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What happens when Hollywood tells you hard work isn't enough, but a new entertainment revolution gives you a second chance? 🎬📱 Richard Sharrah has lived through two major shifts in entertainment. From helping create viral YouTube hits Kid History and Kid Snippets to becoming one of vertical drama's recognizable faces, Richard knows what it takes to build an audience, create opportunities, and spot a disruptor before everyone else catches on. In this episode of The Vertical Buzz, Richard shares how a primetime TV deal collapsed during COVID, why he pivoted to an MBA at USC, and how his first vertical drama, The Billionaire's Baby Bargain, changed everything. We also get into the flood of AI-generated verticals, why audiences may tune out, and whether vertical entertainment can become a true meritocracy. Plus, we discuss his work with Lighthouse Verticals and its family-centered, faith-based slate connected to Tim Tebow. In this episode, you will learn: How Kid History became a viral hit and attracted major brand deals. Why a near-miss with primetime TV forced a career pivot. How an MBA helped Richard recognize vertical drama as a potential industry disruptor. Why his first vertical hit reached audiences around the world in just 12 hours. What 450,000 AI verticals could mean for the future of the format. Why Richard believes vertical entertainment can reward talent and hard work. Chapters 00:00 Cannons and Violins 01:31 Vertical Buzz Intro 04:50 Growing Up Everywhere 06:42 Australia Full Circle 10:29 Mom Peru and Movies 13:47 NYU Tisch to YouTube 21:06 Going Viral and Brand Deals 32:06 Primetime Deal Collapses 34:06 Family Pressure Pivot 35:40 GMAT Chaos During Covid 36:37 USC MBA Grind 39:51 Grownish Meets The Volume 41:52 First Vertical Breakthrough 48:44 Vertical Fame And Industry Shift 01:01:02 AI Content Saturation 01:01:37 Robocalls And Cold Emails 01:03:09 Peak TV Vs AI Flood 01:03:53 Dust Settling And Live Action 01:05:37 Lighthouse And Tim Tebow Slate 01:11:33 Vertical Meritocracy Lessons 01:13:33 Rapid Fire And Wrap Up Sponsor: AEIRO (Arrow Air Purifiers) AEIRO helps identify, reduce, and monitor airborne contaminants. Featured in this episode: the AEIRO AC150, with smart sensor controls, true HEPA and carbon filtration, and coverage for rooms 300+ sq ft. Website: AEIRO.co Guest: Richard Sharrah Instagram: @richardsharrah Host: Buzz Leer 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 Director: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song: 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 #TheVerticalBuzz #VerticalDrama #RichardSharrah #VerticalEntertainment #AI

What happens when a Hollywood screenwriter decides the future of entertainment is vertical, but refuses to let an algorithm tell him what stories to make? 📱🎬 This week on The Vertical Buzz, Buzz Leer sits down with Sal Paskowitz, screenwriter, director, producer, and co-founder of Super Punchy Studios. Sal co-created and co-wrote The Age of Adaline, starring Blake Lively and Harrison Ford, and now he's bringing his cinematic approach to the rapidly evolving world of vertical entertainment. But Sal's story starts far from Hollywood. Raised as one of nine children in a legendary surfing family, he spent much of his childhood traveling the world in a camper. With an unconventional education built around books, nature, and movies, Sal developed a lifelong passion for creativity and storytelling that took him from art and graphic design to Hollywood filmmaking. Now, with Super Punchy Studios, he's taking a different approach to vertical drama. Following the success of Step by Step, Sal is determined to put the story first, rather than simply repeating whatever an algorithm says is working. He shares why he believes audiences deserve more than recycled tropes, how vertical framing changes the way directors tell stories, and why he sees this format becoming a fully integrated part of the entertainment industry. We also talk about Layover, Super Punchy's upcoming projects, the growing pains of the vertical market, and Sal's bold vision for what comes next. Plus, stick around for rapid-fire questions, surfing stories, celebrity impressions, singing, and a surprising family connection to legendary voice actor Mel Blanc. In this episode, you will learn: 🎬 How Sal went from an unconventional childhood to co-writing The Age of Adaline 🏄 What growing up in a legendary surfing family taught him about creativity 📱 Why Sal believes vertical entertainment needs to put storytelling ahead of algorithms 🔥 What made Step by Step connect with audiences, and what's next for Super Punchy Studios 🎥 How directing and production design change when the frame goes vertical 🤖 Why Sal is betting on handcrafted stories in the age of AI 🌎 Why he believes vertical entertainment is becoming a fourth major format alongside movies, TV, and streaming 🎞️ What Layover's selection for the ALZA Film Festival means for Super Punchy 🎤 The surprising story behind Sal's connection to Mel Blanc, plus his voices and musical talents Chapters 00:00 Writing vs the Robot 00:34 Voices and Mel Blanc 01:29 Vertical Buzz Intro 02:58 Sal Bio and Banter 05:00 Surfwise Childhood 07:00 Books Not School 08:18 Movies as Church 11:52 Finding Sal and Art 18:13 Hollywood and Adaline 25:40 Vertical Wave and Super Punchy 35:03 Why Step By Step Worked 35:13 Beating Algorithmic Tropes 37:14 Vertical Market Growing Pains 38:09 Layover Hits ALZA Fest 39:51 Future Screens Go Vertical 41:35 Directing For Vertical Frames 43:19 Super Punchy Story First Mission 45:24 Rapid Fire Surf And Movies 51:10 Voices Songs And Family Ties 55:28 Top 10 Game And Farewell 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 plus carbon filtration. Website: AEIRO.co Guest: Sal Paskowitz Screenwriter, director, producer, and co-founder of Super Punchy Studios, Sal is best known for co-creating and co-writing The Age of Adaline. His work now spans cinematic filmmaking and original vertical dramas, including Step by Step and Layover. Instagram: @salpaskowitz Super Punchy Studios: @superpunchystudios 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 Director: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley, The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media Robb Leer, Leer Communications, Inc. Thank you Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer #TheVerticalBuzz #SalPaskowitz #SuperPunchyStudios #VerticalDrama #VerticalEntertainment #TheAgeOfAdaline #StepByStep #Layover

