Welcome to The Vertical Buzz, where vertical entertainment finds its voice. This week, host Buzz Leer sits down with Troy Brookins, actor, producer, former athlete, and one of the driving forces behind MicroHouse Films. Troy shares the origin story of MicroHouse Films, the new vertical platform he is building with Taye Diggs, Autumn Federici, and Shelby Stone, and why their mission is to create a space where underdogs, creators, and fresh voices can bring premium vertical stories to life. Buzz and Troy also talk about the upcoming MicroHouse Films app, the paywall model, the launch of Tides of Temptation, and how vertical storytelling can connect features, spin-offs, and mobile-first audiences in new ways. They also get into Troy’s Cleveland roots, faith, football journey, NFL stint with the Cleveland Browns, and how sports prepared him for acting, producing, and leadership. Plus: behind-the-scenes stills from the MicroHouse Films originals, casting cameos, AI, premium talent, VertiCast Rapid Fire, and Troy’s bigger vision for the future of storytelling. In this episode, you will learn:• How Troy Brookins helped launch MicroHouse Films• Why MicroHouse Films is focused on creators, underdogs, and premium vertical stories• How Troy, Taye Diggs, Autumn Federici, and Shelby Stone came together• Why vertical content is built for today’s mobile audience• How the MicroHouse Films app and paywall model will work• How Troy’s Cleveland roots, faith, and football background shaped his mindset• What Troy learned from his sports journey and NFL experience• How Tides of Temptation connects to a feature film• Why speed, quality, and teamwork matter in vertical production• How premium talent and AI may shape the future of the space Chapters00:00 Welcome and Introductions00:27 Troy Brookins Bio Highlights01:25 Sponsors and Housekeeping02:02 Microhouse Origin Story06:12 Why Vertical Content Wins07:54 Quality and Mission Vision10:00 App Launch and Paywall Model11:00 Cleveland Roots and Faith12:31 Sports Journey and NFL Stint19:31 Microhouse Originals and BTS Stills24:15 Owners Cameo Casting25:27 Hair Makeup Home Gym26:20 Meet The Cast27:38 Launch Date Signup28:41 Vertical vs. Traditional Dev30:24 Speed Like Soap Operas31:59 Premium Talent And AI34:33 VertiCast Rapid Fire40:04 Personal Values and Advice43:04 MicroHouse Vision 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: VertiCastVertiCast 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: Troy BrookinsTroy Brookins is an actor, producer, former athlete, and co-founder of MicroHouse Films. His credits include Only Child on Starz, Forever: Terry McMillan Presents, Disney’s Stargirl, All American, S.W.A.T., and Young Sheldon. A Cleveland native and former football player, Troy brings the discipline of sports, a deep sense of faith, and a creator-first mindset into his work in entertainment. With MicroHouse Films, he is helping build a new home for premium vertical storytelling and opening doors for creators, actors, and audiences in the mobile-first era.Instagram: @whostroy Host: Buzz LeerInstagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio ProductionInstagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Coordinator: Ana Karina CanoInstagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song by Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley Public Relations and Media: Robb LeerLeer 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 Darren Darnborough, an actor, entrepreneur, and tech innovator helping shape the future of casting, auditions, and vertical storytelling. Darren shares how a Dr. Pepper commercial at 16 opened the door to acting, why he pivoted from acting school into film and media, and how his entrepreneurial path led from nightclub promotion to Stuck4Staff, WeAudition, and now VertiCast. Buzz and Darren talk about the evolution of self-tapes, the rise of WeAudition as a global actor community, and how VertiCast is being built specifically for the speed of vertical production. They also get into why vertical casting needs a different system, how availability and experience matter in this new ecosystem, what Hollywood can learn from micro drama data, and why specificity may be the key to standing out in a crowded creator economy. In this episode, you will learn:• How Darren Darnborough got his first professional acting job at 16• Why he moved from acting studies into film and media• How Stuck4Staff helped shape his thinking around urgent casting• Why WeAudition became