Let's talk about Verticals

Today, we’re once again going behind the scenes 🎬 – shining a light on the people who truly bring a Vertical to life. This time, I sat down with Amy Casazza ✨
And what can I say? Someone who is Head of Hair, Makeup & Special Effects definitely has a lot of stories to tell 💄🎨😉Originally, Amy started out in the bridal industry 👰‍♀️ before finding her way into film almost by accident – and eventually into the world of Verticals. But like so many others, she quickly got hooked… and hasn’t been able to let go ever since 🎥🔥
Thanks to talents like Amy, actors don’t just look amazing on screen – they feel authentic in every scene ⚔️🏴‍☠️
For the pirate vertical “Kiss of the Pirate King”, Amy and her team created stunning, detailed looks that truly transport us into a pirate world full of atmosphere and adventure 🌊
In our conversation, she shares what made the research for this project so special, what it was like filming on a ship at sea 🚢, and the unique challenges that came with it 🌬️
Was she able to transform Nick, Emma, and the entire pirate crew into authentic characters of that era? And what was her very first thought when she got asked to join this project? 🤔
Dive into a world of costumes, pirates, and behind-the-scenes magic together with Amy and me ⚓✨
 And get ready for “Kiss of the Pirate King” – releasing May 8 on MyDrama 🎉
Some Verticals Amy Casazza worked on:
Kiss of the Pirate King (MyDrama)Romancing the Star (MyDrama)Swapped Bodies with My Secret Crush (MyDrama)All I Want for Christmas Is My Quarterback Husband (Dramabox)Highs-Stakes Heartthrob (MyDrama)
#vertical #podcast #new #verticals #community

We’ve wrapped up Easter and already moved past the fourth month of the (vertical) year — and April definitely delivered a lot to unpack 📊 

Beyond our usual categories, this month calls for a broader, more critical perspective. One of the most defining trends right now is the growing impact of AI on the vertical ecosystem 🤖 From content production to storytelling structures and scaling capabilities, AI is increasingly reshaping the rules of the game — and challenging existing success models.

At the same time, there’s notable movement on the talent side 🎭 A well-known actor is no longer ReelShort-exclusive and is now appearing in new contexts. This highlights just how dynamic and competitive the space has become.

On the platform front, we’re also seeing fresh momentum 🚀 A newly launched, heavily promoted app has entered the market, aiming to establish itself through strong positioning and aggressive marketing. Whether it can sustain that momentum remains to be seen — but it has already captured attention.All in all, April once again shows how fast-paced and multifaceted the vertical universe is ⚡ 
Between technological disruption, rising competition, and new entrants, it’s more important than ever not just to track developments — but to actively interpret them.
Joining the discussion:
* Michaela (Host) @lets_talk_about_verticals
* Aline @i.love.verticals
* Dalia @verticalfilmslover
* Shikha Dia @verticalviewweekly
* Caitlyn @verticait
* Meagan @realreeldrama

Our Monthly Recap gives you direct insight from the audience perspective on what truly stood out… and what definitely didn’t.

This month’s categories:

🎭 Actor/Actress of the Month
🎬 Supporting Role of the Month
💫 Chemistry of the Month
🏆 Vertical of the Month
💩 Crap/Disappointment of the Month

As always, we keep it open, honest, and unfiltered — celebrating what we love about the Vertical industry while also calling out where there’s clear room for improvement.

A refreshingly entertaining yet critically reflective conversation you don’t want to miss 🎙️✨

Enjoy listening!