What does it take to become one of the recognizable faces of vertical entertainment in just a few years? 📱🎬 This week on The Vertical Buzz, Buzz sits down with actress Nicole Mattox, whose journey from a painfully shy kid in Texas, to UT Austin, cavern tour guide, and aspiring traditional actress eventually led her into one of the fastest-growing forms of entertainment in the world. Nicole had no idea what “vertical” even meant when she first auditioned for one. Then came Breaking the Ice, a chemistry read squeezed into the middle of a chaotic shoot, and suddenly everything started moving. Within months, Nicole's vertical career was taking off, her work with Seth Eden was connecting with audiences, and she was becoming one of the industry's most recognizable performers. But there's much more to Nicole's story than her vertical credits. She talks about growing up in Texas, studying film at UT Austin, spending years training in the Meisner technique, working as a cavern tour guide, and why all of those life experiences ultimately made her a better actor. We also get into one of the biggest questions facing the industry right now: AI vs. human actors. Nicole isn't against AI, but she believes there is something fundamentally different about watching a real person experience emotion on screen, especially in stories built around human connection. And Nicole explains why vertical acting itself requires a different technique, why she wants to balance vertical and traditional acting, and which genres she believes could be the next big opportunity for vertical storytelling. In this episode, you will learn: 🎬 How Nicole went from Texas to Los Angeles and ultimately found vertical entertainment 📱 How Breaking the Ice became a major turning point in her career 🎭 Why life experience can make an actor more authentic 🧠 How years of Meisner training shaped her acting 🕳️ How working as a cavern tour guide prepared her for acting 🤖 Nicole's perspective on AI-generated actors and human emotion 🎥 Why acting for vertical requires a different physical and emotional style 🌎 How Nicole became part of the early generation helping build vertical entertainment 🔥 Which genres she thinks could be the next big opportunity for vertical storytelling Chapters 00:00 Authentic Acting Truth 00:44 AI Actors Debate 01:22 Show Intro And Guest 04:51 Peacock Micro Drama Trip 06:46 Texas Roots And Childhood 08:05 Early Acting Spark 09:19 UT Austin And Career Pivot 12:54 Cavern Tour Guide Days 20:08 LA Move And Acting Training 25:05 Vertical Breakout And Buzz 33:43 Coffee With Sal 34:17 Thrown Into AD Work 35:17 Super Punchy Rise 35:54 Keeping Set Energy 37:45 Life Experience Acting 38:31 AI Versus Heart 42:42 Back To Traditional 44:10 Vertical Acting Style 45:56 Genres And Growth 54:52 Rapid Fire And Farewell 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 plus carbon filtration. Website: AEIRO.co Guest: Nicole Mattox Nicole Mattox is a Los Angeles-based actress originally from Schertz, Texas and a graduate of UT Austin. She has become one of the recognizable performers in vertical entertainment, with credits including Breaking the Ice, The Hit Woman, Step by Step, Faded at First Sight, and Twisted Minds. She has also worked with Super Punchy Studios and recently starred in Peacock's first in-house micro-drama. Instagram: @nicolemattox_ 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 Director: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley, The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media Robb Leer, Leer Communications, Inc. Thank you Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer #TheVerticalBuzz #NicoleMattox #VerticalEntertainment #VerticalDrama #MicroDrama #Acting #AI #Hollywood #GlendalePodcastStudio

What happens when you build a sport specifically for the way people watch entertainment today? 📱🏆 This week on The Vertical Buzz, Buzz sits down with Nate Thomas, President and co-founder of World 1 Championship, to explore the creation of MicroSports and why the future of sports may be built vertically from the ground up. Nate is a veteran television producer who has created and produced more than 1,000 hours of programming, including BattleBots and Netflix's Hyperdrive, with previous stops at Merv Griffin Entertainment and Mark Cuban's HDNet. Now he's applying everything he's learned about television, live entertainment, competition, and storytelling to a completely new kind of sports property. From redefining what it means to be the fastest person in the world to creating a new test for the strongest, World 1 is designing competitions that can be understood, produced, and consumed in about 30 seconds. And there's a bigger idea behind it: MicroSports. Sports created for the phone, built vertically from the beginning, and designed to turn the highlight itself into the event. 📲 In this episode, you will learn: 🏆 How Nate went from driving Merv Griffin to producing BattleBots and working with Mark Cuban 🤖 Why BattleBots succeeded when it was reframed as a legitimate sport 📱 Why World 1 is building sports specifically for vertical video ⚡ How the World 1 Speed Chamber will determine the fastest person in the world 💪 How the Bench Squat Max could redefine the strongest person in the world 🎥 Why 30 seconds may be the sweet spot for MicroSports 🌎 How World 1 plans to discover athletes anywhere in the world 📺 Why traditional sports struggle to translate their biggest moments to vertical 💰 How building a sport vertically could create new opportunities for brands and sponsors Chapters 00:00 Episode Trailer 00:23 Vertical Sports Tease 01:30 Show Intro Microsports 03:41 Nate Bio Sponsor 05:03 Breaking Into TV 14:02 BattleBots Reinvented 17:59 World One Speed Chamber 30:43 Reinventing the Sprint 31:11 Strategy and Run Up 31:51 Portable Speed Chamber 33:29 Strongest Event Explained 36:10 Bench Squat Max Strategy 40:40 What Is a MicroSport 47:55 Vertical First Production 01:01:56 Campus Competition Day 01:02:25 Crowns Belts and Champions 01:02:56 Sponsor Break Airo AC150 01:03:21 Vertical Buzz Rapid Fire 01:09:48 Merv Griffin Shar Pei Heist 01:16:23 Test Event at LA Galaxy 01:20:29 Building Stars and Final Wrap 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 plus carbon filtration. Website: AEIRO.co Guest: Nate Thomas Nate Thomas is President and co-founder of World 1 Championship and a veteran television producer with more than 1,000 hours of programming to his credit, including BattleBots and Netflix's Hyperdrive. He has also worked with Merv Griffin Entertainment and Mark Cuban's HDNet. World 1 Championship: world1championship.com 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 Director: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley, The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media Robb Leer, Leer Communications, Inc. Thank you Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer #TheVerticalBuzz #NateThomas #World1Championship #MicroSports #VerticalEntertainment #BattleBots #Sports #VerticalVideo #WorldOne