essential during the rise of self-tapes• How VertiCast was built for the speed of vertical storytelling• What “swipe, cast, create” means for actors and producers• Why vertical casting needs faster tools and better availability data• How micro dramas are shifting the entertainment industry• Why actors should understand data, community, and specificity• What Darren believes the industry may be missing right now Chapters00:00 Welcome to Vertical Buzz00:59 Meet Darren Darnborough01:12 Bio and Credits Rundown03:16 VertiCast Launch Buzz03:54 First Acting Breakthrough05:40 Film School Pivot06:52 Entrepreneurial Hustle Origins10:29 Stuck4Staff and Urgent Casting14:56 Sponsor Break and Return15:49 WeAudition to Vertical Future36:18 Audition Fatigue37:22 Why Verticals Move Fast38:05 Building VertiCast Fast39:08 Swipe Cast Create Explained41:41 Fixing Broken Casting42:58 Where Verticals Are Heading44:01 Sponsor Break Airo44:44 Big Picture Industry Shift51:06 Rapid Fire And Branson Story01:01:31 Specificity 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 Rapid Fire Sponsor: VertiCastVertiCast 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.Website: VertiCastApp.comInstagram: @verticastapp Guest: Darren DarnboroughDarren Darnborough is a UK-born, Los Angeles based actor, entrepreneur, and tech founder. His screen credits include MacGyver, Magnum, P.I., 2 Broke Girls, True Blood, Marshals, Abruptio, Razor, and Zack Snyder’s The Seneschal. Off-screen, Darren is the co-founder and CEO of WeAudition, a global platform used by actors in more than 100 countries, and the co-founder of VertiCast, a casting platform built for the fast-moving world of vertical storytelling. Across acting, technology, and community building, Darren is helping shape where entertainment goes next.Instagram: @darrendarnborough Host: Buzz LeerInstagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio ProductionInstagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Coordinator: Ana Karina CanoInstagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song by Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley Public Relations and Media: Robb LeerLeer 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 Nick Ritacco, a Chicago-born actor, athlete, baseball fan, and one of the standout leading men in the vertical drama space. Nick shares how a high school injury led him from baseball into theater, how New York and Shakespeare shaped his foundation as an actor, and how early TV roles on Homeland and Law & Order: SVU helped push him toward Los Angeles. From there, Buzz and Nick get into his rise in verticals, the role that changed everything, what it takes to keep working in this fast-moving format, and why the vertical community has become so meaningful to him. They also break down Kiss of the Pirate King, Nick’s pirate vertical with Emma Reinagel, including the behind-the-scenes reality of shooting on a real ship, sword fights, costumes, and why genre experimentation is pushing the space forward. Plus: Chicago sports, theater roots, hidden food spots, AI concerns, fan connection, and the future of vertical entertainment. In this episode, you will learn:• How Nick Ritacco went from baseball dreams to theater• Why Chicago, New York, and Shakespeare shaped his acting foundation• How Homeland, Law & Order: SVU, and Lifetime led him toward LA• How Nick found verticals before the space had a clear name• Why Fated to My Forbidden Vampire changed his life• What makes vertical acting different from traditional film and TV• How Kiss of the Pirate King was made on a real ship• Why vertical fans and community matter so much• How Nick thinks about AI, rules, and protecting actors• Why vertical storytelling is still just getting started Chapters00:00 Welcome to Vertical Buzz01:00 Meet Nick Ritacco02:57 Chicago Sports Rivalries04:29 From Baseball to Theater09:35 New York and Shakespeare12:02 First TV Breaks and LA Move17:06 Finding Vertical Stardom25:27 Quiet Air Purifier Pitch26:17 Role That Changed Everything27:43 Tropes Getting Better28:52 Pirate Vertical Behind Scenes32:08 Hooking Viewers and Fan Favorites36:29 Trailer Reaction and Rapid Fire42:35 Chicago Theater Roots45:46 Hidden Chicago Eats46:20 Thanksgiving at Marios47:01 Favorite Chicago Movies48:53 New York Summer Stories52:55 Vertical Acting Mindset55:03 AI Fears and Rules01:02:00 Vertical Community 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: VertiCastVertiCast is a casting app built for the speed of vertical