🎙️ In today’s episode, I’m joined by model and actor Volodymyr Pielikh—thanks to Bianca from UAFandom for making this conversation happen 🙌
We dive into his journey into the vertical world after years of modeling and appearing in TV commercials, his very first shoot, and his first werewolf vertical 🐺
With refreshing honesty, we talk about the acting challenges behind verticals—what can make them difficult to shoot or even ruin them afterward. I also share my perspective as a viewer 👀—why I stopped watching some of his projects and how a lack of chemistry between leads can impact the experience, while Volodymyr explains why this happens so often.
We also explore his goals and dreams ✨: shooting outside the US & Canada (ideally in Europe 🌍), learning sword fighting ⚔️, and bringing those skills into future verticals. And yes—he already has the perfect helmet for a Troy-inspired time-piece 🏛️
And do you want to know what became his favorite food after his time in the jungle—but something he sadly hasn’t had again since? 👀(Spoiler alert: it’s definitely not something common… and I’m not sure who else, like me, feels slightly grossed out by it 😅)
An open, honest, and entertaining conversation full of humor, charm, and vision. Enjoy listening! 🎧
Some Verticals with Volodymyr Pielikh:
The Summer I Turned My Sexiest (Gammatime)Seducing My Sisters Ruthless CEO Husband (Moboreels)My Wife Never Knew Who I Was (Joyreels)Ballerina Reborn for Revenge (Dramabox)Baby Daddy That Not Your Kid! (Goodshort)
#vertical #podcast #new #verticals #community

🎙️✨ In today’s episode, actress Mary Foster @mary_jacqq joins me as we dive into her journey in the vertical space, her broader acting career, and everything that comes with it.
Many of you might know her from her iconic villain roles 😈 — but thanks to the wide variety within vertical storytelling, she’s also taken on the role of the best friend 💕 more than once. She truly enjoys both sides and is excited to keep expanding her vertical portfolio. Shooting abroad 🌍 is definitely high on her wishlist!
We also talk about the importance of mental balance 🧘‍♀️ and self-care in such a fast-paced industry. Mary finds peace in gardening 🌱 and makes sure to take intentional breaks to avoid burnout. A healthy work-life balance ⚖️ is essential — and often underestimated.
How does Mary prepare for her roles? 🎭 What does it really take to step into a character? And how has playing strong, confident villains impacted her personally?
All this and so much more in our wonderful girl talk 💬💖
 Tune in — it’s definitely worth a listen! 🎧✨
Some Verticals with Mary Foster:
Brave New Beginning with My Fire Captain (@dramawave_official)My Poor Husband Is the Real Boss (@dramabox_official)His Love Was A Lie (@dramabox_official)Dont Mess with the XXL Heiress (@dramabox_official)Taming the Football Bad Boy (@dramabox_official)
#vertical #podcast #new #verticals #community

A bucket list for 2026 is a beautiful thing – and it truly comes alive when you keep adding new goals to it. ✨
Max Shusterman is my guest, and together we’re adding fresh items to his bucket list. One we can already check off: recording a podcast episode together. ✔️🎙️
When his dream of becoming a professional ice hockey player didn’t work out, Max decided after college to fully focus on acting and modeling – and moved to New York. 🗽 After many acting classes, he took his first steps into the vertical space and has been moving from role to role ever since.
An important support early on was Hunter Kohl, who stood by his side as a lead actor and colleague in his first two vertical productions. 🤝
From lovey-dovey good guy to assistant, bully, or total a**hole – Max embraces the full range of characters and truly loves that diversity. 🎭
One small thing still on his bucket list: he hasn’t had the chance to shoot outside of New York City or New Jersey yet – but that’s high on his list to change soon. 🌍
Over the years, acting has taught him not to take things for granted and to appreciate life more deeply. He values a great atmosphere on set and still carries one big dream from childhood: playing the lead in an ice hockey vertical – combining two of his greatest passions. 🏒✨
What kind of stories he wants to tell next, how his singing journey is going, and what else we added to his bucket list – you’ll hear it all in this episode.Enjoy listening! 🎧💫
Some Verticals with Max Shusterman:
Bitchy BFF It's Your Turn to Pay (Goodshort)Victory Is in Hand (Goodshort)Code of the Heiress (Goodshort)Dare to Harm the Billionaire's Wife? (Goodshort)Lion's Dawn (Dramabox)
#vertical #podcast #new #verticals #community

🎙️ New Fan Episode – featuring Vicky from Verti.Verse

What would the vertical industry be without its audience? That’s exactly what I dive into in this new episode with Vicky from Verti.Verse – and so much more.