What happens when political campaigns move from the television screen to the phone? 📱🎥 This week on The Vertical Buzz, Buzz sits down with Kevin Singer, political media strategist and founder of Singer Strategic, to explore how vertical video is changing the way candidates communicate with voters. Kevin brings a unique perspective to the conversation. He has spent more than a decade working in political communications and paid media, previously worked in public affairs media at Meta, and is also a professional actor. That combination makes for a fascinating look at the intersection of politics, performance, advertising, and authenticity. We break down what makes political vertical content work, why simply repurposing a television commercial usually misses the point, and why the first few seconds of a vertical ad can be critical. In this episode, you will learn: 📱 Why political campaigns have increasingly become phone-first 🎬 How vertical video differs from traditional TV and CTV advertising ⏱️ Why the first five seconds can make or break a political ad 🎭 Why authenticity is so difficult to fake in vertical video ⚾ What political campaigns can learn from a viral baseball ad 🤖 How campaigns are approaching AI-generated political content 💰 Why paid media remains critical, especially for local campaigns 📲 Why TikTok's restrictions on political advertising matter 🎙️ How politicians can use podcasts and influencers to reach voters 🧠 Why vertical content requires campaigns to balance speed, volume, and risk 🎥 What campaigns can learn from the vertical strategies of candidates like Zohran Mamdani and Abdul El-Sayed 🏛️ And Kevin's thoughts on how political communication could continue evolving Plus, Kevin and Buzz get into acting, Machiavelli, baseball food, theater critics, and the Vertical Top 10: Signs Your Political Campaign Has Gone Vertical. Chapters 00:00 Vertical Campaigning Shift 01:52 Show Intro and Big Questions 03:23 Meet Kevin Singer 06:22 Origins and Berkeley Years 08:57 Politics Meets Acting 13:25 Launching Singer Strategic 17:24 Why Vertical Video Wins 28:39 Tax Day Viral Timing 30:00 Backlash And Speed Risks 32:16 Stop The Scroll Authenticity 35:23 Vivek Baseball Ad Breakdown 40:46 AI Versus Human Content 43:07 Local Campaign Vertical Strategy 46:34 El Sayed And Endorsement Clips 01:00:13 Borrowed Credibility Explained 01:01:18 Podcast Clips as Political Ads 01:03:26 Rapid Fire Segment Begins 01:04:30 Why TikTok Bans Political Ads 01:13:59 Machiavelli and Authenticity 01:18:13 Vertical Top 10 Countdown 01:22:38 Final Wrap and Where to Find Him 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 plus carbon filtration. Website: AEIRO.co Guest: Kevin Singer Kevin Singer is a political media strategist and founder of Singer Strategic, an Oakland-based firm specializing in media strategy, creative production, and advertising for political campaigns and nonprofit organizations. Website: singerstrategic.com 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 Coordinator: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media Robb Leer Leer Communications, Inc. Thank You Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer #TheVerticalBuzz #KevinSinger #PoliticalMedia #VerticalVideo #PoliticalAdvertising #DigitalMedia #SocialMedia #CampaignStrategy #SingerStrategic #VerticalEntertainment

What happens when you stop guessing about the future of entertainment and start looking at the data? 📊📱 This week on The Vertical Buzz, we sit down with Zak Shaikh, U.S. General Manager of Ampere Analysis, one of the entertainment industry's leading data, research, and analytics firms. Zak takes us inside the numbers behind the explosive growth of vertical entertainment and microdramas, revealing what audiences are actually watching, where they're watching it, and why major Hollywood streamers are suddenly paying very close attention.   We dig into some eye-opening data, including: 📱 Smartphone viewing and the shift away from traditional TV 🌎 Why Asia and other mobile-first markets are leading the microdrama explosion 📈 The scale of apps like DramaBox and ReelShort 🎬 Why Hollywood is developing a vertical strategy 💰 How paywalls and microtransactions are changing entertainment economics 🎭 Why microdramas are expanding beyond romance, revenge, and betrayal 🤖 Where AI fits into the future of vertical entertainment 🧠 And the critical question: can data and optimization ever replace authentic human storytelling? Zak also explains exactly how Ampere gathers its data, from global surveys and publicly available information to consent-based viewing data. This is The Vertical Buzz from a completely different angle, using real data to understand where entertainment is headed next. 📊 In this episode, you will learn: • How Ampere Analysis collects and analyzes entertainment data • Why smartphone viewing has become such an important part of the global entertainment landscape • What the data says about the explosive growth of microdramas • Why mobile-first markets have embraced vertical storytelling • How DramaBox and ReelShort have changed the competitive landscape • What Hollywood's major streaming companies are doing in response • How paywalls and microtransactions work in vertical entertainment • Which genres are expanding beyond the traditional microdrama formula • How AI is being used to market and promote content • Why authentic storytelling still matters even in a highly data-driven industry Chapters 00:00 Phone Beats TV 01:33 Vertical Buzz Intro 03:18 Meet Zak Shaikh 05:16 Zak’s USC Journey 09:25 What Ampere Does 13:06 How Ampere Gets Data 18:54 Microdramas Hit the Radar 30:57 Global Downloads Breakdown 32:05 Why Mobile-First Markets Win 34:17 Microdrama Apps Catch Streamers 36:35 Hollywood Takes Notice 40:17 Paywalls Pricing and Retention 43:15 Gamification and Rewards Loops 52:55 AI Marketing vs Authenticity 59:09 Authenticity Over AI 59:35 Rapid Fire Begins 01:00:33 Arsenal Dreams And Choices 01:01:45 Personal Picks And Recommendations 01:04:37 Microdrama Apps Playbook 01:07:00 Brands And Freemium Future 01:12:17 Anthologies Market Catchup And Farewell 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 plus carbon filtration. Website: AEIRO.co Guest: Zak Shaikh Zak Shaikh is the U.S. General Manager of Ampere Analysis, a global data, research, and analytics company focused on the entertainment and media industries. Website: ampereanalysis.com Host: Buzz Leer Buzz Leer is an actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space. Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Coordinator Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media Robb Leer Leer Communications, Inc. A special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family... and especially the fans! -Host, Buzz Leer #TheVerticalBuzz #ZakShaikh #AmpereAnalysis #VerticalEntertainment #Microdrama #VerticalVideo #Streaming #EntertainmentIndustry #Hollywood #DataAnalytics