storytelling. Actors can create profiles, upload clips, showcase social links, and make it easier for casting directors and producers to discover them quickly.Website: VertiCastApp.comInstagram: @verticastapp Guest: Nick RitaccoNick Ritacco is a Chicago-born actor, athlete, and avid baseball fan. After realizing he probably would not become the starting shortstop for the White Sox, Nick moved to New York City, where he earned his BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and trained at the Stella Adler Studio for Acting. He performed in numerous theatrical productions, helped launch a Shakespearean theater company, and later moved into television with a recurring role on Showtime’s Homeland and a co-star role on NBC’s Law & Order: SVU. After moving to Los Angeles with his tabby cat Cora, Nick has worked in Lifetime Movie Network projects and has become one of the most recognizable actors in vertical dramas, with more than 40 verticals and counting.Instagram: @nick.ritacco Host: Buzz LeerInstagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio ProductionInstagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Coordinator: Ana Karina CanoInstagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song by Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley Pu

Welcome to The Vertical Buzz, where vertical entertainment finds its voice. This week, host Buzz Leer sits down with Emmy Award-winning casting director Paul Ruddy, one of the most influential casting voices in the vertical space today. Paul is currently casting at DramaBox and has worked across more than 250 film, television, digital, and vertical projects for platforms including Netflix, Disney, Hallmark, Lifetime, Fox, Paramount Plus, Peacock, ReelShort, Pocket FM, and DramaBox. In this episode, Buzz and Paul break down how vertical casting actually works, why the space is growing so fast, and what actors need to understand if they want to stand out. They talk about Paul’s early agency days at Abrams Artists and The Gersh Agency, the cake trivia moment that unexpectedly pushed him toward casting, his Emmy win for EastSiders, and how the pandemic changed the casting process forever. Then they go deep on verticals: how actors are being discovered, why the first 20 seconds of an audition matter, how agents are finally embracing the space, and why vertical is becoming a legitimate new lane of entertainment. This episode also introduces VertiCast, our new industry sponsor for the Rapid Fire segment. VertiCast is built specifically for the fast-moving world of vertical casting, helping actors create profiles, upload clips, and get discovered by casting directors and producers. In this episode, you will learn:• How Paul Ruddy went from law school to talent agencies to casting• What working at Abrams Artists and The Gersh Agency taught him about actors• The unexpected cake trivia story that pushed Paul toward casting• How Paul won an Emmy for EastSiders and found out in his kitchen during the pandemic• Why self-tapes are not going away and why actors need to master them• How Paul first discovered verticals through Pocket FM• Why verticals remind Paul of early Hallmark and classic soap opera evolution• What casting directors look for in the first 20 seconds of an audition• Why preparation, strong choices, and knowing the script matter more than perfection• How casting volume works when companies are making 10 to 20 verticals a month• Why agents and managers are now building vertical divisions• How unknown actors can still break through if the audition is strong• Why every audition matters, even if you do not book the role Chapters00:00 Welcome to Vertical Buzz01:23 Meet Paul Ruddy03:42 Vertical Growth Talk04:31 VertiCast Sponsor Intro06:00 Agency Roots and Leap13:18 Cake Trivia to Casting15:41 Speed and Craft at Scale18:23 Emmy Win Story23:29 Pandemic Changed Casting31:46 Finding Verticals and Stars37:06 Vertical Goes Legit38:36 Soap Opera Evolution40:07 Audition Process Today40:29 Hook Them Fast43:12 Casting Volume Reality44:08 Finding Actors Properly46:10 Agents Embrace Verticals51:08 Rapid Fire Casting01:00:54 Fan Questions Deep Dive01:10:34 Wrap Up And Where To Find 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: VertiCastVertiCast is a casting app built for the speed of vertical storytelling. Actors can create profiles, upload clips, showcase social links, and make it easier for casting directors and producers to discover them quickly.Website: VertiCastApp.comInstagram: @verticastapp Guest: Paul RuddyPaul Ruddy is an Emmy Award-winning casting director currently serving as a casting director at DramaBox. With more than 250 film, television, digital, and vertical projects to his credit, Paul’s work spans Netflix, Disney, Hallmark, Lifetime, Fox, Paramount Plus, Peacock, ReelShort, Pocket FM, and DramaBox. He began his career at leading talent agencies including Abrams Arti

