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The Vertical Buzz: Daily Summaries Delivered
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The Vertical Buzz is the media platform covering the rapidly evolving world of vertical entertainment
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- 1 weeks ago1h 31m
Sky Kawai & JP Parkhill | How Waterboy Became a Vertical Drama Hit: The Vertical Buzz S4E1
🎬 What happens when one risky vertical drama becomes an entire franchise? On this episode of The Vertical Buzz, host Buzz Leer sits down with actor Sky Kawai and writer, actor, and director Jen “JP” Parkhill, behind ReelShort’s “boy” universe: Poolboy, Waterboy, Stable Boy, and Waterboy: Second Down. They reveal how a queer love story that felt like a risk became an award-winning hit, what it takes to build momentum across multiple titles, and why the chemistry between actors and a director can make all the difference. JP shares the journey from indie filmmaking and Sundance to directing verticals, including adapting shot lists to tight budgets and fast schedules. Sky talks about growing up in Utah, musical theater, and how medical school was once his backup plan. We also hear how Stable Boy came to life, why release timing matters in the AI-content boom, and how fans have shared deeply personal stories about seeing themselves represented onscreen. Plus: the rescue of set puppy Joey, rapid-fire favorites, a debate about director freedom, and Sky’s truly unbelievable story about being kidnapped twice. 🐶😱 In this episode, you’ll hear about: How Poolboy helped open the door for queer vertical stories. The shock of winning an award for Waterboy. Turning individual microdramas into a recognizable franchise. Why trust, authenticity, and chemistry matter on set. The realities of negotiating projects and navigating release timing. How vertical stories build unusually close relationships with fans. The wild story behind Sky’s two kidnapping experiences. Chapters 00:00 Episode Trailer 03:01 Bios And Sponsor Shoutouts 06:43 JP Indie Roots And Sundance 11:07 Sky Utah And Pre Med 17:54 First Vertical Shock 31:04 Poolboy Franchise Begins 32:08 Queer Director Breakthrough 33:24 Awards Night Shock Win 34:36 Authenticity On Set 35:19 Franchise Momentum Sparks 38:20 Waterboy Negotiations Pressure 41:33 Stable Boy Idea Origins 43:15 Stable Boy Trailer Watch 45:05 Release Timing And AI Boom 46:31 Set Puppy Joey Rescue 01:03:12 Overused Set Words 01:04:13 Breaking Character Games 01:04:49 One Take vs Ten 01:05:42 Director Freedom Debate 01:07:26 Waterboy Magic 01:12:05 Rapid Fire Favorites 01:17:26 Keep One Boy 01:20:16 Kidnapped Twice Story 01:25:32 Franchises and Farewell Sponsor: AEIRO (Arrow Air Purifiers) AEIRO helps identify, reduce, and monitor airborne contaminants. Featured in this episode: the AEIRO AC150, with smart sensor controls, true HEPA and carbon filtration, and coverage for rooms 300+ sq ft. Website: AEIRO.co Official Sponsor: Blackmagic Design 🎥 Blackmagic Design has been part of The Vertical Buzz from day one. We’ve built our production workflow around their professional cameras and live production equipment, and we’re thrilled to welcome them as an official sponsor of the show. From cinematic cameras and production switchers to DaVinci Resolve editing and color-grading software, Blackmagic Design creates tools that help filmmakers and content creators bring their ideas to life. We’re proud to use their technology to produce The Vertical Buzz and excited to have them officially on board. Explore their cameras, production equipment, and creative tools at: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com Instagram: @blackmagicnewsofficial Guests Sky Kawai is a Japanese American actor and performer from Springville, Utah, with a BFA in musical theater from the University of Utah. His vertical credits include Poolboy, Waterboy, and Stable Boy. Instagram: @skykawai_ Jen “JP” Parkhill is an LA- and Austin-based writer, actor, and filmmaker, and a graduate of NYU Tisch. Her work includes award-winning ReelShort vertical dramas Poolboy, Waterboy, Stable Boy, and Waterboy: Second Down. Instagram: @jenparkhill Host: Buzz Leer Actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space. Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Owned and operated by Erika and Jason Hanan. Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Director: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano 🎵 Theme Song: Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley, The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media: Robb Leer, Leer Communications, Inc. Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer #TheVerticalBuzz #VerticalDrama #SkyKawai #JenParkhill #VerticalEntertainment #ReelShort
