Now Open to New Actors

Stop Scrolling Past Roles
That Were Made for You

Vertical dramas are casting thousands of actors every month across ReelShort, DramaBox, ShortMax, and dozens of new platforms. Most actors never hear about these roles until they are already filled. That changes today.

✓ 500+ actors on the list
✓ Paid roles only
✓ No agent required
The Reality

This Industry Went From Zero to $8 Billion in Under Three Years. Most Actors Still Have No Idea.

Here is what nobody talks about at acting school or in your Facebook casting groups:

Right now, platforms like ReelShort, DramaBox, and ShortMax are producing hundreds of vertical drama series every single year. ReelShort alone is making 200+ international productions annually. Fox Entertainment committed to over 200 titles for MyDrama. And new platforms are launching every few months.

Lead actors on vertical drama sets are pulling in $1,000 to $1,500 a day. Day players start at $250. An entire series shoots in about 10 days. Book a lead, wrap in under two weeks, collect a real paycheck, and move on to the next one.

But here is the catch: most of these roles get filled before they ever hit the big casting sites. By the time a role shows up on your usual platforms, the shortlist is already done. The actors who consistently book these gigs are the ones who hear about them first.

That is exactly why we built Vertical Actors.

$8B+
Global vertical drama market in 2025
400+
New series per year from top platforms
$1,500
What lead actors earn per day on set
What You Get

Everything You Need to Start Booking Vertical Roles

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Early Casting Alerts

Get notified about new roles on ReelShort, DramaBox, ShortMax, MyDrama, GoodShort, and every new platform as they ramp up production. We send these out before the roles hit the public boards.

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Audition Tips Built for Vertical

Vertical dramas move fast. You get 1 to 3 minutes per episode to hook a viewer. The acting style, the pacing, the way you use your face in a vertical frame... it is all different from traditional TV. We break down what casting directors actually want to see.

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Industry Intel

Which platforms are ramping up production? Which ones just raised funding? Where is the money going? We track the entire vertical drama space so you can make smarter decisions about where to focus your energy.

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Connection to VerticalDramaJobs.com

As a Vertical Actors member, you get priority access to job listings on VerticalDramaJobs.com, the dedicated job board for the vertical and micro drama industry. Actor roles, writer gigs, crew positions... all in one place.

"
I spent two years grinding through unpaid indie projects and background work. Then I found out about vertical dramas. In my first month, I booked a lead on a ReelShort series and made more in 10 days than I did the entire previous year doing background. The volume of work in this space is real. If you are an actor and you are not paying attention to this, you are leaving money on the table.
MT
Marcus T.
Vertical Drama Actor, Los Angeles
Common Questions

What Actors Want to Know

How much do actors actually get paid?

Day players typically start at $250 per day. Lead actors regularly negotiate $1,000 to $1,500 per day. Some actors who have built a following on these platforms have pushed their rates even higher. A full series usually shoots in 7 to 10 days, so the math adds up quickly.

Do I need to be SAG-AFTRA?

Not right now. The majority of vertical drama productions are non-union, which actually makes this space more accessible if you are a newer or non-union actor. SAG-AFTRA is working on agreements for the vertical space, but both union and non-union actors can and do work here.

What is a vertical drama exactly?

A short-form series filmed in portrait mode (vertical, like your phone screen) with episodes that run 1 to 3 minutes each. A full series might have 60 to 100 episodes. Distributed on apps like ReelShort, DramaBox, and ShortMax. Think of it as a soap opera built for your phone.

What kind of roles are available?

Everything from leads to day players to background. The most common archetypes include the CEO love interest, the revenge protagonist, the secret billionaire, the supernatural alpha, and the underdog who rises. Casting directors look for strong screen presence and the ability to convey emotion quickly.

Can I do this outside of Los Angeles?

Yes. While a lot of production is based in LA, the industry is expanding to other cities. Some platforms accept self-tape auditions, and as the market grows, more productions are popping up in Atlanta, New York, and beyond. Our alerts cover opportunities across multiple locations.

Is this actually free?

100%. You sign up, you get on the list, and we send you casting alerts, audition tips, and industry updates. No hidden fees. No paywall. We run this as part of the VerticalDramaJobs.com network, and our goal is to connect talent with opportunities in this space.

The Roles Are Out There.
The Question Is Whether You Hear About Them in Time.

Join Vertical Actors and get casting alerts, audition breakdowns, and industry intel delivered to your inbox. For free.