Vicky entered the vertical space quite early – like many others: she saw an ad, just wanted to take a quick look… and that was it, she was hooked.

Since then, she has watched countless verticals and become a true pillar of the fan community. One of her biggest contributions: a self-built database that gives you a clear overview of many actors’ filmographies – including exactly which platforms their verticals can be found on.
And if that’s not enough, she also maintains a birthday list so you never miss an important date 🎂

In this episode, we talk about:
✨ her favorite genres – and what really annoys or even triggers her
✨ the kinds of stories she’s still hoping to see
✨ why “Verticals made in Germany” are long overdue (hello Autobahn 👀)

We also get a peek into her “actor wishlist”:
🎬 Who she’d love to see in lead roles – including Adam Chisnall and Evan Camacho
🚀 The perfect role she has in mind for Nick Ritacco
🧘‍♀️ And why verticals featuring Teig Sadhana have a surprisingly calming effect on her

A packed episode full of fan insights, passion, and unique perspectives from the community.👉 Definitely worth tuning in!

A light European breeze runs through this episode, as American-Irish actor Aidan Farren joins me 🎙️🇪🇺
We talk about his experiences shooting verticals in China 🇨🇳, his ambition to break into European vertical productions, and what it’s really like to watch his own work on screen 🎬
Of course, we dive into the classic tropes—“Proposals” 💍 and “Towel Drops” 😏—and explore what no vertical story can go without. Together, we even imagine the ultimate Vertical Bingo Card 🎯
Aidan also shares how working on verticals has helped him grow—not only as an actor, but as a person 🌱 What he’s learned along the way and how it has shaped him makes for a truly insightful conversation.
When it comes to his dreams, he’s drawn to roles like a special agent à la James Bond 🕶️ or a firefighter 🚒—characters with the “license” to help others. At the same time, he’s eager to explore a wide range of acting opportunities beyond verticals 🎭Like many of us, he’s ready for more comedy and romcom in verticals 💕😂—and hopes to see less violence against female leads, as he openly shares his discomfort with those roles.
And since Aidan is a big pizza lover 🍕, we couldn’t skip the ultimate debate: pineapple on pizza—yes or no? 🍍 Plus, we talk about School of Rock and even end up discussing closed car windows 🚗💨
All that and so much more—honest, fun, and entertaining moments—await you in this episode. Enjoy listening! 🎧✨
Some Verticals with Aidan Farren:
Claiming His Angel in White (Kalos TV)Return of the Hidden Chef Goddess (Playlet)Goodbye After 99 Forgiveness (Flareflow)Making of an Heiress (Kalos TV)Reborn: Melody of Second Chances (Kalos TV)

It’s finally happening: the first pirate ship is setting sail into the rough Vertical seas! ⚓️🌊I had the chance to speak exclusively in advance with four of the key people behind the project. 

Julie Bruns
Nic Westaway
Steven Kammerer
Rob Hunt

Together, we dive into the filming process, look back at how it all began, and talk about what an incredible adventure it was to bring this Vertical to life.

Of course, I was especially curious about what you, the audience, can expect—especially since so many are asking for fresh stories instead of the usual Vertical tropes. And I can tell you: the first details sound absolutely amazing!✨ No banquette scenes
✨ Only ONE slap!
✨ No hospital scenes
✨ And no frustrating, unresolved cliffhangers

Instead, get ready for:
🌿 Stunning nature & outdoor scenes
🚢 A real ship
🌬️ The raw, untamed sea
👗 Incredible outfits
⚔️ Spectacular fight scenes

A Vertical full of adventure, tension, and dreams—enhanced by a completely original, specially composed soundtrack 🎶