Welcome to The Vertical Buzz, where vertical entertainment finds its voice. This week, host Buzz Leer sits down with Eric Guilmette, one of the most recognizable leading men in the vertical drama world, to talk about the unusual path that brought him from romance novel covers to nearly 50 vertical films, producing, poetry, and a rapidly growing fan base. Before vertical storytelling exploded, readers were already connecting with Eric’s face on more than 200 romance novel covers. That early romance audience gave him a unique understanding of the tropes, fantasies, and fan connection that now drive the vertical space. Eric and Buzz break down how that world connects directly to vertical dramas, why early productions had serious growing pains, and how the industry has evolved from chaotic sets into a legitimate entertainment lane. They also dive into Eric’s work as a producer, including Love and Blood, the vampire vertical that became one of Buzz’s favorite projects of the year and won Best Supernatural Vertical at the Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards. Eric also opens up about his poetry book Sex and Oatmeal, how writing became a form of healing, the Ink Collective event in London, his connection with fans through Cameo, and where he believes vertical storytelling is headed next. In this episode, you will learn:• How Eric Guilmette went from romance novel covers to vertical drama stardom• Why the romance novel world and vertical dramas have such a strong audience overlap• What Eric’s first vertical experiences were really like and how the space has improved• Why vertical view counts can be complicated and what the numbers really mean• How Eric stepped into producing with Love and Blood• Why cinematic storytelling matters if verticals are going to keep growing• How Sex and Oatmeal became a poetry book, a healing tool, and a creative extension of Eric’s life• What Eric learned from building The Ink Collective in London• How Cameo and fan messages have changed his relationship with the audience• The realities of vertical filming, including speed, intimacy scenes, title changes, and production pressure• Why Eric believes the future of verticals depends on better stories, more genres, and real human creativity Chapters00:00 Vertical Buzz Cold Open01:27 Meet Eric Guilmette05:05 Awards and Vertical Fame06:15 First Verticals and Growing Pains07:59 Modeling Origin Story09:28 Romance Cover Breakthrough12:10 Books to Verticals Pipeline14:19 Sponsor Break and Reset15:18 Views Numbers Reality Check17:38 Producing Love and Blood37:37 Sex and Oatmeal Book37:56 Poetry as Healing38:57 Ink Collective London40:18 Cameo and Fan Impact41:01 Rapid Fire Acting44:03 Vertical Filming Realities45:37 Massachusetts Rapid Fire51:58 Sponsor Break Aiiro52:53 Fan Questions Answered01:02:16 Future 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: Eric GuilmetteEric Guilmette is an LA-based actor, producer, poet, and one of the most recognizable faces in vertical dramas. He has starred in close to 50 vertical films across major platforms, including You Belong to Me, Chosen by Fate, Campus Rivals, and Love and Blood, which he also created and produced. Before verticals, Eric built a major presence in the romance world as a model on more than 200 romance novel covers. He is also the author of the poetry book Sex and Oatmeal and a co-founder of The Ink Collective, a poetry and contemporary art event platform. Eric won the 2024 Vertical Legend and Best Actor awards at the Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards and received the Sapphire Vision Award in 2025.Instagram: @erictaylorguilmette Host: Buzz LeerBuzz Leer is an acto