What if the future of vertical entertainment looks a lot like the past of cable television? 📱📺 Larry Namer has seen this movie before. As the co-founder of E! Entertainment Television, Larry helped build one of the world's most recognizable entertainment networks from the ground up. But his story goes far beyond E!. From starting out underground splicing cable in New York, to moving to Los Angeles, creating E!, expanding media operations into Russia and China, and experimenting with digital media before the technology was ready, Larry has spent more than five decades identifying where entertainment is headed next. And when it comes to vertical entertainment, Larry isn't looking at it from the outside. He has been producing vertical content in China for years. After discovering that 73% of the audience for one of his shows was watching on cellphones, he asked a simple question: Why are we still shooting horizontally? 📱 In this fascinating conversation, Larry explains why he believes vertical will become the dominant way people consume video, why simplicity is one of the format's biggest strengths, and why Hollywood may be misunderstanding what vertical audiences actually want. He also breaks down the economics behind China's vertical model, including how a $150,000 movie could potentially generate a $35 "ticket price" through episodic paywalls. 💰 We also get into Larry's incredible history: founding E! after more than 100 rejections, the early days of Talk Soup, putting cameras in Howard Stern's radio studio, international media ventures, his wild stories from Russia, and his work helping develop China's media industry. 🌎 Plus, Larry talks about the future of vertical genres, why horror and sci-fi could be next, AI's impact on entertainment, consumer robotics, and the lessons he's learned from more than 50 years in media. And yes, there's Rapid Fire. ⚡ In this episode, you will learn: 📱 Why Larry believes vertical could dominate video consumption by 2030 🇨🇳 What China understood about vertical entertainment years before the U.S. 💰 How the Chinese vertical paywall model works 📺 How Larry and his partners built E! Entertainment 🚪 Why Larry believes creators no longer need traditional gatekeepers 🎭 Why vertical entertainment is essentially "soap operas on steroids" 🔮 Which genres Larry thinks could be next 🤖 What Larry is watching in AI and consumer robotics 🌎 Why entertainment is no longer geographically tied to Hollywood Chapters 00:00 Vertical Video Future 00:36 Asia Vertical Model 01:40 Show Intro Larry Namer 04:55 Brooklyn Roots 05:43 Cable TV Break In 10:30 LA Move Movie Trailers 13:28 Founding E Network 17:01 Pirate Programming Hits 19:32 Global Expansion Russia 25:57 China Media Reform Verticals 36:30 Televisioncom Gamble 37:22 Dotcom Crash Fallout 38:11 Going Global 2000s 39:17 Creators Without Gatekeepers 40:29 Why Vertical Wins 42:45 Paywalls And Pricing 44:51 Soap Operas Reborn 46:32 New Genres And Audiences 48:58 Rapid Fire And Robotics 54:23 Book Food And The Future 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 plus carbon filtration. Website: AEIRO.co Guest: Larry Namer Larry Namer is a pioneering entertainment executive, global media entrepreneur, and co-founder of E! Entertainment Television. With a career spanning more than five decades, Larry has worked across cable television, international media, digital entertainment, emerging technologies, and vertical storytelling. Instagram: @larrynamer Host: Buzz Leer Buzz Leer is an actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space. Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Coordinator: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley, The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media Robb Leer, Leer Communications, Inc. Thank you Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer

Welcome to The Vertical Buzz, where vertical entertainment finds its voice. This week, host Buzz Leer sits down with Kasey Esser, one of the most recognizable actors and producers in the vertical entertainment space. Kasey's journey to Hollywood started in an unexpected place. After studying exercise science and building a career in fitness, he made the leap to Los Angeles and eventually discovered microdramas. What started with a werewolf-themed vertical in 2023 quickly snowballed into more than 55 microdramas, international fans, producing his own projects, and a starring role alongside Jimmy Fallon and John Stamos in The Tonight Show's first microdrama series. 🎬 Kasey talks about the incredible speed of vertical production, the moment he realized the format could become his future, and what it's like to suddenly have fans reaching out from around the world. He also takes Buzz behind the scenes of Who Billionaire? Me Billionaire?, including shooting 40 pages in a single day with Fallon and Stamos, and why mainstream Hollywood is finally starting to understand the power of vertical storytelling. 🤖 The conversation also tackles AI, including how Kasey sees the technology being used as a filmmaking tool without replacing human performers. And then things get... weird. 😂 Buzz and Kasey revisit some unforgettable moments from The Tonight Show microdrama, dive into rapid fire questions, and talk about what's next for Kasey's career.   In this episode, you will learn: • How Kasey went from exercise science and fitness to Hollywood • How he landed his first microdrama role • Why vertical storytelling became a career-changing opportunity • What it was like shooting a microdrama for The Tonight Show • How 40 pages were filmed in a single day • Why mainstream Hollywood is embracing vertical entertainment • What Kasey learned from working with Jimmy Fallon and John Stamos • How vertical fame can reach audiences around the world • Why AI should be viewed as a tool rather than a replacement • What's next for Kasey and the vertical entertainment industry   ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Choosing Entertainment Over Fitness 00:21 Absurd On-Set Knife Story 01:05 Vertical Fast-Track to Hollywood 01:24 Meet Casey Esser 03:59 Growing Up 90s Midwest 06:23 From Exercise Science to LA 08:56 First Microdrama Breakthrough 14:30 Going Freelance and Producing 18:12 Press Turns and Fans Worldwide 29:30 Tonight Show Microdrama Moment 38:17 Surprise Guest Drama 40:01 Doug Arrives Empty Handed 41:02 Awkward Introductions Roast 41:49 Caddy Talk Turns Dark 44:17 Billionaire Sketch Wrap 45:05 Vertical Fame Crossover 48:00 Rapid Fire Questions 58:05 Market Slowdown Pivot 01:02:50 AI Tools Not Replacements 01:05:56 Next Phase And Farewell   🌬️ 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, with smart sensor controls and true HEPA plus carbon filtration. Website: AEIRO.co   🎥 Guest: Kasey Esser Kasey Esser is an actor, producer, and one of the breakout stars of vertical entertainment. Originally from Evansville, Indiana, Kasey studied exercise science before moving to Los Angeles and pursuing careers in both fitness and acting. He has appeared in more than 55 microdramas and has been featured by Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, Bloomberg, and NPR. He also appeared alongside Jimmy Fallon and John Stamos in The Tonight Show's microdrama Who Billionaire? Me Billionaire?. Instagram: @kaseyesser   🎙️ Host: Buzz Leer Instagram: @buzz_leer   🎬 A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio   📱 Social Media Coordinator Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano   🎵 Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley   📣 Public Relations Robb Leer Leer Communications, Inc.   ❤️ Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer

Welcome to The Vertical Buzz, where vertical entertainment finds its voice. This week, host Buzz Leer sits down with twin brothers Gary & Edmund Entin, the writer-director-producer team behind 90 Degrees Films.   The Entin brothers have built careers spanning feature films, television, and the rapidly evolving world of vertical storytelling. As co-founders of 90 Degrees Films, they have created 14 vertical series for partners including Fox Drama, A&E, Lifetime, Pocket FM, and MicroHouse. Their feature film work includes Geography Club, Sins of Our Youth, A Country Christmas Harmony, and How Sarah Got Her Wings.   🎬 In this episode, Gary & Edmund talk about growing up in South Florida, making the transition from acting to directing, and discovering the vertical world. They take Buzz behind the scenes of their work with MicroHouse and talk about the challenges of relearning the filmmaking craft for a completely different format.   They also get candid about what it takes for actors to survive and thrive on vertical sets, why production quality is changing so quickly, and how vertical storytelling is beginning to bridge the gap between traditional Hollywood and a new generation of entertainment.   ❤️ The brothers also spotlight projects including Tides of Temptation, Wrestling With Love, and Hope and Heartbreak, while discussing the importance of telling stories that connect emotionally with audiences.   And yes, because they're twins, Buzz couldn't resist getting into some twin taste debates. 👯   In this episode, you will learn: • How Gary & Edmund built careers across film, television, and vertical entertainment • How 90 Degrees Films got started • What pushed them from acting into writing, directing, and producing • How they made the transition into vertical storytelling • What they've learned from producing 14 vertical series • Why actors need to adapt to the unique demands of vertical sets • How production quality in vertical entertainment is evolving • Why vertical storytelling can coexist with traditional film and television • What makes a vertical series connect with audiences • Where the vertical ecosystem could go next • And what it's really like running a creative business with your twin brother 👯   ⏱️ Chapters   00:00 Twin Intro Banter 01:09 Show Opens And Guests Teased 02:47 Meet The Entin Brothers 05:41 Creative Partnership Secrets 08:30 Origins In South Florida 11:13 From Acting To Directing 14:51 Vertical Breakthrough And MicroHouse 30:10 Malik’s Warning 30:55 Tides of Temptation Praise 31:33 Microhouse Launch and Awards 32:16 When Verticals Took Off 35:56 Relearning the Craft 39:07 Actors and Set Survival 47:07 Wrestling With Love Spotlight 58:54 Hope and Heartbreak Films 01:00:27 Gratitude for Vertical Boom 01:01:29 Tools Notes Collaboration 01:02:13 Future Formats and Ads 01:08:02 Twin Taste Debates 01:15:50 Documenting Vertical Ecosystem 01:19:22 Spinoffs Platforms and Farewell   🌬️ Sponsor: AEIRO (Arrow Air Purifiers)   AEIRO Air Purifiers help create a cleaner indoor environment for homes and professional spaces.   Featured in this episode: AEIRO AC150, with smart sensor controls and true HEPA plus carbon filtration.   Website: AEIRO.co   ⚡ Rapid Fire Sponsor: VertiCast   Swipe. Cast. Create.   VertiCast is built for the fast-moving world of vertical entertainment, helping actors and casting professionals connect.   Instagram: @verticastapp   🎥 Guests: Gary & Edmund Entin   Gary & Edmund Entin are writers, directors, and producers whose work spans feature films, television, and vertical storytelling. As co-founders of 90 Degrees Films, they have created 14 vertical series for partners including Fox Drama, A&E, Lifetime, Pocket FM, and MicroHouse. They have also written and directed five feature films, including Geography Club, Sins of Our Youth, A Country Christmas Harmony, and How Sarah Got Her Wings.   Website: www.ninetydegreefilms.com   🎙️ Host: Buzz Leer   Instagram: @buzz_leer   🎬 A Glendale Podcast Studio Production   Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio   📱 Social Media Coordinator   Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano   🎵 Theme Song   Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley   📣 Public Relations   Robb Leer Leer Communications, Inc.   ❤️ Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family.   Host, Buzz Leer

Welcome to The Vertical Buzz, where vertical entertainment finds its voice. This week, host Buzz Leer sits down with British actor, producer, entrepreneur, and technology innovator Richard Cambridge. Richard has spent more than 25 years working across acting, film, television, and entertainment technology, with credits including Gran Turismo, Hollyoaks, The IT Crowd, and Disney's Suspect: The Shooting of John Charles de Menendez. He's also the co-founder of WeAudition and VertiCast, two platforms built around creating opportunity and connecting actors with the people making entertainment. 🎬 Richard's career sits at the intersection of performance and technology, making him uniquely positioned to talk about where entertainment is headed. He and Buzz dig into the explosive growth of vertical storytelling, how VertiCast came to be, and why Richard believes creator-led content is becoming one of the biggest forces in entertainment. 🏎️ Richard also shares some incredible stories from Gran Turismo, including the intense training required to perform real pit stops, what it was like shooting in Dubai, and how his background fixing cars helped prepare him for the role. 