Get ready to be just as fascinated and excited as the cast & crew were during filming!Releasing on CandJar & Mauvipix – stay tuned! 🎬🔥

Are you in the mood for a mix of Canada 🇨🇦, verticals 📱🎬, and a full-on food tour 🍔🍕🌭—all combined with a generous portion of humor and fun? Then you’re absolutely in the right place with this conversation between Marcus Kelly Curtis and me 😄
⚠️ Small trigger warning: There’s a very high chance this episode will make you hungry—and might leave you with a strong urge to plan a food trip to Germany 🇩🇪✈️
Marcus and I dive into a relaxed and entertaining conversation about his original career plans as an ice hockey player 🏒, which then shifted toward studying neurology 🧠—until his mom encouraged him to give acting school a try 🎭… where he ultimately found his true passion.
Since he’s always loved stepping into different roles and entertaining people, it didn’t take long for Marcus to become very grateful for that life-changing advice 🙌
His lightness, humor, and genuine desire to entertain make acting his dream job 🌟
 Always in a good mood—and known to improvise on set 😄—Marcus has an impressive ability to remember scripts, even after a skull concussion 🤯What he ate that day, though? That’s a different story… 😅
What does he wish for his future in the vertical world?
 👉 More shoots outside of Canada 🌍👉 Better storylines 📖👉 And more screen time to stay longer with the characters he grows to love ❤️
His must-have on set?
 Good vibes ✨ and colleagues who can keep up with his energy 😄🔥
We’ve already (mostly 😉) planned his 2026 food trip across Germany and Switzerland 🇩🇪🇨🇭—now I’m just waiting for his message about when he’s landing so we can kick off the adventure 🚗🎤
 Think: Carpool Karaoke, ABBA songs 🎶, and lots of amazing food 🍽️
This episode is packed with humor, great stories, and even some deeper, thoughtful moments 💬
 Enjoy listening—and stay tuned for our upcoming food trip vlog 🎥✨
Some Verticals with Marcus Kelly Curtis:
Twisted Heart (Joyreels)Rescued by the Rugged Mountain Man (Dramabox)Mafia Forbidden Catch (Dramawave)My Husband's Best Friend Claims Me (FlickReels)Victorian Heiress Survival Guide (Kalos TV)

It’s time for a new episode featuring another actress 🎙️✨ (actors have been dominating a bit lately 😉)Shanna Sinow took the time to have a wonderful and fun conversation with me about verticals 🎬📱
 She knows exactly what it’s like to get hooked by vertical ads—and then suddenly needing to watch the full story, unable to stop 😄 So she truly understands the audience better than many others 👀
By now, she’s become an essential part of the vertical world 🌟 From vampires 🧛‍♀️ to rom-coms 💕, from young adult 📚 to the spicy ones 🌶️—there’s nothing she can’t bring to life.
Still on her acting wishlist? A mermaid 🧜‍♀️, a pirate lady 🏴‍☠️, or even a detective 🕵️‍♀️Why hasn’t she played a villain yet? She thinks she looks “too nice” 😇
 Would she like to change that? Because playing the bad side sounds exciting? — Hell yes 😈Getting kidnapped? She’s already got plenty of experience with that… at least on screen 😅
And one iconic scene many people still remember instantly?
 The legendary construction helmet scene with Robert Palmer Watkins in “Escaping the Bridezilla” 🎭😂
Definitely a moment that made a lot of people smile!
We talk about all of this and so much more from her experiences in the vertical world 🎧
 👉 This is one episode you definitely don’t want to miss!
Some Verticals with Shanna Sinow:
First Love, First Sin with My Stepbrother (Drama TV)Bound by My Ex's Dad (Dramapops)Surrogate Bride of My of Ex's Uncle (Kalos TV)Engraved on Your Heart (Dramabox)Goodbye Husband, Don't Regret When I'm Gone (Dramawave)