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Episode 7 | Welcome to Verticalandia ft. Molly Anderson
This week on The Vertical Buzz, host Buzz Leer sits down with Molly Anderson, one of the most dynamic leading ladies in the vertical space, to talk about what it takes to break through, stay relevant, and deliver real performances in a format where you are moving fast, learning tons of pages, and often getting just a take or two.
Molly shares her journey from the pinky of Northern Michigan to Los Angeles, how she pushed through the early stigma around verticals and why the format has actually made her a stronger, more present actor. Buzz and Molly also get into what it feels like when a project unexpectedly blows up, how Molly prepares for emotionally heavy work under pressure, and the wild world of vertical fandom: reading comments, fan encounters, and what the audience response says about where vertical entertainment is headed next.
In this episode, you will learn:
• Molly’s path from Michigan to LA and why acting was never “just a hobby”
• What the early vertical stigma felt like and how it is shifting now
• How to craft strong performances at high speed when you are doing 15 to 20 pages a day
• Why verticals can force actors into a more present, instinctive process with less prep and more truth
• The behind-the-scenes reality: limited rehearsal, limited takes, and constant script changes
• What vertical fans actually say and how the fanbase is driving bigger industry attention
• Favorite fan encounters, including being recognized in the most unglamorous moments
• Where verticals are headed and what needs to improve around safety and set culture
• Rapid fire takes, dream roles, and what Molly wants next
Chapters
00:00 Vertical Buzz Kickoff
01:39 Meet Molly Anderson
04:39 From Michigan to Acting
09:17 First Verticals and Stigma
20:19 Crafting Performances Fast
37:19 Reading Fan Comments
39:49 Favorite Fan Encounters
42:32 Where Verticals Are Headed
52:31 Hollywood Pressure and Set Safety
56:52 Rapid Fire and Wrap Up
Sponsor: AEIRO (Arrow Air Purifiers)
AEIRO Air Purifiers help identify, reduce, and monitor airborne contaminants to create a cleaner indoor environment for homes and professional spaces.
Featured in this episode: AEIRO AC150, powerful enough to clean rooms 300+ sq ft, quiet enough for production, with smart sensor controls and true HEPA + carbon filtration.
Website: AEIRO.co
Guest: Molly Anderson
Molly Anderson is a vertical actress (since 2023) with nearly 40 vertical credits and growing. She is also the creator of Verticalandia, a sketch series celebrating (and roasting) the vertical world.
Instagram/TikTok: @mmactuj & @verticalandia
Host: Buzz Leer
Buzz Leer is an actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space.
Instagram: @buzz_leer
A Glendale Podcast Studio Production
Owned and operated by Erika and Jason Hanan
Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio
Social Media Producer: Ana Karina Cano
Instagram: @anakarinacano
Music: Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley
The Vertical Buzz Theme Song
Public Relations and Media: Robb Leer
Leer Communications, Inc.
Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family.
-Host, Buzz Leer
#VerticalFilm #VerticalDrama #MicroDrama #Acting #ActorsLife #Filmmaking #MobileStorytelling #ShortForm #VerticalSeries #TheVerticalBuzz
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By verticalbuzzdistroThis week on The Vertical Buzz, host Buzz Leer sits down with Molly Anderson, one of the most dynamic leading ladies in the vertical space, to talk about what it takes to break through, stay relevant, and deliver real performances in a format where you are moving fast, learning tons of pages, and often getting just a take or two.
Molly shares her journey from the pinky of Northern Michigan to Los Angeles, how she pushed through the early stigma around verticals and why the format has actually made her a stronger, more present actor. Buzz and Molly also get into what it feels like when a project unexpectedly blows up, how Molly prepares for emotionally heavy work under pressure, and the wild world of vertical fandom: reading comments, fan encounters, and what the audience response says about where vertical entertainment is headed next.
In this episode, you will learn:
• Molly’s path from Michigan to LA and why acting was never “just a hobby”
• What the early vertical stigma felt like and how it is shifting now
• How to craft strong performances at high speed when you are doing 15 to 20 pages a day
• Why verticals can force actors into a more present, instinctive process with less prep and more truth
• The behind-the-scenes reality: limited rehearsal, limited takes, and constant script changes
• What vertical fans actually say and how the fanbase is driving bigger industry attention
• Favorite fan encounters, including being recognized in the most unglamorous moments
• Where verticals are headed and what needs to improve around safety and set culture
• Rapid fire takes, dream roles, and what Molly wants next
Chapters
00:00 Vertical Buzz Kickoff
01:39 Meet Molly Anderson
04:39 From Michigan to Acting
09:17 First Verticals and Stigma
20:19 Crafting Performances Fast
37:19 Reading Fan Comments
39:49 Favorite Fan Encounters
42:32 Where Verticals Are Headed
52:31 Hollywood Pressure and Set Safety
56:52 Rapid Fire and Wrap Up
Sponsor: AEIRO (Arrow Air Purifiers)
AEIRO Air Purifiers help identify, reduce, and monitor airborne contaminants to create a cleaner indoor environment for homes and professional spaces.
Featured in this episode: AEIRO AC150, powerful enough to clean rooms 300+ sq ft, quiet enough for production, with smart sensor controls and true HEPA + carbon filtration.
Website: AEIRO.co
Guest: Molly Anderson
Molly Anderson is a vertical actress (since 2023) with nearly 40 vertical credits and growing. She is also the creator of Verticalandia, a sketch series celebrating (and roasting) the vertical world.
Instagram/TikTok: @mmactuj & @verticalandia
Host: Buzz Leer
Buzz Leer is an actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space.
Instagram: @buzz_leer
A Glendale Podcast Studio Production
Owned and operated by Erika and Jason Hanan
Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio
Social Media Producer: Ana Karina Cano
Instagram: @anakarinacano
Music: Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley
The Vertical Buzz Theme Song
Public Relations and Media: Robb Leer
Leer Communications, Inc.
Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family.
-Host, Buzz Leer
#VerticalFilm #VerticalDrama #MicroDrama #Acting #ActorsLife #Filmmaking #MobileStorytelling #ShortForm #VerticalSeries #TheVerticalBuzz