🤖 The conversation gets deep on AI, too. Richard believes AI should be viewed as a tool rather than something artists should fear, while keeping human connection at the center of storytelling. They also discuss wearables, the creator economy, paywalls, cliffhangers, and what the future of filmmaking could look like. And because this is The Vertical Buzz, there's plenty of talk about actors, opportunity, mental health, and why Richard believes people shouldn't wait to start creating. In this episode, you will learn: • How curiosity shaped Richard's career in acting and technology • How WeAudition evolved into VertiCast • What Richard saw happening in vertical entertainment before many others • What it took to perform real pit stops for Gran Turismo • How his experience fixing cars unexpectedly helped his acting career • Why Richard believes AI and human performance can coexist • Where creator-led entertainment is headed • How wearables could change the way we consume content • Why paywalls and cliffhangers are so important to vertical storytelling • Why Richard believes everyone should start creating now ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Creative Life Mission 01:11 Show Intro and Guest Reveal 02:51 Bio and Sponsors Roll 04:51 Curiosity and WeAudition Origins 08:22 VertiCast and Vertical Boom 11:08 Acting Roots and Many Hats 20:30 Gran Turismo Set Scale 27:57 Pit Stop Training Chaos 28:27 Snow to Dubai Heat 29:38 Real Life Tire Change 30:11 Hollyoaks Soap Grind 34:16 Cameras and Vertical Workflow 35:48 Cars and Early Fixing Days 38:12 AI vs Human Performance 52:46 Sports and Startup Speed 53:38 AI Future of Filmmaking 55:19 Life Outside Entertainment 57:32 Paywalls and Cliffhangers 01:01:03 Verticast and Partnerships 01:07:24 Wearables and Creator Economy 01:12:08 Legacy Favorites and Farewell 🌬️ 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 plus carbon filtration. Website: AEIRO.co ⚡ Rapid Fire Sponsor: VertiCast Swipe. Cast. Create. VertiCast helps actors, producers, casting professionals, and creators connect in the fast-moving world of vertical entertainment. Instagram: @verticastapp 🎥 Guest: Richard Cambridge Richard Cambridge is a British actor, producer, and technology entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience across film, television, and entertainment technology. His acting credits include Gran Turismo, Hollyoaks, The IT Crowd, and Disney's Suspect: The Shooting of John Charles de Menendez. He is also co-founder of WeAudition and VertiCast, platforms designed to create opportunity and connections for actors and entertainment professionals. Instagram: @richcambridge 🎙️ Host: Buzz Leer Instagram: @buzz_leer 🎬 A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio 📱 Social Media Coordinator Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano 🎵 Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley 📣 Public Relations Robb Leer Leer Communications, Inc. ❤️ Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer

🎙️ This Week on The Vertical Buzz Welcome to The Vertical Buzz, where vertical entertainment finds its voice. This week, host Buzz Leer sits down with one of the breakout stars of vertical entertainment, Jackson Tiller. Jackson's journey to Hollywood was anything but conventional. Growing up in the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina, he initially pursued nursing before making the leap into acting and eventually heading west to Los Angeles. After years of grinding in LA, one unexpected opportunity in 2023 changed the trajectory of his career and introduced him to vertical storytelling. 🎬 Today, Jackson is known for starring in hit verticals including The Diamond Rose, 30 Days of Love, Dracula's Kiss, and From Contract Lover to the Billionaire Bride. He talks openly about the realities of becoming a leading man in this rapidly evolving industry, from the intense pace of vertical production to the passionate fans who have embraced the format. 🤖 Buzz and Jackson also get into one of the biggest issues facing actors right now: AI. They discuss the opportunities and threats AI presents, the possibility of digital replicas, and why Jackson believes real actors and AI can ultimately occupy their own lanes. The conversation also gets personal, with stories about Jackson's childhood, sports injuries, his transition from nursing to acting, dream roles, doing his own stunts, North Carolina pride, and the roles he would absolutely refuse to play. And yes... we settle the North Carolina barbecue debate. 🌶️ In this episode, you will learn: • How Jackson went from nursing student to full-time actor • Why one opportunity changed his Hollywood career • How he discovered vertical storytelling in 2023 • What it takes to become a leading man in vertical entertainment • How vertical acting differs from traditional film and television • Jackson's thoughts on AI and the future of acting • Why he believes AI and live-action entertainment can coexist • What actors should know before entering the vertical industry • The dream roles Jackson hopes to play someday • Why he refuses certain roles on principle • And, of course, where Jackson stands on North Carolina barbecue 🍖 ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Coin Flip to LA 00:16 First Set Reality Check 00:43 AI and Vertical Advice 01:16 Show Intro and Guest Bio 02:40 From Nursing to Acting 05:24 Asheville Roots and Family 09:02 Sports Injuries and Mindset 11:54 Sponsor Break and Casting App 12:54 Theater Class to Hollywood Leap 17:27 LA Hustle to Vertical Breakthrough 39:04 Vertical Scripts Level Up 40:02 AI Pros and Job Fears 40:53 Dream Roles and Stunts 42:24 Advice for Newcomers 43:35 Rapid Fire and Verticast 48:42 North Carolina Roots 50:40 Embarrassing Stage Moment 54:36 Teddy Bear Persona Reveal 01:02:38 Creative Freedom on Set 01:07:35 AI Replicas 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 plus carbon filtration. Website: AEIRO.co ⚡ Rapid Fire Sponsor: VertiCast Swipe. Cast. Create. VertiCast is built for the fast-moving world of vertical entertainment, helping actors, directors, and casting professionals connect. Instagram: @verticastapp 🎥 Guest: Jackson Tiller Jackson Tiller is one of the breakout stars of global vertical entertainment. Originally from North Carolina, Jackson took an unconventional path to Hollywood, beginning his college career in nursing before pursuing acting. After moving to Los Angeles and discovering vertical storytelling in 2023, he quickly established himself as one of the industry's recognizable leading men. His credits include The Diamond Rose, 30 Days of Love, Dracula's Kiss, and From Contract Lover to the Billionaire Bride. Known for his authenticity, emotional depth, and screen presence, Jackson is helping define the next generation of mobile-first entertainment. Instagram: @jacksontiller__ 🎙️ Host: Buzz Leer Instagram: @buzz_leer 🎬 A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio 📱 Social Media Coordinator Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano 🎵 Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley 📣 Public Relations Robb Leer Leer Communications, Inc. ❤️ Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer

