How to work in vertical drama
Fast shoots and short bookings.Here is how the work runs.Know it before you audition.
What vertical drama is
A scripted series shot in 9:16 portrait and watched on a phone. A season can run 60 to 90 episodes of 60 to 90 seconds each, and a full series shoots in roughly 7 to 10 days. You might shoot 8 to 12 episodes in a single day.
- Lead. In every episode, with the highest pay.
- Supporting. Recurring characters like rivals and parents.
- Day player. Named roles with fewer scenes.
- Extras. Background work, sometimes with direction.
The union question
In October 2025 SAG-AFTRA announced a dedicated Verticals Agreement for serialized 9:16 micro dramas with budgets under $300,000. On signatory sets you get guaranteed minimums, pension and health contributions, and overtime protections. Many productions are still non-union, and there you negotiate on your own.
Even on a non-union set, use the Verticals Agreement rates as your baseline when you talk money.
What sells
Mafia romance and billionaire romance pay the best, because they bring in the most viewer revenue. Fantasy and supernatural is catching up.
What sets your pay
- The platform and the production company.
- The genre.
- Your credits, especially in the same subgenre.
- Union status.
- Lead or supporting.
- Where the shoot is.
- How well you negotiate.
Get pay data by email.
Day rates and industry news.