The Rise of Vertical Shorts
Written by Luke Chase
Introduction
Last year alone, ReelShort downloads increased by nearly 1000%. Vertical Shorts are more than just a trend– they are a new frontier in digital entertainment.
Any actor self-submitting on casting websites has probably noticed the abundance of projects titled, ‘Vertical Short Film.’ No, these are not your traditional style of short films created by students or small production teams. Vertical Shorts are a new form of media taking the entertainment industry by storm. They are melodramatic soap operas filmed in a vertical (9:16) aspect ratio and are intended to be viewed on smartphones. For anyone else that feels like they appeared out of nowhere, this article aims to shed light on what they are, their future in entertainment, and an actor’s approach to working on these types of projects.
There are a number of smartphone apps, such as ReelShort, DramaBox, and FlexTV, that offer tons of feature-film-length stories divided up into dozens of 1-2 minute episodes. Given the appeal of short-form content, especially among the younger generations, these Vertical Shorts aim to provide bite-sized content for viewers.
Context
Hollywood reached peak television production about 2 years ago when streaming services ‘greenlit’ lots of new projects in hopes of attracting new viewers. Big streaming providers, like Netflix, Hulu, and AppleTV were in an expansionary period due to an influx of capital from Silicon Valley investors. The goal was to produce as much content as possible in order to grab a hold of as many eyeballs as possible.
Now, a few years removed from this frenzy, television production is down roughly 40% from that peak. The pandemic, industry strikes, and political wariness have all contributed to this decline in production. Given this slump, the Vertical Shorts industry was given a perfect opportunity to capitalize on the slowing pace of new content production.
The Rise of Vertical Shorts
Vertical film content started in China, where over 300 vertical films are produced every month. There was an immediate resonance in China and the broader Asian market for this type of quick, digestible content.
This type of short-form content fits well in the current consumer appetite, with platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok paving the way. Vertical episodes are similar in length to a social media reel, but they are instead strung together in a sequence to tell a full-length story.
Since these projects are low-budget and produced in a short time span, the Vertical Shorts industry remains adaptive to current internet trends. Currently, the main market is in Asia, particularly China. However, it is clear that both production and distribution will expand to Europe and the United States in no time. In fact, it’s already happening, with the number of productions ramping up in major production cities like Los Angeles and Nashville.
At first, the scripts from Chinese Vertical Shorts would be translated to English to be produced for American audiences. However, these stories did not resonate as well, due to translation gaps and cultural mismatches. Writing is the main bottleneck for Vertical Shorts, with demand greatly outweighing supply in the United States. As a writer, these projects may be the perfect opportunity to turn your ideas into something real.
The Content
Vertical Shorts are often cheesy, soapy stories with lots of drama–betrayals, murder, love, and tears. The titles for these projects sound like something out of an SNL parody of a soap opera. “Billionaire Werewolf’s Naughty Secret,” “The Secret Double Life of the Genius Accountant,” “The CEO’s Stunt Double,” and so on.
Each short episode is packed with drama, action, and cliffhangers, designed to keep viewers hooked. They are structured in addicting, bite-sized morsels of the larger story. The content is engaging, lustful, and addictive. For younger generations that never grew up with daytime soap operas, Vertical Shorts seem to be filling that void.
The Future
Are Vertical Shorts here to stay? And, if so, what could they mean for the future of the industry?
Chris Wicke, experienced Vertical Shorts producer and entertainment industry staple, says Vertical Shorts are a future of the industry. They offer an alternate form of entertainment in the same way that reality television, sitcoms, and game shows each offer their own formats and styles of entertainment. Chris currently works for FlexTV, one of the largest vertical content platforms.
The viewer demographic is primarily females aged 25 to 55. But that will evolve as the Verticals industry continues to mature. Chris Wicke explains, “Romance is seeing a resurgence both in the written word and video. I think the genre has a lot of legs and there’s a lot of opportunity for other genres.” At the time of writing this article, sports romance is a popular subgenre on these platforms. That said, there is plenty of potential for these films to expand to genres like horror, action, westerns, period pieces, and more.
In short, there will be room for every type of actor to play roles that suit their strengths and interests. Nothing will ever replace the artistry, depth, and creativity of traditional films and
television; Verticals need not be viewed as some existential threat to Entertainment. Not only is the intended audience different, there is plenty of room for all types of content and media.
Additionally, Vertical platforms are drawing millions of viewers and even more money every month. ReelShort, for example, makes more than $10M per month through subscriptions. And, with numbers like these, it’s clear that Vertical Shorts are a profitable business–one that investors and creators can’t ignore.
Streaming services, like Netflix, may start to invest in this video format in the future. It seems inevitable that the storytelling will only improve as more institutions embrace this visual format. There is a lot of potential for creators to utilize Verticals to capture stories in creative and compelling ways.
Acting in a Vertical Short Film
Acting in Vertical Shorts brings both freedom and limitations. The directors are not looking for Oscar-worthy performances from their actors, which relieves some of the pressure when filming. Sometimes the crew films ten or more scenes in a day to maintain the shooting schedule, meaning there is only time for a few takes before moving on. As an actor, these circumstances help to build trust in your abilities and instincts.
And if the director has a rigid vision for your character in a particular scene? As actor Kelsey Asino says, “You can take the note, but at the same time you only get X number of takes. So you can still do what you want, which is kind of how you find solace as an actor.”
Peyton Tucker, another actor who has worked on many Verticals, says, “The on-set experience is intense and amazing.” When asked about the difference between acting on a film versus Vertical project, she explained, “On a film set you have time to get a little heady about your acting. But on Vertical Film sets, it moves so quickly. If you’re the lead on a project, you’re in every scene of the day.”
Verticals are filmed in an upright format, so the frame is quite tight. During a face-to-face conversation scene, for example, the actors may be abnormally close to each other in order to fit the frame. This may take a little time to get used to.
In terms of preparation, the fast pace of shooting keeps actors on their toes. Actor and writer Jackie Webb shares her approach: “I don’t go into the script hoping to memorize all of it ahead of time. Sometimes, we get the sides the day before, so that night I’ll memorize them… I allow myself to be much more flexible on these very fast shoots. You have to be flexible, so I’ve learned how to use my tools to do that for myself.”
The vertical frame format, fast shooting schedule, and melodramatic tone of Vertical Shorts make acting in them a skill of its own.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Vertical Shorts industry is on the rise across the world. While the industry is still evolving, all signs point to Vertical Shorts being here to stay. Given the demand for short-form, mobile-ready content, Vertical Shorts offer low-budget, easy to produce, engaging stories for viewers.
As an actor, use these projects as an opportunity to practice and develop your skills, as well as pay your bills. Some leads on these projects make upwards of $1000 per day. Leave your ego at the door when stepping onto these sets. There are many reasons to work on Verticals, whether you’re just starting out or you’re an experienced actor. As actor Jackie Webb says, “They are the most professional sets that I’ve been on. I’ve done about 50 of these projects.” Not only are the crews reliably competent and friendly, but the community is small and tight; good actors are reused without hesitation.
Whether you are an actor, filmmaker, writer, or crew member, take a second look at Vertical Short projects. There is an abundance of opportunity for work. “If you are new to LA and haven’t heard about them before, it’s a great opportunity.”