MALIK DAVIS
Upscale Promotions & Entertainment, Inc. Presents
A THUG WORTH
FIGHTING FOR
A Vertical Micro-Drama · Atlanta
"In Atlanta, you're either the King... or the casualty."
Written by Blake Karrington
The Pitch
Logline
After a desperate bystander saves his child's mother from a lethal overdose, a Buckhead mogul leading a double life as a street kingpin hires her to protect his empire — only to realize she's the only person who can destroy it.
Core Conflict
"Can Micah sacrifice his criminal throne to build a legit future with the woman who knows his darkest secret?"
Why It Works
The Hook
A desperate bystander saves a dying woman in a Bankhead alley — and becomes the only witness to a kingpin's double life.
The Conflict
Three worlds collide: Buckhead boardrooms, Bankhead trap houses, and Atlanta's family courts.
The Stakes
A son's custody, an empire's survival, and a woman who holds the power to save or destroy the man she's falling for.
The Audience
African American women 18–45 who crave aspirational luxury paired with Alpha Protector romance.
Format
9:16 Vertical Micro-Drama
Episodes
60 Episodes
Runtime
90 Seconds / Episode
Genre
Urban Romantic Thriller
Status
Development Ready
Platform
BLKTOPIA TV / ReelShort / DramaBox
Location — Buckhead, Atlanta
"The penthouse where empires are built — and secrets are buried."
The World
Series Summary
The Hook
In the humid, high-stakes landscape of Atlanta, status is everything and loyalty is paid for in blood. A story of a man with two lives, a woman forced into his world against her will, and a secret that binds them before they ever speak each other's names.
The Premise
Micah Hill is the "King of the A." To the public, he is the billionaire owner of E Luxe Realty, an untouchable mogul shaping the Atlanta skyline. To the streets, he is a ghost — a strategic kingpin who rules the Westside with an iron fist. The story ignites when Kelly Dozier — a resilient, unemployed professional who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time — is forced to drive Tracey, the mother of Micah's child, to Grady Hospital after a lethal overdose. Kelly becomes an accomplice, a witness, and ultimately the woman Micah cannot afford to lose.
The Visual Vibe — Atlanta Noir
High-contrast visual shorthand tailored for 9:16 mobile viewing. From the sun-drenched, gold-accented luxury of Buckhead penthouses to the blue-hued, rain-slicked neon grit of the Westside. Every episode is a 90-second "dopamine hit" designed to end on a gut-punch cliffhanger.
The Endgame
As federal investigations close in and street wars erupt, Micah executes a "Great Reversal" — burning his criminal throne to the ground to save Eniko and Kelly. By the series finale, he isn't just a kingpin or a mogul — he is a man who has finally found a life, and a woman, worth fighting for.
Buckhead
Gold. Glass. Silence. The empire above the clouds.
Bankhead
Neon. Rain. Copper. The streets that built the king.
The Players
Lead Characters
MICAH HILL
Played by Trai Byers
32 years old. CEO of E Luxe Realty and King of the Westside. By day, an untouchable Buckhead mogul shaping the Atlanta skyline. By night, a strategic street kingpin. His drive: to go "legit" for his daughter Eniko while maintaining street dominance. He owes his freedom and his child's mother's life to a woman he just met — and she's the only witness to his double life.
Actor Credits
Empire (2015), Selma (2014), The 24th (2020), Harlem (2023), Bent (2018)
Audience Appeal
Yale MFA. Alpha Protector archetype — fans of Power, Empire, urban fiction
Audience Appeal Score
97%
KELLY DOZIER
Played by Vanessa Simmons
28 years old. Unemployed professional, recently fleeced by her toxic ex. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time — forced to drive a dying woman to Grady Hospital in the middle of the night. Now she is the only witness to Micah's criminal activity, an unwilling accomplice, and the only person in his world with nothing to lose.
Actor Credits
Games People Play (2019), Monogamy (2018), Run the World (2021)
Audience Appeal
The aspirational "ride-or-die" archetype — relatable, resilient, elevated
Audience Appeal Score
95%
TRACEY RICHARDSON
Played by Lanya M Moravec
30 years old. Recovering addict, mother to Eniko. Her drive: to reclaim her status and remove Kelly from Micah's side. She views Kelly as a "plant" and a threat to her family — and she will use every weapon at her disposal, including Micah's criminal secrets and the family courts, to destroy the woman she sees as a usurper.