- 2 weeks ago1h 28m
Richard Sharrah | Hollywood Said No But Verticals Changed Everything: The Vertical Buzz S3E13
What happens when Hollywood tells you hard work isn't enough, but a new entertainment revolution gives you a second chance? 🎬📱 Richard Sharrah has lived through two major shifts in entertainment. From helping create viral YouTube hits Kid History and Kid Snippets to becoming one of vertical drama's recognizable faces, Richard knows what it takes to build an audience, create opportunities, and spot a disruptor before everyone else catches on. In this episode of The Vertical Buzz, Richard shares how a primetime TV deal collapsed during COVID, why he pivoted to an MBA at USC, and how his first vertical drama, The Billionaire's Baby Bargain, changed everything. We also get into the flood of AI-generated verticals, why audiences may tune out, and whether vertical entertainment can become a true meritocracy. Plus, we discuss his work with Lighthouse Verticals and its family-centered, faith-based slate connected to Tim Tebow. In this episode, you will learn: How Kid History became a viral hit and attracted major brand deals. Why a near-miss with primetime TV forced a career pivot. How an MBA helped Richard recognize vertical drama as a potential industry disruptor. Why his first vertical hit reached audiences around the world in just 12 hours. What 450,000 AI verticals could mean for the future of the format. Why Richard believes vertical entertainment can reward talent and hard work. Chapters 00:00 Cannons and Violins 01:31 Vertical Buzz Intro 04:50 Growing Up Everywhere 06:42 Australia Full Circle 10:29 Mom Peru and Movies 13:47 NYU Tisch to YouTube 21:06 Going Viral and Brand Deals 32:06 Primetime Deal Collapses 34:06 Family Pressure Pivot 35:40 GMAT Chaos During Covid 36:37 USC MBA Grind 39:51 Grownish Meets The Volume 41:52 First Vertical Breakthrough 48:44 Vertical Fame And Industry Shift 01:01:02 AI Content Saturation 01:01:37 Robocalls And Cold Emails 01:03:09 Peak TV Vs AI Flood 01:03:53 Dust Settling And Live Action 01:05:37 Lighthouse And Tim Tebow Slate 01:11:33 Vertical Meritocracy Lessons 01:13:33 Rapid Fire And Wrap Up Sponsor: AEIRO (Arrow Air Purifiers) AEIRO helps identify, reduce, and monitor airborne contaminants. Featured in this episode: the AEIRO AC150, with smart sensor controls, true HEPA and carbon filtration, and coverage for rooms 300+ sq ft. Website: AEIRO.co Guest: Richard Sharrah Instagram: @richardsharrah Host: Buzz Leer Actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space. Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Owned and operated by Erika and Jason Hanan. Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Director: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song: Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley, The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media: Robb Leer, Leer Communications, Inc. Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer #TheVerticalBuzz #VerticalDrama #RichardSharrah #VerticalEntertainment #AI
- 3 weeks ago1h 3m
Sal Paskowitz | Hollywood Is Doing Vertical Wrong: The Vertical Buzz S3E12
What happens when a Hollywood screenwriter decides the future of entertainment is vertical, but refuses to let an algorithm tell him what stories to make? 📱🎬 This week on The Vertical Buzz, Buzz Leer sits down with Sal Paskowitz, screenwriter, director, producer, and co-founder of Super Punchy Studios. Sal co-created and co-wrote The Age of Adaline, starring Blake Lively and Harrison Ford, and now he's bringing his cinematic approach to the rapidly evolving world of vertical entertainment. But Sal's story starts far from Hollywood. Raised as one of nine children in a legendary surfing family, he spent much of his childhood traveling the world in a camper. With an unconventional education built around books, nature, and movies, Sal developed a lifelong passion for creativity and storytelling that took him from art and graphic design to Hollywood filmmaking. Now, with Super Punchy Studios, he's taking a different approach to vertical drama. Following the success of Step by Step, Sal is determined to put the story first, rather than simply repeating whatever an algorithm says is working. He shares why he believes audiences deserve more than recycled tropes, how vertical framing changes the way directors tell stories, and why he sees this format becoming a fully integrated part of the entertainment industry. We also talk about Layover, Super Punchy's upcoming projects, the growing pains of the vertical market, and Sal's bold vision for what comes next. Plus, stick around for rapid-fire questions, surfing stories, celebrity impressions, singing, and a