VERTICAL
Micro-Dramas
Vertical micro-dramas are fast-paced, feature-length video series designed for mobile binge-watching in 1-3 minute, portrait-oriented (9:16) episodes, often featuring melodramatic tropes like hidden wealth, romance, and revenge. This format was popularized in China and is expanding globally via apps like ReelShort and DramaBox.
Since October of 2024, I have directed a dozen feature-length Vertical Micro-Series made for mobile consumption, currently available for viewing on various vertical entertainment apps including ReelShort, DramaBox, My Drama, DramaWave, KalosTV, ShortMax, and the upcoming new vertical entertainment app aTwist.
DEADLINE reports that feature-length mirco-drama's delivered in short-from episodes have already reached upwards of $9B in China, and the U.S. is the next strongest market for vertical micro-drama entertainment, now projected to become a multi-billion dollar business domestically over the next few years. Download my latest Vertical Micro-Series release deck below.
PRETTY HURTS AND SO DO I
Released September 3rd as one of the first slate of originals on the new micro series entertainment app aTwist, the home of micro series built for macro feels!
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"Beauty is pain, revenge is sweet π
....We skipped the long, traditional high school exposition to drop you straight into the glow-up and the ultimate revenge. Same high-stakes character tension, operating at a much faster rhythm π"
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Starring Kim Sandwich, Caroline Abigail Rich, Royal Carter, Kara Stobie, and Shahadah Abdullah, with Jake Nuttall.
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Produced by Snow Story Productions.
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TOP VERTICAL RELEASES
daddy help! mommy's in prison!
Released in late July 2025 exclusively on ReelShort, this Hidden Identity, Second Chance genre family drama reached
#1 most trending and ranked #1 for viewership, likes, and user interactions with over 60 Million views in just over a week and over 120 Million views since release. This title was also heavily featured in New York Magazine, profiling leading man Marc Herrmann along with a spread of behind-the-scenes stills.
Starring Marc Herrmann, Samantha Drews, Elise Luthman, Randy Davison, James Riseborough, Sidney Franklin, Brian Patrick Butler, and Natalie Hoy. Click for more credits.
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Stars Marc Herrmann and Samantha Drews were also featured in People Magazine.
MY HEART'S
OFFSIDE
Released in on August 28, 2026 on the popular vertical entertainment app My Drama, this High School romance soccer drama sports a fake relationship, turning enemies into lovers and friends into enemies in this young adult hidden-identity micro-series.
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Plot: A soccer prodigy with a heart condition hides being the Mayor's daughter to play soccer because her mother has plans to demolish the local soccer field. She fake-dates the star soccer captain at Pine Ridge High School to fit-in, whilst developing real feelings for him, and him for her. When she finds out the field was dedicated to the soccer captain's late mother, will their love survive the truth when the bulldozers begin?
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Starring Kyra Wisely and Josh Welles, with Lonny Pressman, Alicia Blasingame, Tom Sys, Shrey Bhargava, Torin Joseph, and Darryl Love. Click for imdb.
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BACK FROM THE BRINK:
THE HEIRESS RISES
Released in late April 2026 on DramaWave, this Revenge, Identity Twist genre family drama hit the vertical scene stacked with talent.
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Starring Katie Rose, Eli Jane, Joe Simon, Leila Collins. Click for more credits.
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WHEN WIFE WON'T FORGIVE
A ReelShort exclusive released on September 27th 2025, this highly anticipated Hidden Identity, Revenge family drama is stacked with talent, and hit the top rankings within its first week of release. Currently this title has reached over 35 Million views.
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Starring Alicia Blasingame, David Schrock, Sydney Culbertson, Ariel Yasmine, Brian Butler, and Chris Smith. Click for more credits.
THE LOST HEIR: A CHRISTMAS RECKONING
Released December 8, 2025 this holiday family drama with a father and son reunion at its core, topped the DramaBox rankings for most searched, most viewed new release, and most popular upon release. This title hit almost 40 million views within three weeks of release, and nearly 10 million views within the first week. Currently the title has been viewed over 50 million times.
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Starring Jon Briddell, Douglas Young, Aislinn Evans, Erik Ruof, Gary Private, with John Palmer Edwards. Click for more credits.