Actor Credits
What's Good? (2024), Revengeful Trauma (2024), Trust Nobody 3 (2024), The Midas Code (2025), Bad Day (2025)
Audience Appeal
The "Fallen Queen" archetype — complex villain audiences love to hate
Audience Appeal Score
88%
DAMIEN
Played by Michael J Ferguson
Kelly's toxic ex-boyfriend. His drive: to blackmail Micah using his knowledge of Kelly's involvement in the overdose night. He called the cops to the trap house himself — setting the entire chain of events in motion. Now he holds dashcam footage of Micah and Kelly, and he's using Kelly's 7-year-old son CJ as leverage to extract $10 million from the King.
Actor Credits
Power (2014) — 2-Bit, Power Book II: Ghost (2020) — 2-Bit, Antipathy
Audience Appeal
The irredeemable villain — pure threat, zero sympathy
Audience Appeal Score
82%
KARMA WILLIAMS
Played by Barton Fitzpatrick
Micah's right hand and most trusted street lieutenant. His drive: protecting the empire at all costs — even if it means eliminating Kelly. Born on the west side of Chicago, Karma is the first to sense when the empire is cracking and the last man standing when it falls. He is the voice of street justice in a world where Micah is being pulled toward something softer.
Actor Credits
The Chi (2018–2025) — Reg Taylor, Power Book IV: Force (2022), Chicago P.D. (2018), Empire (2019)
Audience Appeal
The loyal soldier archetype — the conscience of the streets
Audience Appeal Score
79%
The Format
Vertical Showcase
9:16
Vertical Format
90 Sec
Per Episode
60 Eps
Full Season
Mobile
First Design
Platform Targets
The Writing
Scripts
"The Sacrifice"
Upscale Promotions and Entertainment Presents A THUG WORTH FIGHTING FOR (ATLANTA) EPISODE 1: "THE SACRIFICE" Written by Blake Karrington CAST: MICAH HILL: Trai Byers KELLY DOZIER: Vanessa Simmons TRACEY RICHARDSON: Lanya M. Moravec KARMA: Barton Fitzpatrick EXT. BANKHEAD - TRAP HOUSE - NIGHT HOOK (0-5s): (9:16 FRAME: Extreme close-up on MICAH'S (32, Trai Byers) hazel eyes. They are wide, frantic, reflecting the blue and red strobe lights of a distant police cruiser. The "King of Buckhead" is seconds away from a scandal that will end his empire.) [SOUND CUE: The rhythmic, high-end TICKING of an expensive watch. Wailing APD sirens closing in.] WIDE SHOT (VERTICAL) Micah stands in the mud outside a derelict, graffiti-scarred trap house. He has TRACEY (30, Lanya M. Moravec) over his shoulder. She's limp, her skin a sickly, ashen blue. KARMA (30, Barton Fitzpatrick) is already in the driver's seat of a white Maserati, the engine thundering, vibrating the puddles on the ground. KARMA (Yelling over the sirens) "Micah, they're on the block! If the APD catches the 'Billionaire of Buckhead' at a dope hole with an OD'd body... it's over! Your image, the real estate firm, the legacy... everything turns to ash! Drop her and let's go!" MICAH "I don't leave my people in the dirt, Karma! Not tonight!" [SOUND CUE: A searchlight from a police cruiser sweeps the building, barely missing them.] Micah looks at the end of the alley. A luxury sedan is idling at the stop sign. Inside is KELLY (28, Vanessa Simmons). She looks like an angel lost in a war zone — silk blouse, expensive hair, eyes wide with terror as she stares at the approaching sirens. MICAH (To himself) "God, forgive me for this." Micah sprints to the sedan. He rips the back door open. Kelly SCREAMS, her hands flying up to protect her face. MICAH (Gravelly, palm flat on the seat headrest, looming over her) "Look at me! This woman is dying! If she isn't at Grady Hospital in five minutes, her heart stops! If the cops catch me here, she's dead and my life is a memory. Do you understand me?!" KELLY (Sobbing, breathless) "I can't... I'm just trying to get home! I don't know you people!" MICAH (Nose to nose, intense, hazel eyes burning) "I'm the man who's gonna make sure you get there! Head South. Use the alleys. I'm gonna pull every cruiser in this district away from you. SAVE HER! PLEASE!" [SOUND CUE: The heavy, final THUD of the car door slamming.] Micah doesn't wait for an answer. He sprints to the Maserati, jumps in, and floors it. EXT. BANKHEAD STREET - CONTINUOUS [SOUND CUE: The high-pitched, metallic scream of a Maserati engine redlining.] (9:16 FRAME: Low angle. The Maserati peels rubber, fishtailing directly toward the approaching police cruiser. The cops are forced to swerve, their tires screeching as they pivot to chase the "Billionaire" lead.) CLIFFHANGER: [SOUND CUE: A massive, bone-crunching CRASH in the distance.] (9:16 FRAME: Tight on Kelly's (Vanessa Simmons) tear-filled eyes in the rearview mirror. She looks at Tracey's blue face. She hears the sirens fading away as Micah leads them on a suicide chase. Her jaw sets. She shifts into gear and disappears into the dark.) END OF EPISODE 1 ✓ 90 Seconds ✓ 5s Hook ✓ Sound Cues ✓ Cliffhanger
The Structure
Beat Sheets
The Blackmail Arc — Episodes 3–10
(9:16 Frame) Extreme close-up on Kelly (Vanessa Simmons) as she stares at the DEA Agent. Micah's hand is crushing hers under the desk — a silent, desperate command.
