If you’re a screenwriter having trouble getting Hollywood’s doors to open for you, there’s a brand-new portal you may want to try. It’s vertical. 9:16, to be precise. And it’s perfect for people with really short attention spans.
Vertical dramas—short-form scripted series designed specifically to be viewed on smartphones—are the new “big thing” in global entertainment. Also called “micro-dramas,” these hyper-caffeinated serials for the ADHD crowd were birthed in China and have since spread, COVID-like, throughout the globe, capturing audiences—primarily female—in the tens of millions. And now they’ve come to America.
And they need writers.
We’re not talking about TikTok content shot in someone’s bedroom or backyard. Micro-dramas are professionally produced series featuring real actors, made by professional crews, and increasingly supported by real money. Apps like ReelShort, DramaBox, and MyDrama now deliver these shows to audiences that are expanding exponentially even as we speak.
Vertical dramas aren’t just long-form movies or TV shows chopped into one- to three-minute segments. Instead, each episode is carefully structured to capture attention and promote binge-watching. Episodes typically open with a problem or conflict and end with a cliffhanger: a moment of physical jeopardy, a head-spinning reveal, a life-changing question, a stunning plot twist. Pacing is relentless. Characters are introduced in seconds. Stakes are immediate and emotional. Plots zig and zag like a Formula 1 driver who’s downed six margaritas.
As befits the demands of the medium, stories told as micro-dramas tend to be broad, wild, melodramatic, and largely devoid of subtlety. Forget your Syd Field three-act structure. Abandon your Joseph Campbell hero’s journey. Save the Cat? Let it die. In the world of vertical drama, tension is turned up to 11—all the time.
Due to the format’s physical restrictions, stories are mostly dialogue-driven and favor close-ups; there’s little room for physical action or even conventional two-shots. Preferred genres include romance, melodrama/revenge thrillers, family dramas (especially those involving inheritance, power, and secrets), urban fantasy/supernatural romance, and workplace power dramas. Not on the list: broad comedy, hard sci-fi, subtle character studies, and heavy action. (As noted above, the audience is primarily female.)
Like early television, drive-in theater fare, and even Hollywood B-movies of old, the keyword behind the micro-drama boom is cheap. While a story may be told over 50 to 100 episodes, a full season is often shot in as little as 7 to 14 days at a cost of just $100,000 to $250,000 per series. This is achieved by writing for small casts, limited locations, and avoiding large-scale physical action. (Characters can throw a punch—but not a hand grenade.) Casts, crews—and writers—are often non-union (for now).
If this sounds like your cup of Red Bull, how do you break in?
It may be easier than you think—if you can prove you can do the work.
And no agent is required.
First, immerse yourself in the medium. Visit ReelShort, DramaBox, ShortTV, or any other micro-drama platform and watch as many episodes, in as many genres, as your nervous system can withstand. You can’t write micro-dramas until you feel them in your bones.
Next, prepare a writing sample. A minimum package includes five to ten micro-episodes of 60 to 90 seconds each. Start with a strong hook in Episode 1 and make sure there’s a cliffhanger at the end of each segment. If your sample reads like a traditional pilot, it won’t land.
Now, go where vertical drama hires—not where Hollywood does. Visit online job portals like LinkedIn, Indeed, or Glassdoor (search: “vertical drama writer” or “short-form scriptwriter”). Don’t forget international boards; many of these companies are global or China-based.
If you’re not getting traction, shoot your own proof-of-concept package. This should consist of three to five episodes. Be prepared to spend $5K–$15K for a low-budget sample, or $20K–$75K for something more competitive. Build your own audience by distributing your work on TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and/or Instagram Reels. Track views, retention, and engagement.
If your project hits, producers may license what you’ve already produced, hire you to create or adapt material, or commission similar content.
Even if you land professional work, don’t expect big paydays. Again, the watchword here is cheap. But if you succeed, there’s a major upside: speed. Chances are, you’ll be watching your finished micro-drama online within weeks of writing it—as opposed to months or even years for traditional TV shows and feature films.
And who knows? If Ridley Scott, Michael Bay, Zack Snyder, David Fincher, and Antoine Fuqua could launch their careers making 30-second TV commercials, three-minute micro-dramas might just be your ticket to the Big Show. – Allen B. Ury