Let's talk about Verticals

🎙️ New Fantalk Episode✨

This time, I’m joined by the lovely Brittany @brittanynicoleanderson who is still fairly new to the Vertical world – she entered this universe in February 2025 🚪📱.
On her Instagram @drama_ink_diaries you’ll find not only reviews, but also interviews with Vertical creatives and plenty of other exciting content 🎥💬.

Brittany’s favorites? Werewolves 🐺, vampires 🧛‍♀️, and fantasy stories ✨, always with a touch of romance 💕. 
In this episode, we talk about what makes her skip a Vertical, or even turn it off again ❌, and we laugh (and cringe 😅) about some of the absurd and over-the-top moments we’ve both encountered. Duration: 01:10:01

A new Vertical year has officially begun, which made it the perfect moment for the ladies and myself to take a look back at the month of December.
Together with

Aline @i.love.verticals
Dalia @verticalfilmslover
Shikha Dia @verticalviewweekly
and
Caitlyn @verticait

we revisited a month packed with Verticals — and plenty to talk about.

December brought a wave of Christmas Verticals 🎄, though we couldn’t help but debate whether some of them truly deserved that label. 

As always, we also discussed our regular categories:

🎭 Actor/Actress of...

🎙️ New Podcast Episode Alert! 🐶🍳🎬

For this episode, I met up online with Hunter Kohl @hunter.exp.edition , the New York–based actor who happens to be just as much of a dog lover as I am 🐕❤️. He shares the story of how he got his very first dog — and why, at the time, he was convinced it almost led to his parents’ divorce 😅.

In his latest vertical cooking project, Hunter plays a top-tier chef 👨‍🍳✨ — which, of course, made me curious about his real-life cooking skills. Let’s just say: according to him, his oven has been used to store shoes, clothes, and various ot...

Today’s episode is enriched by the wonderful actress and producer Abigail Stanton @abigailstantonThanks to director Matt Macedo @mattmacedo she found her way into the world of Verticals — and with her very first role as a witch in a werewolf vertical, she instantly enchanted everyone. Since then, she’s become an indispensable part of the vertical scene. With her reddish hair, she’s often cast in slightly dark or villainous roles — which she actually enjoys tremendously 🖤✨

While male actors are happily dropping their towels or proposing marriage to their scene partners, her most common task in Verticals tends to be kidnappin...

🎙️ One last Fantalk episode for this year is ready to go! 🎙️
Today’s episode features the wonderful Dalia from Verticalfilmslover ✨ @verticalfilmslover
The Vertical Drama critic is both a member of the #verticalviewcrew and a regular guest on the monthly recap episodes.

In this episode, the two of us sat down for an in-depth chat about how she found her way into the Vertical World 🌍 and how it ultimately led her to creating her own review platform.

📊 Dalia has already watched over 1,600 Verticals, keeps a meticulously organized list, and regularly publishes reviews on her Instagram profile. She’s devel...

In this episode, we step back behind the camera and spotlight another outstanding female director: Paige Compton @dudette.director 

From an early age, Paige knew she wanted to be part of the film world—and she pursued that goal without hesitation. Her path led her through the U.S. Army and film school, where she spent the last four years of her military service working as an Audio Visual Director for the White House, supporting former President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden 🇺🇸🎥

After earning her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Film and Television, the film ind...

In this episode, I talk to the actress Kristine Kay Larsen @kristinekaylarsen , who was born and raised in Denmark before packing her bags right after finishing school and moving straight to Los Angeles 🇩🇰✈️🇺🇸.
From an early age, she knew she wanted to live and work in the U.S. — preferably as an actress. Said and done 💥: within just 1.5 years, she built the foundation she needed at an acting school before first hearing about the world of “Verticals” in 2023 from Eric Guilmette @erictaylorguilmette 
After her first role in a werewolf vertical, she initially felt exhausted 😴 — but when another vertical role came along, she was instan...

Some ⚠️ Irony & sarcasm warning! ⚠️ 😉

This episode comes with a high risk of sore laughing muscles — seriously, I don’t remember the last time I laughed this hard during a recording. So please don’t take everything we talk about too seriously… a lot of it is very much intentional. 😏

I sat down with Cayman Cardiff @caymancardiff to discuss the truly important questions in life. Just in time for the holidays, we’re debating whether Santa Claus can (and does) visit countries without snow — and if so, how on earth he pulls that off 🎅🌍. 
We also tackle the fundamental question of whether...

