In this blog post I provide insights and reactions to acting in a vertical drama–a completely different experience than filming an episodic television series. “Verticals” are often referred to as “soap operas” for cell phones. The name “verticals” refers to the vertical position in which the camera is placed during the filming of the programs and the manner in which they are viewed (on a mobile phone). Over the past five years, these shows have taken off in terms of both popularity and availability.

Vertical dramas are everywhere and have proved to be a cost-effective new source of revenue for the Entertainment Industry. Each individual episode runs between one and three minutes long and the total amount of episodes for a single season typically totals between eighty to one hundred in number. These dramas are quick to make and relatively cheap to produce.

Currently, there are three dedicated streaming platforms that showcase the programs: ReelShort, ShortMax and DramaBox, though YouTube and TikTok have also gotten in on the action. The most notable features of the shows are the “campy” acting styles of the performers and the cliff-hanger endings of each episode’s plot. The producers aim to “hook” their audience with sensational storylines, high octane dialog and melodramatic characters. In short, vertical dramas are a ton of fun.

I experienced the fast-paced thrill of vertical drama production first-hand a few weeks ago when I was selected to appear as a funereal mourner for an episode of a new series based on the lives of two single New Yorkers looking for love in all the wrong places. The shoot took place in a spacious apartment on the City’s East side on a beautiful summer day. Unlike other television sets I have worked on, this location had none of the markers of traditional production—no huge pieces of equipment, no backstage area, no costume racks, no designated craft service area. Every piece of equipment was hand-held and streamlined. You would never know that a show was being filmed at all.

The flow of production was completely unfamiliar to me. The director and crew of the project maintained a rapid pace, managing to capture many pages of dialog and action in a very short time. In fact, all elements of the production were nimble, fluid and fast-paced. Yet, despite the quick speed of filming, all the actors had a ball. We loved the fun and frenzy of participating in a vertical drama, and for some reason, the energetic method of filming bonded us together in a unique way. We felt as though we were embarking on a new adventure in acting—an innovative format that gave rise to new approaches to performing. Actors worked off a script, but the words on the page could be adjusted, as long as the dramatic focus and storyline proceeded as planned. In short, the style of acting in vertical dramas felt much more organic and spontaneous. The frantic pace was freeing, as opposed to restrictive.

Given my positive reaction to performing in a vertical drama, I am hoping to be involved in other such projects in the future. They represent not just a new popular form of entertainment, buy an exciting new format for acting.

Here are some photos that document the fun of my experience.