Welcome to The Vertical Buzz, where vertical entertainment finds its voice. This week, host Buzz Leer sits down with Royce Lundquist, one of the most exciting new leading men in the vertical space, to talk about his fast rise as an actor, his creative roots, and the new ventures he is building beyond the screen. Royce shares his journey from being a homeschooled theater kid in a Navy family, to studying at the Orange County School of the Arts, Pace University, and Loyola Marymount University, to finding his way into vertical films with Queen of the Court. He also talks about surfing, discipline, SoCal roots, and why determination has shaped both his acting career and his entrepreneurial path. Then Buzz and Royce dive into the craft of vertical acting, what makes a true leading man in the 9:16 world, and how the space is changing as new platforms and creators push for more elevated storytelling. Royce also breaks down Playback, To Her Beat, Monkey Boy Films, and his new real estate storytelling venture with The Ivy Group, including Open House Open House and The Duel. In this episode, you will learn:• How Royce Lundquist went from theater kid to vertical leading man• Why surfing, discipline, and determination shaped his creative mindset• How Royce found vertical films and what changed his mind about the format• What it was like working on Queen of the Court, Call Sign Legacy, To Her Beat, and Playback• How vertical acting demands preparation, specificity, and strong character choices• What fans respond to in a great vertical leading man• Why the vertical space is moving beyond formula and into more elevated storytelling• How Monkey Boy Films started and what Royce is building as a director and producer• How Open House Open House and The Duel are turning real estate marketing into cinematic storytelling• Why Royce sees vertical entertainment as unpredictable, fast-moving, and full of opportunity Chapters00:00 Vertical Buzz Intro01:17 Meet Royce Lundquist03:27 Theater Kid Origins05:28 SoCal Roots and Commute07:32 Surfing and Determination11:01 Finding Vertical Films15:27 Call Sign Legacy Stories20:35 Vertical Craft and Set Life28:16 Sponsor Break Aeiro29:28 Leading Man and Elevating Space42:04 Royce's New Ventures43:15 Playback Story Breakdown44:19 Mexico City Shoot44:39 Monkey Boys Origins46:22 First Musical Vertical48:55 Trailer Reactions52:19 Sponsor Break Aeiro53:23 Monkey Boy Business Model59:14 Open House01:02:21 The Duel 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 Guest: Royce LundquistRoyce Lundquist is an LA-based actor, filmmaker, musician, and entrepreneur whose creative roots began in childhood as part of a Navy family living in cities around the country and abroad. He trained at the Orange County School of the Arts, studied in New York at Pace University, and earned his BA in Theater Arts from Loyola Marymount University. As an actor, Royce has appeared in award-winning films including 34902, Love’s Perfect Song, Wanted, and Queen of the Court, the project that introduced him to the vertical format. He is also the co-founder of Monkey Boy Films, where he directs and produces across film, music, commercial work, and cinematic real estate storytelling.Instagram: @royce_lundquist Host: Buzz LeerBuzz Leer is an actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space.Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio ProductionOwned and operated by Erika and Jason HananInstagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Coordinator: Ana Karina CanoInstagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song by Grace Leer and Bryan DawleyThe Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and MediaRobb Leer, Leer

Welcome to The Vertical Buzz, where the vertical entertainment world finds its voice. This week, host Buzz Leer sits down with D'Arcy Smith from the University of Cincinnati to talk about a major shift for the vertical space: vertical storytelling is entering academia. D'Arcy is teaching vertical performance at the university level, which means this format is no longer just something actors stumble into on set. It is becoming something performers can study, train for, and understand before they ever walk into an audition room. Buzz and D'Arcy break down what vertical acting requires, why the style is different from traditional film and TV, how students react to the format, and why more acting programs may need to catch up fast. They also talk about D'Arcy’s student vertical productions, the Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards nomination, data and audience reach, why scripts can feel cheesy, and how actors can still ground the work in truth. Then they hit rapid fire, Cincinnati food culture, Findlay Market, voiceover training, motion capture, and the future of digital performance. In this episode, you will learn:• Why vertical storytelling belongs in the classroom• How D'Arcy Smith started