🎬 Another Vertical actor joins me on the podcast!
 This time, I’m talking to Patric Palkins, who took a very different career path before entering the Vertical world. For 17 years, Patric was a professional ballet dancer 🩰 — trained in classical ballet and performing on some of the world’s biggest stages 🌍✨.
He shares how he got into classical ballet, what it felt like to dance on major international stages, and the very special feeling that ballet gave him as an artist and a person.We also talk about why he decided to hang up his ballet shoes and trade that professional...

🎄 Christmas is just around the corner!

I sat down with Mark Pontarelli @markjpont for a cozy little pre-holiday chat, where we talk about when and how he celebrates Christmas 🎅, his acting goals for the new year 🎭, and we look back on everything the past few months had to offer.

Since — aside from one shoot in the UK 🇬🇧 — Mark hasn’t had any other shoots in Europe yet, we start brainstorming together: what kind of shooting project would actually make sense, which Vertical title would be the perfect fit, and why Nick Ritacco @nick.ritacco and Michael Vaccaro @michaelvaccaro might wa...

It’s finally happening – and I couldn’t be happier to welcome a true Vertical legend as my guest: Kasey Esser 🎬✨
With his incredible versatility as a person (as we quickly discover, there’s a Business Kasey, an Acting Kasey, a Producing Kasey, a Fitness Kasey, and many more), he has already aimed high in life – and reached many of those goals. And trust me: the next big plans are already in motion 🚀

We chat about his journey, which actually started before acting, with the opening of a fitness studio in LA 💪🇺🇸, and how that eventually led him into the vertical space...

Scripts are a big deal in the vertical world 🎬 — and let’s be honest: from an audience point of view, some things in verticals just make us go “wait… what?” 🤨😂 That’s exactly why I’m extra excited to chat with Alina Averianova @alinavestory today!

If anyone knows their way around scripts, it’s her — Alina is a Script Supervisor in the vertical space 📝✨. Is the job really as fancy as it sounds? And what does a script supervisor actually do all day? She spills all the tea in this episode ☕😉

And of course, I had to finally get answers to some long-s...

In this episode, we’re joined by pure Italian power 🇮🇹🔥

The wonderful Ramona from Vertical Lessons met up with me spontaneously for a conversation – and what a conversation it was!She’s also the creative force behind the intro of this podcast 🎶 and the background music for my Sneak Peek videos🎥✨.

Ramona is still relatively new to the Vertical space – she’s been addicted to Verticals only since March 2025 📱💥. But don’t let that fool you: since then, she has watched over 500 Verticals 😱📈! Together with her brother, she runs the platform Vertical Lessons.

Their mission?
Not only to write reviews 📝...

🎉 @i.love.verticals just turned ONE! And that alone was the perfect reason to celebrate with a special fan episode featuring Aline.

A Werewolf Vertical was her gateway into the industry — and since then, she’s become an essential part of the community. 🐺✨
On her page, she creates seasonal story-driven Verticals (currently her Advent Vertical 🎄) and shares open, honest reviews you can truly rely on. Thanks to her “Get to Know” category, the audience also gets to meet and understand many Vertical actors a little better. 🎬💬
Her AI-generated chibis give her page a unique, adorable signature style. And I’m especially...

November is behind us, and once again there were tons of Verticals to watch — which means there’s plenty to talk about in this month’s Monthly Recap! 🎬✨
Joining me are Dalia @verticalfilmslover , Caitlyn @verticaitand Brittany @drama_ink_diaries , and together we dive into who impressed us the most this month, who left us a bit disappointed, and which app delivered the best Verticals overall. 📱⭐
We’re also introducing a brand-new category to the recap: 🎭 The Side Role Actor/Actress of the Month! From now on, we want to shine a brighter spotlight on supporting actors — and soon we’ll also highlight th...

Giovanni DeVal joins me in this episode, bringing along a touch of Italian flair 🇮🇹 (even if only ancestrally 😉).
We chat about his first experiences in film 🎬 and why, back then, he simply wasn’t “dead enough” for his brother’s project 😄.I also remind Gio that he owes his school principal a long-overdue thank-you 🍎 — after all, she indirectly helped set the stage for his acting career 🎭.He tells mewhat he loved doing as a child 👦✨,what he dreamed of becoming one day 💭,why he gets up so early every morning ⏰and what his typical start to the day looks like 🌅.We also talk about his breakfast p...