🎙️ Welcome to The Vertical Buzz, where vertical entertainment finds its voice. This week, host Buzz Leer welcomes Emmy-nominated director, writer, and producer Scott Brown, founder and CEO of Second Rodeo Productions. With more than 1 billion organic views across projects featuring MrBeast, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Larry King, and major global brands, Scott brings a unique perspective on where digital storytelling and vertical entertainment are headed next. Fresh off speaking at Cannes Lions, Scott explains why verticals are just one part of a much larger scripted digital revolution. 🎬 He shares lessons from Hollywood, the creator economy, and premium digital content while discussing why attention, retention, and authentic storytelling matter more than ever. Buzz and Scott also dive into directing for phone screens 📱, the legacy of Quibi, MrBeast's storytelling philosophy, common mistakes creators make, and why the next generation of entertainment won't fit neatly into one format. 🚀 If you want to understand where Hollywood, creators, and vertical storytelling are all headed, this is an episode you won't want to miss. 💡 In this episode, you will learn: • Why Scott believes scripted digital content is entering a massive new era • How Cannes Lions is beginning to embrace vertical storytelling • What working with MrBeast, Dwayne Johnson, and Larry King taught him • The traits shared by the world's most successful creators • Why verticals succeed by focusing on story before stars • How to direct specifically for mobile audiences • The biggest mistakes new vertical creators make • What Quibi got right before its time • Why retention is the new currency of entertainment • Where Scott believes the industry is headed next ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Digital Scripted Gap 01:06 Show Intro and Guest 02:33 Bio and Sponsors 04:37 Cannes and Creators 07:02 Luck and Microdramas 09:44 Laguna to Film School 14:55 Defining Success 17:10 Top Creator Traits 20:10 Larry King Stories 23:17 Why Vertical Wins 39:36 Verticals As Real Movies 40:55 Directing For Phone Screens 42:28 Hook Fast Retain Viewers 45:00 Quibi Lessons Legacy Vs Digital 47:07 MrBeast Energy Curve Endings 49:20 Common Vertical Mistakes 50:39 Rapid Fire And Verticast Plug 55:59 Shabu Shabu Deep Dive 01:06:14 Directing Prep And Intentions 01:13:16 Future Opportunities And Farewell 🌬️ 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 plus carbon filtration. Website: AEIRO.co ⚡ Rapid Fire Sponsor: VertiCast The casting app built for the speed of vertical storytelling. Instagram: @verticastapp 🎥 Guest: Scott Brown Scott Brown is an Emmy-nominated director, writer, creative producer, and founder of Second Rodeo Productions. His work has generated more than 1 billion organic views through working with MrBeast, Dwayne Johnson, Larry King, Under Armour, Ford, Gatorade, Roku, BET, and many others. Scott has become one of the leading voices connecting Hollywood filmmaking, the creator economy, and premium vertical storytelling. Instagram: @scottbrowndirects 🎙️ Host: Buzz Leer Instagram: @buzz_leer 🎬 A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio 📱 Social Media Coordinator Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano 🎵 Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley 📣 Public Relations Robb Leer Leer Communications, Inc. ❤️ Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer

Welcome to The Vertical Buzz, where vertical entertainment finds its voice. Season 3 begins with one of the brightest stars in vertical entertainment, Brooke Moltrum. Host Buzz Leer sits down with the award-winning actress to talk about her journey from the small town of Camas, Washington, to becoming one of the most recognizable faces in vertical storytelling. Brooke shares how competing at the Jimmy Awards helped launch her career, why theater shaped her as an actress, and how vertical films gave her the confidence to rediscover her love for acting. She also opens up about blocking for the vertical frame, balancing emotional performances, advocating for herself on set, and why the format has become a legitimate new path for actors. Buzz and Brooke also discuss dream roles, musicals, AI, Wes Anderson, Verticon, Broadway, Hollywood, success, producing, and the incredible community that's forming around vertical entertainment. In this episode, you will learn: • How Brooke went from small-town Washington to starring in more than 40 vertical productions • What competing at the Jimmy Awards taught her about performance • Why theater continues to influence her acting style • How vertical filmmaking restored her confidence as an actress • The biggest differences between acting for vertical and traditional film • Why blocking and framing are unique in vertical storytelling • How Brooke approaches emotionally demanding scenes • Why actors should advocate for themselves on set • How AI may impact the future of entertainment • What success means to Brooke beyond awards and recognition Chapters 00:00 Falling for Acting 06:04 Camas Roots and Early Training 08:54 Volleyball vs Theater Choice 12:48 Brigadoon to Jimmy Awards 16:37 Broadway Trip and Webber Bump 20:02 College Transfer and LA Move 25:15 First Vertical Breakthrough 28:59 First Vertical Film Lessons 30:32 Mastering Vertical Blocking 31:46 Vertical vs Horizontal Freedom 32:54 Role That Restored Confidence 37:35 Dream Roles and Musicals 39:08 AI and the Future of Verticals 49:46 Rapid Fire and Hometown Stories 55:53 Wes Anderson Favorites 56:14 Fan Love Moments 57:54 Broadway Hollywood Verticals 59:39 Success Home Advice 01:02:53 Turning Down Roles Boundaries 01:08:33 Producing Directing Next 01:14:51 Origins Favorites Farewell 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 plus carbon filtration. Website: AEIRO.co Rapid Fire Sponsor: VertiCast VertiCast is a casting app built for the speed of vertical storytelling. Actors can create profiles, upload clips, share availability, and make it easier for casting directors and producers to find them quickly. Instagram: @verticastapp Guest: Brooke MoltrumBrooke Moltrum is an award-winning actress based in Los Angeles whose career spans theater, film, and vertical entertainment. Originally from Camas, Washington, she competed at the prestigious Jimmy Awards before launching her professional acting career. Today, Brooke has starred in more than 40 vertical productions, earned Best Actress honors at the 2023 Hollywood Fringe Festival, and received the 2026 Best On-Screen Couple award alongside Nick Ritacco for Love Always Finds Its Way. Known for her emotional authenticity and versatility, she continues to be one of the most recognizable performers in the vertical space. Instagram: @brookemoltrum Host: Buzz Leer Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Coordinator: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song by Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley Public Relations and Media: Robb Leer Leer Communications, Inc. Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer

Welcome to The Vertical Buzz, where vertical entertainment finds its voice. This week, host Buzz Leer sits down with acclaimed director Chris Nguyen Campbell, one of the filmmakers helping redefine what premium vertical storytelling can be. Chris shares his journey from theater and film school to directing for Brat TV before becoming one of the industry's most respected voices in vertical entertainment. He opens up about overcoming bullying, discovering filmmaking, navigating the early "Wild West" days of verticals, and why he believes these stories deserve the same care and cinematic craftsmanship as traditional film and television. Buzz and Chris dive into directing actors, balancing client notes with creative vision, building tension on tight schedules, working with stunts, and why Hollywood is finally beginning to recognize the legitimacy of vertical storytelling. They also discuss production budgets, raising the creative bar, the collaborative spirit of the vertical community, and what the future holds for directors entering the space. In this episode, you will learn: • How Chris Nguyen Campbell found his way from theater to directing • Why the early days of vertical filmmaking felt like the Wild West • How Brat TV prepared him for the fast pace of vertical production • Why he believes vertical stories deserve cinematic quality • How directors balance client feedback while protecting the story • Techniques for creating suspense and emotional tension on tight schedules • Why practical directing matters more than big budgets • How stunt coordination and performance work together • Why Hollywood is beginning to embrace vertical entertainment • What advice Chris gives to the next generation of directors Chapters 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 02:34 Chris Philosophy on Vertical 02:59 Sponsor Shoutouts 03:51 Early Vertical Wild West 06:21 Theater Roots and Bullying 12:22 Film Spark and ArtCenter 23:09 Brat TV to Vertical Shift 28:05 Unexpected Vertical Gig 29:16 Pride Versus Verticals 30:09 Directing Vertical Basics 32:03 Clients Notes Politics 35:31 Hollywood Legitimacy Shift 41:21 Wild West Community Energy 44:17 Directing Process And Clips 56:41 Favorite Shoot Sets 57:21 Budget Versus Reality 58:01 Building Tension Tricks 58:59 Cast And Stunts 01:00:51 Directing Tradeoffs 01:02:07 Rapid Fire Round 01:09:37 Direction And Wrap 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 plus carbon filtration. Website: AEIRO.co Rapid Fire Sponsor: VertiCast VertiCast is a casting app built for the speed of vertical storytelling. Actors can create profiles, upload clips, share availability, and make it easier for casting directors and producers to find them quickly. Instagram: @verticastapp Guest: Chris Nguyen Campbell Chris Nguyen Campbell is a Los Angeles based director known for bringing cinematic storytelling to the world of vertical entertainment. After studying film and design at ArtCenter College of Design and building his directing career with Brat TV, Chris became one of the industry's emerging creative voices, directing acclaimed vertical series while advocating for higher production values and stronger performances. His philosophy is simple: vertical stories deserve the same artistry and care as any other form of filmmaking. Instagram: @chriscampbellfilm Host: Buzz Leer Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Coordinator: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song by Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley Public Relations and Media: Robb Leer Leer Communications, Inc. Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer

Welcome to The Vertical Buzz, where vertical entertainment finds its voice. This week, we're on location at the legendary Sunset Las Palmas Studios in Hollywood, California, for our first ever episode filmed outside Glendale Podcast Studio. Host Buzz Leer sits down with Knockout Shorts co-founders Chris Crema and Matthew Ko to explore how they're helping shape the next generation of premium vertical storytelling. Together, they discuss why they left traditional Hollywood to build something new, how Knockout Shorts was born, and why they believe the future of entertainment will be built by creators willing to take risks. The conversation goes beyond filmmaking as Chris and Matt give Buzz an exclusive tour of their brand new standing sets inside Sunset Las Palmas Studios, showing how productions can shoot multiple locations in one space while maintaining a premium cinematic look. They also discuss elevating production quality, empowering creators, bridging traditional Hollywood with vertical entertainment, and why the industry is still in its earliest chapters. In this episode, you will learn: • How Chris Crema and Matthew Ko founded Knockout Shorts • Why they believe vertical storytelling is still in the early innings • How standing sets dramatically improve production efficiency • What it takes to build premium vertical productions • Why creators should continue pushing creative boundaries • How Knockout Shorts develops and finances original projects • Why Hollywood and vertical entertainment are beginning to merge • How practical production design can create dozens of unique locations • Why raising standards benefits the entire vertical ecosystem • What the future of premium short-form storytelling looks like Chapters 00:00 The Vertical Buzz on Location 01:02 Vertical Storytelling Future 02:24 On Location Kickoff 03:59 Meet Chris and Matt 07:02 How Knockout Shorts Began 13:44 Building at Sunset Las Palmas 16:51 Recycled Sets Glow Up 23:15 Tipping Point and Mission 27:57 Projects and Showreel 33:13 Studio Tour Begins 43:03 Courtroom Set Versatility 44:21 Gavel Moment Guilty Verdict 44:57 Cheers Style Bar Set 46:07 Pre Lit Rig Explained 48:57 Analog Lighting Control Box 50:34 Apartment Set Walkthrough 55:48 Vertical Budget Misconceptions 58:49 Verticast Rapid Fire 01:10:22 Raising Standards And Bridging Worlds 01:12:58 Closing Vision And Thanks 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 plus carbon filtration. Website: AEIRO.co Rapid Fire Sponsor: VertiCast VertiCast is a casting app built for the speed of vertical storytelling. Actors can create profiles, upload clips, share availability, and make it easier for casting directors and producers to find them quickly. Instagram: @verticastapp Guests: Chris Crema & Matthew Ko Chris Crema is the co-founder of Knockout Shorts and an award-winning producer whose background spans independent film, documentaries, and premium vertical storytelling. After producing numerous vertical series, he partnered with Matthew Ko to build Knockout Shorts with a mission of raising creative standards and empowering filmmakers in the fast-growing short-form space. Instagram: @chris_crema Matthew Ko is the co-founder and CEO of Knockout Shorts. Before launching the company, he worked with Scott Rudin Productions, A24, Ace Entertainment, and The Freddy Wexler Company, developing projects across film and television. Today, he is focused on bridging traditional Hollywood storytelling with premium vertical entertainment. Instagram: @matthew_k0 Knockout Shorts Instagram: @knockout.shorts Host: Buzz Leer Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Coordinator: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song by Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley Public Relations and Media: Robb Leer Leer Communications, Inc. Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer