Cultural crossover with vertical short films

'Second wind'

Tony began filming vertical shorts in 2023, and the experience gave him what he calls a second wind in his acting career.

"The Chinese team and I, we've even become like a family. We all know each other, and we all work well together, so it's a very good atmosphere. The passion that they put in — they really have it down pat — and that's the best part of it," he added.

Vertical shorts have given him a variety of roles, and the format itself is also expanding. The genres have shifted from werewolves and vampires to melodramatic urban romance, as well as revenge and redemption.

"I started out as the rich billionaire, the bad guy. But they saw I could do more, so I've played an Englishman, a cowboy … and I love that. I don't like playing the same character all the time, so they give me the chance to do many different roles."

Unlike veteran actors who find more opportunities, Alona Sigal said vertical shorts became her first job during her gap year before college, and it provided a good income.

She started working in vertical shorts in January 2024 and has already filmed 13 projects.

"I really enjoyed it, and it's been a pretty busy year," she said.

Entering the industry through her first audition, Sigal considers herself lucky to work with a professional production team. "Collaboration was smooth. The crew really knows what they're doing, and they're very patient and efficient … sometimes I even pick up and learned a few Chinese words," she added.

This industry offers both veteran and young actors more exposure and opportunities, especially post-COVID, as Hollywood slows down.

Kalie Merida, a full-time actress in New York, highlighted how short verticals have advanced actors' progress and opportunities, as shared with China Daily.

She made a career shift from an office job to a career in acting. Merida said that the fast-paced nature of vertical shorts provides more opportunities for people like her. She also noticed that others have transitioned into the industry, such as gym coaches moving into short verticals.

"I'll say the verticals have made my acting better.… When you're on set, there's not much time to rehearse. Usually, you're memorizing lines on the same day, as there are so many sides, and you often don't get the script until a few days before. A lot of it is learning as we go. But it had made me more present and in the moment during bigger auditions. I'm grateful for the vertical space. It allowed me to quit my full-time job and focus on acting full-time," she said.

Merida said that she started acting in vertical shorts in November 2023 and has been working on them full-time ever since. She studied theater in college and moved to New York in 2018 to pursue a professional acting career.

"A growing number of American actors are working regularly with Chinese production teams on vertical short dramas filmed here," she said.

"Lunch is always something new and exciting, to be honest," she said. "That's one of the best parts of collaborating with a diverse Chinese team, where we get to share different food cultures. Lunch is unpredictable but makes for an engaging on-set experience."