In this episode, I’m joined by Tina Ann Brock @tinaannbrock . The New York–based actress has spent many successful years shining in all kinds of acting fields. She’s an award-winning American stage, film, and television character actress, known for playing fun, eccentric, and powerful characters — always “poised, precise, with a dash of wacky.” ✨🎭

She brings this amazing versatility to her vertical roles as well: from the evil stepmother 👀, to a queen 👑, a loving and caring mom 🤱, or even a good witch 🧙‍♀️ — there’s truly no role she can’t embody perfectly.

Tina shares how her mother sparked her love for dressing...

Intimacy — a topic people rarely love to talk about in public 😅 …but my guest and I go all in for a full hour! 🎙️❤️
This week, I’m joined by Intimacy Coordinator Karie Donnovan. @valleyintimacypro Thanks to her work, actors feel safe and comfortable even in the most delicate and intimate scenes on set 😌🎬
And trust me — you wouldn’t believe all the things an intimacy coordinator is actually responsible for! 👀✨
Karie shares how she prepares for the many different “situations” that can come up during vertical shooting 📹😉, where boundaries and challenges around intimacy can appear, and what the emotional world on set really looks lik...

In today’s episode, I’m chatting with a super creative mind in the vertical world — Director and Actor Danny Farber. This episode is bursting with creativity! 🎨✨
 We take the idea of the Criminal Vertical Series — a concept I originally developed with Kirby Ellwood @kirby.ellwood — and elevate it with some fantastic new twists. Plus, I give Danny a little tip on how he could hide his signature Easter Egg in a pirate-themed vertical. 🏴‍☠️🐣
We also talk about what makes filming in Europe — especially in Istanbul — so special for Danny, and what improvements he wishes to see for crews and especially for female...

In this episode, you’ll hear a super fun and down-to-earth conversation between two Bachelor of Arts grads 🎓😄. No fancy academic talk here—just real talk about the vertical content world, packed with charm and humor 💬✨.
During what I like to call a “waffle talk” 🧇 (okay… I was the only one actually eating waffles), Buddy shares how he’s been trying to bring more acting into his life alongside his full-time job 🎭💼.
We also chat about which sport verticals he’d totally rock 🏋️‍♂️🤸‍♂️ and why he thinks he’s absolutely not the guy for a basketball vertical 🏀😂.
He tells me what he’s grateful for on set 🎥🙏, what he’d love t...

In this new episode, I welcome the wonderful Kirby Ellwood @kirby.ellwood , with whom I was able to have a very refreshing and humorous conversation. 🤩 With an impressive 27 lead roles, she is a highly sought-after vertical actress. 🎬 She reveals to me that she has actually never starred in a werewolf vertical and has never filmed a vertical production in Europe. Why? We wonder… 🤔🌍

Since she’s a beer lover and would love to visit Munich for Oktoberfest one day, I give her a little crash course on it 🍺🎡, and we also talk about the things she considers essential for always spreading g...

In this new podcast episode, I finally meet—so it seems—the brother I’ve wished for my entire life. Lukas Silva and I discover so many similarities in all kinds of areas that we’re convinced we must be related.
He tells me how, at the beginning of 2024, he took his first step into the Vertical World, how he then found himself in the right place at the right time to land a fantastic lead role, where he has been able to travel thanks to vertical shoots, and what his experiences have been like.Curious what kind of characte...

🎙️ New Episode Out Now!
In this episode, I’m chatting with Bryan Mangam, a New York–based actor known for his edgy and eccentric rolesacross feature films, TV series, and commercial projects. Beyond his on-screen work, Bryan is also a writer and producer with plenty of creative stories to tell.We dive into the challenges of the vertical world, why it’s not always easy for audiences to navigate the platform jungle, and what kind of changes and innovations might be needed — especially when it comes to genres and storytelling formats.Curious to hear which role Bryan found the most weird an...

In today’s episode I’m chatting with Carin @carinsmolinski — a creative powerhouse who’s seen a whole lot of the world. After spending some time living in Japan and exploring different corners of the globe, she eventually made her way back home to Canada — and that’s where she first discovered the world of Verticals.
After being involved in more than 20 Verticals, Carin decided it was time to tell her own story. She picked up the pen, wrote her very first Vertical script with a fresh and exciting storyline, and then took things even further by directing it herself — al...

I was so happy to have Declan Clifford as a guest on my podcast – in my opinion, he really deserves to be more in the spotlight 😉.
In this episode, he doesn’t have to stand in anyone’s shadow, because the stage is all his today!We chat about how he feels being “the eternal runner-up,” and what it was like to finally play his first leading role in the Vertical “Pool Boy.”Declan has played a wide variety of characters over the years — including quite a few villains — and he tells me how he prepares for those roles (because, as we all kn...