teaching vertical performance at the University of Cincinnati• What students first think when they encounter vertical dramas• How acting in verticals differs from traditional film and TV• Why vertical requires emotional commitment, physicality, and speed• How student productions are being built around short vertical episodes• What the Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards nomination meant for the program• Why academia needs to adapt as vertical entertainment grows• How data, views, and global reach change the way creators understand audiences• Why actors need to “eat the cheese” while still grounding the story in truth• How voiceover, motion capture, and digital performance connect to the future of acting Chapters00:00 Welcome to Vertical Buzz01:08 Meet D'Arcy Smith02:30 Why Teach Verticals04:43 Curriculum Pushback06:23 Inside the Class07:03 Acting Style Shift09:03 Student Productions Setup13:04 Award Nomination Story17:42 Academia Must Adapt25:19 Data and Audience Reach39:12 Eat The Cheese39:45 Why Scripts Feel Cheesy41:14 Ground It In Truth42:10 Rapid Fire Begins42:49 Format Skills And Future45:37 Cincinnati Food Debate49:57 Findlay Market Must Do51:09 Sponsor Break Aiiro52:33 Awards Community Vibes54:21 Voice Lab 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 Guest: D'Arcy SmithD'Arcy Smith is the Director of the Digital Performance Lab at the University of Cincinnati and a professor of acting and voice working at the cutting edge of actor training, motion capture, animation, and digital performance. With more than 20 years of experience as an international voice director and coach, he is also the creator of Vocal Combat Technique, a groundbreaking method used in programs around the world. D'Arcy lives at the intersection of art, technology, and the future of performance, and is helping bring vertical storytelling into academic training.Instagram: @darcysmithdirectlr Host: Buzz LeerBuzz Leer is an actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space.Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio ProductionOwned and operated by Erika and Jason HananInstagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Coordinator: Ana Karina CanoInstagram: @anakarinacano Theme SongGrace Leer and Bryan Dawley, The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and MediaRobb Leer, Leer Communications, Inc. Thank youSpecial thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family.Host, Buzz Leer

Welcome to The Vertical Buzz, where the vertical entertainment world finds its voice. This week, host Buzz Leer sits down with Felix Merback, one of the hottest leading men in vertical storytelling right now, to break down what makes this format so addictive, what acting for closeups really demands, and why the vertical boom is still wide open for creators who are willing to move fast. Felix shares his origin story from arriving in LA post-2020 to booking his first vertical, why the Wild West era was the perfect time to get in, and how he had to recalibrate his craft for the phone booth frame of 9:16. Then Buzz and Felix go deeper into the business side, including the origin of FMA Productions and how a new wave of creators is trying to push vertical storytelling forward without alienating the audience that made the format explode. They also hit rapid fire, set life snacks, dream co-stars, on-set red flags, hidden talents, and the pressure every creator feels to capitalize on this moment while the industry is still being built in real time. In this episode, you will learn:• What acting for vertical closeups forces you to unlearn and rebuild as a performer• Why vertical hooks audiences so fast, and why it is hard to stop at one episode• Why getting in early mattered and what the Wild West taught the pioneers• The difference between being a working actor in verticals versus being labeled a vertical actor• The origin of FMA Productions and how Felix is thinking like a builder, not just a lead• How vertical storytelling is changing, including what needs to evolve next• Rapid fire takes, set snacks, dream co-stars, and red flags on set• How Felix thinks about fame versus control, and the pressure to capitalize• What makes verticals viral, and what the future of vertical Hollywood could look like Chapters00:00 Welcome to Vertical Buzz01:31 Meet Felix Merback03:26 Felix Origin Story05:30 Acting for Vertical Closeups09:18 Why Vertical Hooks Us10:43 Early Adopters and Wild West14:15 Working Actor vs Vertical Actor20:11 Sponsor