Kelly has to lie to Federal Agents. She gives Micah the alibi: "We were together. All night. Discussing my contract."
Kelly's hands are shaking. She can't look the Agent in the eye. Micah's grip tightens — a warning not to break.
The Agent produces a photo of Kelly's car near the Bankhead trap house at 2 AM. Kelly doesn't blink: "I was making a late-night coffee run for my boss. Is it a crime to be in the Westside?"
The Agents leave, but promise they'll be back with a warrant for the office servers.
Micah pins Kelly against the executive door. "You just committed perjury for a Thug. You're officially on the payroll now, Angel."
The Journey
60-Episode Season Arc
Eps 1–15
Eps 16–30
Eps 31–45
Eps 46–60
Act 1 — Episodes 1–15
THE COLLISION & THE DEBT
Eps 1–5 (The Set-Up): Micah and Kelly are bonded by the night in Bankhead. Kelly becomes Micah's "Strategic Partner" to protect his image. Damien emerges as the threat, demanding $50k. Ep 5 Turning Point: Micah handles Damien in the park, but Damien records the encounter, raising the stakes. Eps 6–10 (The Double Cross): Tracey returns, seemingly clean, but secretly aligns with Damien. Kelly discovers the gym bag containing the returned $50k in Tracey's apartment. The DEA begins circling E Luxe Realty. Eps 11–15 (The First Strike): Tracey files for emergency custody of Eniko using doctored footage from Damien. Micah is served with a restraining order.
Act 2 — Episodes 16–30
THE LEGAL WAR
Eps 16–20 (The Asset Freeze): The DEA, fueled by Damien's anonymous tips, freezes Micah's personal and business accounts. Micah is forced back into the "Street" side of his business to fund the legal battle. Ep 20 Major Escalation: Eniko is removed from Micah's home by social services. Eps 21–25 (Kelly's Choice): Micah's rivals offer Kelly a clean slate and $1 million to testify against him. Kelly stays loyal, using her real estate knowledge to hide Micah's liquid assets before the Feds can grab them. Eps 26–30 (The Exposure): Damien releases the full Bankhead video. Micah is forced out of E Luxe Realty by the board of directors.
Act 3 — Episodes 31–45
THE GREAT REVERSAL
Eps 31–35 (The Fugitive): With a warrant out for his arrest, Micah flees to the Westside. Kelly goes with him, leaving her high-status life behind. They hide in a run-down apartment in the Old Fourth Ward. Eps 36–40 (The Low Point): Micah is penniless. He has to reclaim his street blocks by force to provide for Kelly. Ep 40 Turning Point: Damien kidnaps Kelly to force Micah out of hiding. Micah has to rob his own former lieutenants to pay the new ransom. Eps 41–45 (The Counter-Attack): Micah convinces Tracey — in a moment of near-relapse — that Eniko is the only one who matters. Tracey agrees to be a double agent.
