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S4E186: Are Verticals are Saving or Killing Hollywood?
Verticals, Hustle, and the Future of Filmmaking (Get Reelisms Ep. 186)
On Get Reelisms podcast episode 186, filmmakers Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen discuss being exhausted but grateful for steady work while others in Austin and Texas struggle despite talk of bigger film tax incentives. They say vertical short-form productions are “single handedly saving Hollywood,” with money coming from markets including China, and Christine notes speaking Mandarin helps her communicate with clients as an AD and director. They describe overlapping AD prep across productions, constant schedule demands on rare days off, and how vertical work favors indie-style problem solvers over union workflows. They explain vertical monetization as “Farmville”-style gamification with addictive cliffhangers and paywalls per short episode, shaping soapy storytelling tropes, while also noting vertical framing can be visually strong. They mention Darren Aronofsky’s AI film "On This Day, 1776" and briefly debate AI as a tool versus making full films with it, then preview an upcoming guest, Oscar-nominated short filmmaker Sam Davis ("The Singers" on Netflix).
Hosts: Adam Rani (@adamthechase) & Christine Chen (@cchenmtf)
About Christine W Chen:
Christine W. Chen is a Taiwanese American filmmaker, Academy member (Short Films Branch), and versatile producer, director, and writer known for bold, character-driven storytelling. Through her production company, Moth to Flame, she has created award-winning short films, features, and branded content—including Erzulie, a feminist swamp thriller that had a limited theatrical run and now streams on major platforms. In addition to her directorial work, Christine is a seasoned DGA 1st Assistant Director and co-author of Get Reelisms and ABCs of Filmmaking, as well as the co-host of the Get Reelisms Podcast.
For more information about Christine Chen: christinewchen.com
About Adam Rani:
Adam Chase Rani is a production designer and set dresser working in the Austin film market, bringing a sharp eye for visual storytelling and practical creativity to every project. During the pandemic, he co-founded the Get Reelisms Podcast with Christine Chen to foster community within the film industry. Together, they’ve built a platform that blends education, candid conversations, and industry insights to help filmmakers connect, learn, and grow.
WEBISODE version of the Podcast
00:00 Verticals Save Hollywood
01:01 Podcast Intro and Hosts
02:08 Lunar New Year Banter
04:11 Work Drought and Incentives
05:19 Mandarin as a Career Edge
06:37 How We Met on Set
12:13 Overlapping AD Chaos
16:04 Forgot to Go Live
18:29 No Days Off Reality
20:44 Becoming the Vertical Queen
22:58 Who Excels at Verticals
24:24 Will Stories Go Vertical
25:04 David Lynch Phone Rant
26:57 Farmville Paywall Model
31:00 Soap Opera Hook Writing
33:16 Shooting Vertical Beautifully
35:53 New Tech Becomes Cinema
37:59 AI Films and Unease
41:38 Trump Impressions Detour
43:09 Housekeeping and Next Guest
Official Get Reelisms Page
Get Reelisms Amazon Store
View all episodes
By Christine Chen, Adam Rani
4.5
88 ratings
Verticals, Hustle, and the Future of Filmmaking (Get Reelisms Ep. 186)
On Get Reelisms podcast episode 186, filmmakers Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen discuss being exhausted but grateful for steady work while others in Austin and Texas struggle despite talk of bigger film tax incentives. They say vertical short-form productions are “single handedly saving Hollywood,” with money coming from markets including China, and Christine notes speaking Mandarin helps her communicate with clients as an AD and director. They describe overlapping AD prep across productions, constant schedule demands on rare days off, and how vertical work favors indie-style problem solvers over union workflows. They explain vertical monetization as “Farmville”-style gamification with addictive cliffhangers and paywalls per short episode, shaping soapy storytelling tropes, while also noting vertical framing can be visually strong. They mention Darren Aronofsky’s AI film "On This Day, 1776" and briefly debate AI as a tool versus making full films with it, then preview an upcoming guest, Oscar-nominated short filmmaker Sam Davis ("The Singers" on Netflix).
Hosts: Adam Rani (@adamthechase) & Christine Chen (@cchenmtf)
About Christine W Chen:
Christine W. Chen is a Taiwanese American filmmaker, Academy member (Short Films Branch), and versatile producer, director, and writer known for bold, character-driven storytelling. Through her production company, Moth to Flame, she has created award-winning short films, features, and branded content—including Erzulie, a feminist swamp thriller that had a limited theatrical run and now streams on major platforms. In addition to her directorial work, Christine is a seasoned DGA 1st Assistant Director and co-author of Get Reelisms and ABCs of Filmmaking, as well as the co-host of the Get Reelisms Podcast.
For more information about Christine Chen: christinewchen.com
About Adam Rani:
Adam Chase Rani is a production designer and set dresser working in the Austin film market, bringing a sharp eye for visual storytelling and practical creativity to every project. During the pandemic, he co-founded the Get Reelisms Podcast with Christine Chen to foster community within the film industry. Together, they’ve built a platform that blends education, candid conversations, and industry insights to help filmmakers connect, learn, and grow.
WEBISODE version of the Podcast
00:00 Verticals Save Hollywood
01:01 Podcast Intro and Hosts
02:08 Lunar New Year Banter
04:11 Work Drought and Incentives
05:19 Mandarin as a Career Edge
06:37 How We Met on Set
12:13 Overlapping AD Chaos
16:04 Forgot to Go Live
18:29 No Days Off Reality
20:44 Becoming the Vertical Queen
22:58 Who Excels at Verticals
24:24 Will Stories Go Vertical
25:04 David Lynch Phone Rant
26:57 Farmville Paywall Model
31:00 Soap Opera Hook Writing
33:16 Shooting Vertical Beautifully
35:53 New Tech Becomes Cinema
37:59 AI Films and Unease
41:38 Trump Impressions Detour
43:09 Housekeeping and Next Guest
Official Get Reelisms Page
Get Reelisms Amazon Store