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what it is
Vertical drama is episodic storytelling built for how people actually watch on their phones. Seasons run 60 to 100 episodes of one to three minutes each, shot natively vertical rather than cropped from horizontal coverage. The production discipline is the same one we have brought to feature film and broadcast work since 2007, compressed into the schedule the format requires.
The category grew out of mobile-first platforms in Asia and has moved quickly into English-language markets. Apps like ReelShort and DramaBox built audiences in the tens of millions by delivering serialized romance, thriller, and family drama in bite-sized vertical episodes. What started as a niche experiment is now a legitimate production category with real budgets and real audiences.
how it differs
The most common mistake in vertical production is treating it as a crop. Shooting horizontal and cutting to 9:16 in post throws away most of the frame and leaves compositions that feel accidental. Faces sit off-center, two-shots become impossible, and the eye has nowhere to land.
Shooting natively vertical changes every decision. Blocking is built for depth rather than width, so characters stack front to back instead of side to side. Coverage leans on tighter singles and over-the-shoulders. Camera movement favors vertical travel. The result reads as intentional rather than salvaged, and audiences feel the difference even when they cannot name it.
Pacing is the other shift. A one to three minute episode has to land a beat, escalate, and end on a hook. There is no room for a slow build. The writing, the coverage, and the edit all have to serve that structure from the first frame.
how we work
We handle the full chain from a single point of contact. Development and scripting for the episodic structure. Casting through our talent relationships across San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles. Production with a crew built for the compressed schedule the format demands. Post, sound, color, and delivery in platform-ready specs.
A full season typically shoots in two to four weeks. That pace only works with a crew that has done it before and a production plan built around the format rather than adapted to it. Our team has been producing broadcast commercials, documentary features, and episodic television since 2007, and that discipline is what keeps quality high when the schedule is tight.
produced titles
good to know
An episodic series shot and delivered in full-screen vertical format for mobile viewing. Episodes typically run one to three minutes, with a full season spanning 60 to 100 episodes. The format is built for mobile-first streaming platforms.
Most seasons run 60 to 100 episodes of one to three minutes each. Total runtime is comparable to a feature film, delivered as short installments designed for mobile consumption.
A full season typically shoots in two to four weeks on a compressed schedule, with post and delivery following shortly after. The format is built for speed without sacrificing production value.
We shoot natively vertical. Framing, blocking, and coverage are designed for 9:16 from the start, which produces significantly better results than cropping horizontal footage after the fact.
Yes. We handle development, casting, production, and post from a single point of contact, the same way we work on feature and broadcast projects.
start a project
Tell us about the organization, the story you need to tell, and what you're working with, budget included. We'll come back with a point of view and a plan.
Thanks for the details. Someone from Evolve will reach out within one business day.
