I honestly didn't know Vertical Dramas were a thing until I read this article from The Guardian. It caught my interest and made me think that - as a late to the game actress- it could be way to gain some experience and add to my Showreel.
Here is the article https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jun/22/a-new-space-to-play...?
For any of you who don't know, vertical dramas are ultra-short narrative series—often just 60 seconds per episode—designed to be watched on smartphones in portrait mode. They're gaining popularity on apps like FlexTV and ReelShort, especially in the UK, as a fast, low-cost way for actors, writers, and directors to stay creatively active and visible during industry slowdowns. The pros are: quick exposure for creatives; low-budget, fast-turnaround format; platform for experimenting with story and structure. The cons are: Often underpaid or unpaid work; Risk of creative burnout or lowered standards; Questions about sustainability, artistic depth, and fair compensation
Here's an example of one: https://youtu.be/btoNZ4KYEao
So, as an actor have you been in one or would you potentially if an offer came along?
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I haven't heard of a vertical drama either Alexandra Stevens We had it here in the US briefly on an app called Quibi. I never did check it out. As for would I act in one? Sure. I could use the footage for a reel. If they are only 60 seconds they couldn't take up too much of my time. Though I probably would only do one series for no pay. It's like the previous discussion, what do you value? I am not going to put a lot of time and energy into an unpaid acting job, especially if it prevents me from doing paid work.
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Its an interesting topic! I'd be more into acting in them then watching them but could see a lot people be willing to watch them because of tiktok and relevant reels ❤️
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as a member of SAG-AFTRA I wouldn’t be able to work on many of these. But this is becoming a wildly profitable sector of our industry. I think the Reelshort app folks are making TENS of MILLIONS… per month. That’s according to some articles after a quick search.
And they are so profitable partly because they pay so low. So be aware of that. $300 a day is great if it’s an indie film with no guarantee that it’ll even be completed much less end up in a festival or on a streamer. But if it’s one of these companies with a guaranteed, hugely profitable business model, then $300/day suddenly becomes a huge insult.
Lastly, be careful about doing them for the footage. The ones that cast in my market (Atlanta, GA, USA) are campy and overacted. So the footage might not be what you need.
It can also be weird to have vertical footage amidst a bunch of standard horizontal footage in your reel.
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Matthew Cornwell dropping the knowledge!
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at this point of their development Alexandra Stevens I would treat an opportunity like that as a good scene study exercise (since that's mostly what one of these 'episodes' holds often) & let anything else that may come of it be a pleasant surprise.
Also, right now it's the Wild West for this format, but as soon as major platforms (e.g., YouTube, Meta, TikTok, Snap) start commissioning premium vertical content and brands increasingly sponsor them, the industry standards won't be far behind - as it has always happened.
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Hello Alexandra, thank you for these Link. Yes, I know about this kind of short movies it looks like they does not work with professional actors or it is how in some german TV Series, they mix professionals with newcomers. I did a lot of Tv Series on these level also , but I stopped since years, One year ago the company asked me again, I said no, only if in the future they would pay better or fair.
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Suzanne Bronson yes I agree with what you say. Could be fine for a showreel (although I also take the point of Matthew Cornwell that the footage could look weird since it is vertical). Definitely also agree about not under-selling yourself
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Rosie Schreiber Yes I can't see the interest in watching them either although evidently many do. What are you working on at the moment?
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Matthew Cornwell wise words indeed! Hearing how much the Reelshort app makes per month certainly puts the pay in context. I"m curious if you would get involved if standards increased and SAG-AFTRA came on board?
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Sebastian Tudores I appreciate you offering a different angle on this. There is certainly something exciting about seeing it as a scene study opportunity, a chance to flex creative and acting muscles. After all it's important to do this in between acting jobs. I think that it is a grounded and wise perspective to not expect much more than that. As a film-maker/producer, would you be interested to experiment with this medium, especially if SAG-AFTRA came on board?
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Alexandra Stevens I would consider them if they were under a union contract. The acting is very stylized (i.e. over the top, campy, etc) so if the role was fun, I’d consider playing.
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Alexandra Stevens good question - I think I would. It's always worth considering with what and why so may people engage with a format. ESPECIALLY for a producer. Each medium poses challenges and opportunities - and the questions will always linger "what CAN this medium do? what could be cool and unique about it?'... great... thx Alexandra. now you got me thinking about another project :( haha
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Alexandra Stevens I had an 18 yr old the other day tell me he was doom scrolling....and I was like what the hell is that? And he was like it's where you scroll through social media with no real intention for anything until you fall asleep or are drug away. So I could see that age group being into them LOL add it to their evening doom scrolling haha. Feature specs man, all the way. I'm quite the conceptualist, and see it very visually as I go, and so it's quite immersive, and tons of fun and makes me feel like I wish they still had drive-ins everywhere, and men who wanted to take you to them HAHA <3 What about you?
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Sebastian Tudores I look forward to seeing what you would do with that medium !
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Rosie Schreiber ooh, drive-in cinemas. I think that is a very American thing that i've only seen in films. So definitely appealing and romantic to me, Much more so than at home scrolling and watching a Vertical Drama but i've balked at other things before and then changed my. mind so who knows....
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Alexandra Stevens LMAO :D I guess it is a pretty American thing, or was ages ago. It's totally romantic tho for sure! Or a possible place to be murdered by a serial killer, you know take your pick! Excitement to be had either way! :LOL
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Rosie Schreiber murderded by a serial killer at a drive-thru, now that has got my creative juices thinking.....
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Alexandra Stevens LOL naturally
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Tbh I wouldn't about six months ago - but they are getting SO much better! And the stories are engaging, ngl. It reaches the younger audience in a way cinema doesn't at the moment - which is good. I think I would absolutely want to read the script first, but I would definitely be open to it - so long as it is paid.
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Nikoline Bangen oh your answer is so interesting to me. So are they a thing in Norway? That is, are they known about, talked about much, viewed a lot?
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I think alot of younger people watch them here yes. We don't make that many Norwegian ones, but we watch the UK and US ones I suppose. I know there was one series that was made here that became quite popular - it actually had huge production value and fantastic actors - plus really beautiful post production. Felt like it could have worked well on TV as well, although the episodes were quite short.
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Nikoline Bangen now you've made me curious, what was the name of that production, I might have to check it out