Act 4 — Episodes 46–60
THE REDEMPTION
Eps 46–50 (The Sting): Kelly discovers a massive land-grab scheme by Joe and Damien targeting the E Luxe Realty portfolio. She uses her credentials to sabotage the deal from the inside. Eps 51–55 (The Reckoning): Micah systematically eliminates Joe's street-level support. Karma returns, realizing Micah's "new way" is the only way to survive the Feds. Eps 56–59 (The Final War): A high-octane confrontation at a Buckhead construction site. Karma takes the bullet meant for Micah. Kelly secures the dashcam footage proving Damien set up the original overdose to frame Micah. Ep 60 (The New Kingdom): Micah cleared of all charges. He sells the street business, focuses 100% on E Luxe Realty. Tracey enters long-term rehab. Micah and Kelly announce their engagement and a new foundation for the youth of Bankhead.
Production Viability
Key Locations
- ◆Buckhead Office (Glass/Modern)
- ◆Micah's Mansion (Luxury)
- ◆Bankhead Warehouse (Industrial)
- ◆O4W Loft (Brick/Artistic)
- ◆Grady ER (Hospital)
Cast
5 Main: Micah, Kelly, Tracey, Damien, Karma
3 Recurring: Eniko, Kelly's Mom, Lawyer
Schedule
Optimized for a 6-day production block. 9:16 frame-conscious blocking to minimize coverage needs.
The Landscape
Comparables
A Thug Worth Fighting For sits at the intersection of prestige crime drama and mobile-native vertical storytelling — a space currently underserved by existing platforms.
Power
Dual-life kingpin narrative, luxury/street contrast
Empire
Family drama meets music/business empire, Black excellence
Queen & Slim
Black love under pressure, cinematic urban noir aesthetic
ReelShort
Vertical micro-drama format, mobile-first storytelling
BMF
Atlanta-based crime family, street-to-boardroom arc
P-Valley
Southern Black women navigating power, survival, luxury
The Differentiator
Where Power and BMF tell their stories in 60-minute episodes, A Thug Worth Fighting For delivers the same emotional intensity in 90-second dopamine hits — purpose-built for the mobile-native audience that consumes content vertically, on the go, and in stolen moments.
The Numbers
Analytics & Demographics
Core Audience
Black Women 18–45
Primary demographic
Genre Affinity
Romance & Power
Power, Empire, urban fiction fans
Platform Fit
Mobile-Native
ReelShort, DramaBox, BLKTOPIA
Psychographic
Aspirational Luxury
Alpha Protector romance tropes
Age Demographics
Platform Distribution
- BLKTOPIA TV
- ReelShort
- DramaBox
- Hartbeat
Projected Engagement Metrics (vs. Genre Avg)
Completion Rate
Share Rate
Return Views
Social Clips
Social Media Voiceover Script (60 Sec)
Music: Heavy trap bass with aggressive orchestral strings.
"In Atlanta, you're either the King... or the casualty.
Meet Micah Hill. Buckhead billionaire. Bankhead legend.
He's built a kingdom for his daughter. But a king is only as strong as his secret.
Kelly Dozier. The only woman smart enough to save him... and the only one who knows where the bodies are buried.
Then there's Tracey. The First Love. The Fallen Queen. She's back for her throne, and she doesn't care who she burns to get it.
Three hearts. One crown. A whole lot of blood.
A THUG WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
The war for the A begins now."
The Requirements
Hartbeat Vertical Compliance
Submission Requirements Met
Hartbeat Vertical Microdrama Submission Guidelines
01 — Series Bible
10/10Logline
Logline section — one-sentence hook with stakes
Genre Pillar
Romance & Power — confirmed in Logline & Comparables
Core Conflict
Burning question stated in Logline section
Core Expectation (Burning Question)
"Can Micah sacrifice his criminal throne to build a legit future with the woman who knows his darkest secret?"