In this episode, we’re heading to the other side of the world - all the way to Australia to meet Lisa! Many of you might know her as Vertical Drama Queen on Instagram, but she’s also the founder and driving force behind Team Cayman, the fan page dedicated to Cayman Cardiff and Daniel Jongma Fandom. 

Lisa is also a bit of a “victim” of the platforms’ clever marketing strategies — that’s how she ended up in the world of verticals and has been more or less stuck there ever since (just like so many other fans!).

We chat...

THE LADIES AND I ARE BACK 😎 in a XXL Version!

With a fresh Recap for October and a special segment for Halloween where we tell you our Top 3 of werwolf/vampire ones 🧛‍♂️🐺
Do you want to hear the collective opinions of a few fans at once? Unvarnished, open, honest, and direct?
Then this monthly review episode is just right for you! I'll be reviewing the month of October with five ladies who are active in the vertical world.

@verticalviewweekly
@verticalfilmslover
@verticait
@realreeldrama
@i.love.verticals

We talk about verticals, apps...

Sandi, one of the admis of the Eric Guilmette Fandom, joins me for an episode to talk about, among other things, the officially crowned legend Eric Guilmette. We also discuss why she started this fandom, what her experiences with the audience crowd have been like, and what the day-to-day business of running such a fandom actually entails.
She also tells me when and how she first encountered the vertical space, if she felt into also in the Marketing trap, as well as how these verticals occasionally help her in some way in her daily life.
Are you wondering...

John Henry Richardson is a veteran in the vertical world. He's been involved in verticals as an actor almost from the very beginning, always playing a (grand)father role. He enriches the verticals with his sympathy, authenticity, and genuine wisdom, and our conversation today is just as humorous, diverse, and interesting.
When he first becomes aware of verticals in Vietnam, he knows full well that this new format will sooner or later captivate the rest of the world. 
Why does he love filming verticals so much? What he's experienced in his long acting career? And why he can't d...

Given her young age, Cailin Peluso is probably one of the most pregnant women in such a short time in the Vertical Space. After all, she now boasts a proud 22 children. :-)
After her first role at the age of three, it became clear to her that her goals lay squarely in leading roles, ideally in Hollywood. So, she didn't hesitate for long and, after graduating from high school, moved to Hollywood on her own and without any concrete plans for her future acting career.
After initially finding the whole thing a little weird when she entered the...

The best cure for a bad day? - Definitely Adam Chisnall! His Instagram Reels consistently delight countless people and bring a smile to their faces. The same goes for his appearances in various verticals. In countless supporting roles, he embodies everything from a serious assistant to a humorous supporter.
He would be the perfect lead for a wonderful comedy or parody vertical. It's never boring with him, and this podcast episode is no exception. We chat about his journey through stand-up comedy, his career in acting, and other artistic experiences.
Why is he the Kim Kardashian of the...

It's time for the next episode of Fantalk and for some @realreeldrama in my Podcast 😁 
There is no one better to do this than Meagan herself.
She landed in this vertical world via a somewhat sad path and has now truly established herself, having seen more than a thousand verticals. Her manner, just like her reviews, is open and honest and that's what makes her so likeable.
What we think about various things as an audience, what we sometimes find ridiculous and how Gio De Val @giodeval and Nick (F)Ritacco @nick.ritacco come to a personal decl...

In this episode I welcome the actress Miah Green, who, as we discover, could be my Vertical daughter 😉 The young artist tells me openly and honestly what she loves about this Vertical Space, how it is to find her way around in intimate scenes at such a young age and what exactly it is that makes her so addicted to verticals.
She tells me how she feels about having to learn so much text and what other challenges she occasionally encounters in the Vertical World.
A big point at our chat is the very important thing in life - F...

Zane Claudio is known as the bad guy in the vertical scene. The super-likable and always-smiling actor has so far appeared in almost exclusively evil roles. This naturally means that he has almost perfected the character of the evil in verticals.
What does Zane himself think about almost always playing the role of a villain? Wouldn't he prefer to play the highly sought-after and popular billionaire CEO in a romantic drama?
And what's it like when you spend all day playing the villain on set and then have to learn the lines for the next day? Is it...

Do you want to hear the collective opinions of a few fans at once? Unvarnished, open, honest, and direct?
Then this monthly review episode is just right for you! I'll be reviewing the month of September with six ladies who are active in the vertical world.
@verticalviewweekly
@verticalfilmslover
@verticait
@realreeldrama
@verticaldramaqueen
@i.love.verticals
We talk about verticals, apps, actors and actresses, and much more. Also about the good and bad things that have occupied us this month, speak openly about what we as an audience no longer want and where we...