Break Aero AC15021:10 FMA Productions Origin28:37 Changing Vertical Storytelling37:12 Rapid Fire Warmup38:05 Set Life Snacks38:24 Dream Co Star Pick39:13 On Set Red Flags40:21 Hidden Talents Revealed41:41 Fame Versus Control42:03 Pressure To Capitalize45:29 Future Of Vertical Hollywood46:58 What Makes Verticals Viral57:48 Projects Fans 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: Felix MerbackFelix Merback is an LA-based actor and producer and one of the biggest breakout names in vertical storytelling today. He has become a go-to leading man in micro dramas, with viral projects including Game of Choice and Billionaire Daddy. Felix got to Los Angeles in 2021, booked his first vertical in 2023, and has built a full-time career in the space while continuing to work in traditional film and television. He is also a co-founder of FMA Productions, a new production company focused on expanding what vertical storytelling can be, with projects designed to bridge vertical audiences with more elevated filmmaking.Instagram: @Felix_Merback Host: Buzz LeerInstagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio ProductionOwned and operated by Erika and Jason HananInstagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Coordinator: Ana Karina CanoInstagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song: Grace Leer and Bryan DawleyThe Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media: Robb LeerLeer Communications, Inc. Thank youSpecial thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family.Host, Buzz Leer

This week on The Vertical Buzz, Season 2 kicks off with the person who helped legitimize  the vertical space in Los Angeles. Host Buzz Leer sits down with Tina Contogenis, founder of Eris Talent Agency, to break down why vertical is no longer a trend, how the money and views proved the model, and what actors need to understand if they want to compete in the fastest-growing lane of entertainment. Tina shares the moment she realized actors were earning real money, how Eris built the first agency division focused specifically on vertical content, and what has changed as the space matures from Wild West chaos into a structured marketplace. They also get into what casting is actually prioritizing right now, why vertical is becoming a smarter path than traditional TV for many performers, and what the next wave looks like as AI, deepfakes, and new laws start to collide with talent rights. The episode includes rapid fire takes, must-watch apps, Eris's strict “no assholes” policy, and a day-in-the-life look at what a modern talent agency is juggling with the vertical boom. In this episode, you will learn:• Why Season 2 is about defining the space, not just discovering it• What the first vertical wakeup moment looked like from an agent’s perspective• How views and money proved vertical is an industry, not an experiment• What changed from the early Wild West days to today’s more structured ecosystem• What casting looks for right now, including pace, looks, and versatility• Why vertical wins for working actors, and how to build a real vertical strategy• Must-watch vertical apps and where the best opportunities are heading• The “no assholes” policy and why set culture matters more than ever• AI threats, deepfakes, and what new law is trying to do about it• The future of vertical economics, rates, and how the space may evolve next Chapters00:00 Season Two Begins00:47 Vertical Revolution01:48 Industry Gets Real02:57 Meet Tina Aris04:57 First Vertical Wakeup06:57 Views Money Proof08:59 From Wild West21:18 Casting Looks Talent26:04 Sponsor Break27:05 Why Vertical Wins37:32 Rapid Fire Takes38:34 Must Watch Vertical Apps39:50 No Assholes Policy40:59 AI Threats Ahead42:36 Deepfakes And New Law45:09 Future Of Vertical Economics51:00 Tina Agent Origin Story52:51 Aris Entertainment Expansion56:03 Boundaries Intimacy Negotiations01:01:51 Day In The Life 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 Guest: Tina ContogenisTina Contogenis is the founder and president of Eris Talent Agency, an international talent agency representing actors and creators across film, television, streaming, and the rapidly expanding vertical drama marketplace. Under her leadership, Eris Talent developed the first agency division focused specifically on vertical content, representing both actors and production companies in the space. She also leads Aris Entertainment, the agency’s development arm, and serves on the board of the Association of Talent Agents. Tina is a voting member of the Television Academy, and Eris Talent is bi-coastal with additional offices in Mexico City and an affiliate in London.Instagram: @tinacontogenis Host: Buzz LeerBuzz Leer is an actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space.Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio ProductionOwned and operated by Erika and Jason HananInstagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Coordinator: Ana Karina CanoInstagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song: Grace Leer and Bryan DawleyThe Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media: Robb LeerLeer Communications, Inc. Thank youSpecial thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family.Host, Buzz Leer

Welcome to the Season 1 finale of The Vertical Buzz. This is a special edition episode and a full preview of the Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards happening this Thursday in Los Angeles. Vertical is moving fast, but the biggest story is even bigger: fans are not just watching anymore. Fans are shaping what wins, what gets made, and what becomes the next breakout. Buzz Leer is joined in studio by Sam Silliman and Amy Sullivan Riley, with Jen Cooper joining remotely from the UK. Jen is the founder of Vertical Drama Love and the Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards, and this episode is your inside look at how the awards work, what makes a winner, and why this community has grown into a sold out live Hollywood theatre event with a global live stream. Then the panel breaks down the top nominees in the Vertical of the Year category, reacts to nominee clips, talks genre trends, and debates what is actually pushing the medium forward right now. If you love vertical dramas, this is the episode to watch before the big night. Welcome to the Season 1 finale of The Vertical Buzz. This is a special edition episode and a full preview of the Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards happening this Thursday in Los Angeles. Vertical is moving fast, but the biggest story is even bigger: fans are not just watching anymore. Fans are shaping what wins, what gets made, and what becomes the next breakout. Buzz Leer is joined in studio by Sam Silliman and Amy Sullivan Riley, with Jen Cooper joining remotely from the UK. Jen is the founder of Vertical Drama Love and the Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards, and this episode is your inside look at how the awards work, what makes a winner, and why this community has grown into a sold out live Hollywood theatre event with a global live stream. Then the panel breaks down the top nominees in the Vertical of the Year category, reacts to nominee clips, talks genre trends, and debates what is actually pushing the medium forward right now. If you love vertical dramas, this is the episode to watch before the big night. In this episode, you will learn:• How the Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards works and how the winners are chosen• What separates a nominee from a winner and why global voting matters• What makes a vertical feel like a true Vertical of the Year contender in 2026• Why vertical is evolving so fast and how audience behavior drives what gets made• Reactions and debate on the top Vertical of the Year nominees across multiple platforms• How the Fan Awards grew from an online fan project into a live event in Los Angeles• Where vertical entertainment is headed next and what fans are demanding more of Chapters00:00 Welcome to Fan Awards01:32 Meet the Panel02:11 Amy Sullivan Riley Spotlight03:36 Sam Silliman Spotlight05:01 Jen Cooper Spotlight06:37 How the Awards Work08:54 What Makes a Winner20:07 Sponsor Break21:13 Nominee Clips Begin44:56 Halfway Front Runners49:25 Rom-Com Nostalgia50:42 Pizza Guys Meet Vampires52:33 Camp Horror in Vertical54:54 Queen of the Court58:04 Sponsor Break Aero AC15058:44 Queen Never Cry Again01:02:50 Taming My Bullies01:07:07 Water Boy BL Hit01:12:50 Picking the Overall Winner01:17:33 Fan Awards Origin Story 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: Sam Silliman (@samanthaalex)Sam Silliman is an award-winning executive producer and showrunner known for crafting high quality digital and narrative content for major platforms including Vice, Hulu, Starz, Netflix, and HBO. Since entering the vertical space in 2023, her projects have generated hundreds of millions of views. She is known for thoughtful leadership, strong collaborations, and prioritizing an excepti