Story Summary
Series Summary section — full premise, hook, visual vibe, endgame
Character Breakdown — Lead (Micah Hill)
Lead Characters section — Trai Byers, role, drive, arc
Character Breakdown — Love Interest (Kelly Dozier)
Lead Characters section — Vanessa Simmons, role, drive, arc
Character Breakdown — Antagonist (Tracey Richardson)
Lead Characters section — Lanya M. Moravec, role, drive, arc
Character Breakdown — Villain (Damien)
Lead Characters section — Michael J. Ferguson, blackmail scheme, CJ leverage
Target Episode Count (60–80)
60 Episodes — confirmed in Logline, Cover, and Season Arc
01 — Pilot Script
6/6Full Episode 1 in standard screenplay format
Scripts section — Ep 1 "The Sacrifice" in Courier format
Detailed visual descriptions (9:16 frame-conscious)
9:16 FRAME callouts throughout Episode 1
Emotional arcs per episode
Kelly's terror → resolve; Micah's desperation → sacrifice
Sound cues included
[SOUND CUE] markers throughout both episodes
Hook within 5 seconds
HOOK (0-5s) labeled explicitly in both episodes
Cliffhanger ending
CLIFFHANGER labeled and delivered in both episodes
01 — Episode Outlines (Beat Sheets Eps 2–10)
7/7Episode 2 beat sheet
Scripts section — full Ep 2 "The Alibi" screenplay
Episodes 3–10 beat sheets (minimum)
Beat Sheets section — The Blackmail Arc, Eps 3–10
Intro / Hook per episode
Hook beat present in all 8 episodes (Eps 3–10)
Big Conflict per episode
Conflict beat present in all 8 episodes
Twist per episode
Twist beat present in all 8 episodes
Climax per episode
Climax beat present in all 8 episodes
Cliffhanger per episode
Cliffhanger beat present in all 8 episodes
01 — Core Conflict Line
1/1One repeatable sentence anchoring the series
"Can Micah sacrifice his criminal throne to build a legit future with the woman who knows his darkest secret?" — Logline section
01 — Full Series Arc (1–2 pages)
6/6Escalation across full season shown
Season Arc section — 4-Act structure with Act summaries
Key turning point at Episode 5
Act 1: Micah handles Damien in the park; Damien records the encounter
Key turning point at Episode 20
Act 2: Eniko removed from Micah's home by social services
Key turning point at Episode 40
Act 3: Damien kidnaps Kelly; Micah robs his own lieutenants
Key turning point at Episode 60+
Act 4 / Ep 60: Micah cleared; engagement announced; Bankhead foundation
Series climax identified
Ep 56–59: Final war at Buckhead construction site; Karma takes the bullet; Kelly secures dashcam footage
02 — Audience & Genre Evaluation
6/6Cultural authenticity
Atlanta-specific locations: Bankhead, Buckhead, Grady, Magic City, Old Fourth Ward
Clear genre pillar alignment
Romance & Power — confirmed throughout
Mobile-first visual writing
9:16 FRAME callouts in every script scene
High replay / social potential
Analytics section — audience data, platform comps
Target demographic defined
African American women 18–45, aspirational luxury + Alpha Protector romance
Comparable titles provided
Comparables section — Power, Empire, Queen & Slim, ReelShort, BMF, P-Valley with cover art
02 — Story & Format Evaluation
5/5Serialized narrative structure
60-episode 4-Act arc with escalating stakes
90-second episode format
✓ 90 Seconds compliance badge on every script
Cliffhanger every episode
All scripted and outlined episodes end on cliffhanger
Emotional arc per episode
Beat sheets include climax + emotional pivot in every episode
Series-level escalation
$50k blackmail → asset freeze → kidnapping → final war
02 — Production Viability
8/8Shootable in 5–6 days
Season Arc — limited location set: Office, Hospital, Park, Gala, Warehouse
Limited locations & cast
5 main cast, 3 recurring; 5 primary locations
9:16 frame-conscious scenes
Every scene written with vertical frame callouts
Clear visual shorthand
Buckhead = gold/glass/silence; Bankhead = neon/rain/copper
Scripts provided (minimum 2 episodes)
Full scripts for Episodes 1 and 2 in Scripts section
Beat sheets provided (Eps 2–10 minimum)
Beat Sheets section covers Episodes 3–10; Ep 2 is full script
Cast attached or proposed
All 5 principal roles cast with IMDB links
Legal representation confirmed
The Law Office of Omara S. Harris, Esq, LLC — Contact section
"This submission meets all Hartbeat Vertical requirements as outlined in the official submission guidelines."
Upscale Promotions & Entertainment, Inc. · Malik Davis, Producer · 2026
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Production Company
Upscale Promotions & Entertainment, Inc.
Producer: Malik Davis
Series: A Thug Worth Fighting For (Atlanta)
IP Ownership
All intellectual property rights to A Thug Worth Fighting For (Atlanta), including but not limited to the series concept, characters, scripts, and all related materials, are exclusively owned by Upscale Promotions & Entertainment, Inc.