiet progress, and the moments of doubt as part of the process.
Another lesson is the power of people. Writing opened doors for me to meet, know, and befriend so many wonderful individuals in this format, actors, creators, and fellow dreamers who each bring their own unique spark. Their passion reminds me why I chose this path, and their trust in letting me tell their stories is something I never take for granted.
I’ve also learned that rejection and silence are not the end; they’re simply part of the journey. For every unanswered email, there was someone who eventually said “yes,” and those “yeses” made all the difference. I discovered that resilience, consistency, and staying true to my own voice matter more than chasing validation. Above all, I’ve learned that storytelling is not just about words, it’s about connection. The joy comes not only from writing, but from knowing that those words carry someone’s truth, inspire a reader, or preserve a moment in time. That, to me, has been the most beautiful reward of all.

Pricing:

• Free
• Free

Contact Info:

• Website: https://medium.com/@engjellhasula7
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anhel_hasula?igsh=MXdleHpubnN6M3Jsag==
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/engjell-hasula-4903221a1