Dan Lowenstein is a multi - award winning Film director known for his dynamic and thought provoking style. Dan has worked with an eclectic group of creatives from well known comedians to chart topping pop stars. But Dan's real passion is in narrative story telling, he is drawn to moments of realism and is inspired by everyday naturalist events. He comes from a professional dance background and uses his physical knowledge to help tell stories in innovative ways using a selection of powerful cinematic tools.
After initially being respectful of vertical filmmaking, he says he has settled into it...

Caitlyn aka Verticait joins me as a guest. She's only been active in the vertical space since this year, but she's all the more intense for it. With her reviews, she openly and honestly evaluates verticals, and that's exactly what we do in this podcast episode too!
We talk bluntly about what's going wrong in some verticals, where we definitely still see weaknesses in them, and what we sometimes find simply ridiculous. But we also discuss the serious side of the business, talk about absolute no-gos, and our secret favorites for "Vertical of the Year."
How many platforms...

Actress Molly Anderson is one of the few in the Vertical World who plays both -  the kind, loving wife and the villain who can't be trusted in any way. A woman with many facets and stories.
We talk completely honestly and unvarnished about life as an actress in the Vertical World. Whether life is truly Hollywood-like with glitz and glamour or sometimes deals more with real (unpleasant) facts.
Would you like to know where Molly sees difficulties in producing and publishing verticals? What figures are important in this regard? - And as always, it’s all about mon...

In today's episode, I'm sitting down with Thomas King for a chat about the Vertical world. He immersed himself in this universe relatively early on and has, as a result, had a few experiences with it.
We talk openly and honestly about, among other things, which stories we both find a bit superfluous and overused, and why we'd both like to see a Western Vertical.
How many towel drops has he had in a Vertical career? And why does he see himself as a potential Oscar candidate? - You can find out all this and much more in...

In today's episode, I'm joined by an award-winning director and producer - Matt Macedo! The official Bachelor of Fine Arts in Filmmaking knew early on that his place was behind the camera and that he could create wonderful things for entertainment with his self-described "daydreams."
However, the director, considered by many to be a "werewolf producer," has already brought so many more wonderful stories in the vertical world from script to life and has even written a few scripts of his own that he dreams of bringing to life.
He talks about his experiences on set, as well...

What would the verticals be without the audience and fans? - Exactly - Nothing! That's why I also conduct conversations with fans.
First up is Bianca, founder of the ua_actors_and_actresses_fandom. A Fandom for all the actors from Ukraine. She has made it her mission to become a voice for the actors who, despite everything, produce verticals under the most difficult conditions during the war.
She puts a lot of work into her daily life, which she does with love and passion, ensuring that the actors in Ukraine are seen and heard.
What the...

Today, my guest is the young actress Haylie Hansen from Vancouver, Canada.
She's an actress in both - the horizontal and vertical worlds. In today's episode, she explains why she hasn't filmed a vertical since February, why she is currently not allowed to and why she's definitely hoping to return to those sets.
We also talk about what it's like to film verticals with an actor as her partner and cope with this stressful time together.
Check it out and tune in.
And don't forget to like and share!

In this episode the fantastic actor and writer Michael Vaccaro joins me for a Talk. A talk about dreams, visions, lifetime goals and the future of the Verticals we assume.
Also we are talking about the childhood dream to be a performer in the middle of New York City and why his mother played a key role in his career.
Want to know which countries in Europe you should definitely visit? Michael Vaccaro has some exclusive travel tips in this podcast episode that you shouldn't miss ;-)
Why I'm becoming his German PA? - That's a whole...

Let's get started!
And there couldn't be anyone better suited to start with than Roberta Sparta! Producer and owner of Sparta Productions (https://www.instagram.com/spartaproductions_/). She enlightens me about the people needed behind the camera to bring a vertical script to life. We also talk about what we think about so many platforms and a few scripts.
Wishes for the future of Verticals? - Roberta tells me hers from the perspective of a producer.
We're also making a deal in case I win the lottery. What's that? - Check it out and Tune in.
...

Welcome to my podcast "Let's talk about Verticals" 
Before we begin with all the great conversations, and all the great guests, I wanted to introduce myself as the host, so you know who you're dealing with here. :-)
You wanna know some (Fun)Facts about me and why I'm doing this Podcast? - You should definitely tune in!