surprising family connection to legendary voice actor Mel Blanc. In this episode, you will learn: 🎬 How Sal went from an unconventional childhood to co-writing The Age of Adaline 🏄 What growing up in a legendary surfing family taught him about creativity 📱 Why Sal believes vertical entertainment needs to put storytelling ahead of algorithms 🔥 What made Step by Step connect with audiences, and what's next for Super Punchy Studios 🎥 How directing and production design change when the frame goes vertical 🤖 Why Sal is betting on handcrafted stories in the age of AI 🌎 Why he believes vertical entertainment is becoming a fourth major format alongside movies, TV, and streaming 🎞️ What Layover's selection for the ALZA Film Festival means for Super Punchy 🎤 The surprising story behind Sal's connection to Mel Blanc, plus his voices and musical talents Chapters 00:00 Writing vs the Robot 00:34 Voices and Mel Blanc 01:29 Vertical Buzz Intro 02:58 Sal Bio and Banter 05:00 Surfwise Childhood 07:00 Books Not School 08:18 Movies as Church 11:52 Finding Sal and Art 18:13 Hollywood and Adaline 25:40 Vertical Wave and Super Punchy 35:03 Why Step By Step Worked 35:13 Beating Algorithmic Tropes 37:14 Vertical Market Growing Pains 38:09 Layover Hits ALZA Fest 39:51 Future Screens Go Vertical 41:35 Directing For Vertical Frames 43:19 Super Punchy Story First Mission 45:24 Rapid Fire Surf And Movies 51:10 Voices Songs And Family Ties 55:28 Top 10 Game 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: Sal Paskowitz Screenwriter, director, producer, and co-founder of Super Punchy Studios, Sal is best known for co-creating and co-writing The Age of Adaline. His work now spans cinematic filmmaking and original vertical dramas, including Step by Step and Layover. Instagram: @salpaskowitz Super Punchy Studios: @superpunchystudios Host: Buzz Leer Buzz Leer is an actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space. Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Owned and operated by Erika and Jason Hanan Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Director: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley, The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media Robb Leer, Leer Communications, Inc. Thank you Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer #TheVerticalBuzz #SalPaskowitz #SuperPunchyStudios #VerticalDrama #VerticalEntertainment #TheAgeOfAdaline #StepByStep #Layover
- 4 weeks ago1h 8m
Nicole Mattox | The Role That Changed Everything: The Vertical Buzz S3E11
What does it take to become one of the recognizable faces of vertical entertainment in just a few years? 📱🎬 This week on The Vertical Buzz, Buzz sits down with actress Nicole Mattox, whose journey from a painfully shy kid in Texas, to UT Austin, cavern tour guide, and aspiring traditional actress eventually led her into one of the fastest-growing forms of entertainment in the world. Nicole had no idea what “vertical” even meant when she first auditioned for one. Then came Breaking the Ice, a chemistry read squeezed into the middle of a chaotic shoot, and suddenly everything started moving. Within months, Nicole's vertical career was taking off, her work with Seth Eden was connecting with audiences, and she was becoming one of the industry's most recognizable performers. But there's much more to Nicole's story than her vertical credits. She talks about growing up in Texas, studying film at UT Austin, spending years training in the Meisner technique, working as a cavern tour guide, and why all of those life experiences ultimately made her a better actor. We also get into one of the biggest questions facing the industry right now: AI vs. human actors. Nicole isn't against AI, but she believes there is something fundamentally different about watching a real person experience emotion on screen, especially in stories built around human connection. And Nicole explains why vertical acting itself requires a different technique, why she wants to balance vertical and traditional acting, and which genres she believes could be the next big opportunity for vertical storytelling. In this episode, you will learn: 🎬 How Nicole went from Texas to Los Angeles and ultimately found vertical entertainment 📱 How Breaking the Ice became a major turning point in her career 🎭 Why life experience can make an actor more authentic 🧠 How years of Meisner training shaped her acting 🕳️ How working as a cavern tour guide prepared her for acting 🤖 Nicole's perspective on AI-generated actors and human emotion 🎥 Why acting for vertical requires a different physical and emotional style 🌎 How Nicole became part of the early generation helping build vertical entertainment 🔥 Which genres she thinks could be the next big opportunity for vertical storytelling Chapters 00:00 Authentic Acting Truth 00:44 AI Actors Debate 01:22 Show Intro And Guest 04:51 Peacock Micro Drama Trip 06:46 Texas Roots And Childhood 08:05 Early Acting Spark 09:19 UT Austin And Career Pivot 12:54 Cavern Tour Guide Days 20:08 LA Move And Acting Training 25:05 Vertical Breakout And Buzz 33:43 Coffee With Sal 34:17 Thrown Into AD Work 35:17 Super Punchy Rise 35:54 Keeping Set Energy 37:45 Life Experience Acting 38:31 AI Versus Heart 42:42 Back To Traditional 44:10 Vertical Acting Style 45:56 Genres And Growth 54:52 Rapid Fire 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: Nicole Mattox Nicole Mattox is a Los Angeles-based actress originally from Schertz, Texas and a graduate of UT Austin. She has become one of the recognizable performers in vertical entertainment, with credits including Breaking the Ice, The Hit Woman, Step by Step, Faded at First Sight, and Twisted Minds. She has also worked with Super Punchy Studios and recently starred in Peacock's first in-house micro-drama. Instagram: @nicolemattox_ Host: Buzz Leer Buzz Leer is an actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space. Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Owned and operated by Erika and Jason Hanan Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Director: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley, The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media Robb Leer, Leer Communications, Inc. Thank you Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer #TheVerticalBuzz #NicoleMattox #VerticalEntertainment #VerticalDrama #MicroDrama #Acting #AI #Hollywood #GlendalePodcastStudio
- Oct 1, 20261h 26m
Nate Thomas | From BattleBots to Vertical Microsports: The Vertical Buzz S3E10
What happens when you build a sport specifically for the way people watch entertainment today? 📱🏆 This week on The Vertical Buzz, Buzz sits down with Nate Thomas, President and co-founder of World 1 Championship, to explore the creation of MicroSports and why the future of sports may be built vertically from the ground up. Nate is a veteran television producer who has created and produced more than 1,000 hours of programming, including BattleBots and Netflix's Hyperdrive, with previous stops at Merv Griffin Entertainment and Mark Cuban's HDNet. Now he's applying everything he's learned about television, live entertainment, competition, and storytelling to a completely new kind of sports property. From redefining what it means to be the fastest person in the world to creating a new test for the strongest, World 1 is designing competitions that can be understood, produced, and consumed in about 30 seconds. And there's a bigger idea behind it: MicroSports. Sports created for the phone, built vertically from the beginning, and designed to turn the highlight itself into the event. 📲 In this episode, you will learn: 🏆 How Nate went from driving Merv Griffin to producing BattleBots and working with Mark Cuban 🤖 Why BattleBots succeeded when it was reframed as a legitimate sport 📱 Why World 1 is building sports specifically for vertical video ⚡ How the World 1 Speed Chamber will determine the fastest person in the world 💪 How the Bench Squat Max could redefine the strongest person in the world 🎥 Why 30 seconds may be the sweet spot for MicroSports 🌎 How World 1 plans to discover athletes anywhere in the world 📺 Why traditional sports struggle to translate their biggest moments to vertical 💰 How building a sport vertically could create new opportunities for brands and sponsors Chapters 00:00 Episode Trailer 00:23 Vertical Sports Tease 01:30 Show Intro Microsports 03:41 Nate Bio Sponsor 05:03 Breaking Into TV 14:02 BattleBots Reinvented 17:59 World One Speed Chamber 30:43 Reinventing the Sprint 31:11 Strategy and Run Up 31:51 Portable Speed Chamber 33:29 Strongest Event Explained 36:10 Bench Squat Max Strategy 40:40 What Is a MicroSport 47:55 Vertical First Production 01:01:56 Campus Competition Day 01:02:25 Crowns Belts and Champions 01:02:56 Sponsor Break Airo AC150 01:03:21 Vertical Buzz Rapid Fire 01:09:48 Merv Griffin Shar Pei Heist 01:16:23 Test Event at LA Galaxy 01:20:29 Building Stars 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 Guest: Nate Thomas Nate Thomas is President and co-founder of World 1 Championship and a veteran television producer with more than 1,000 hours of programming to his credit, including BattleBots and Netflix's Hyperdrive. He has also worked with Merv Griffin Entertainment and Mark Cuban's HDNet. World 1 Championship: world1championship.com Host: Buzz Leer Buzz Leer is an actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space. Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Owned and operated by Erika and Jason Hanan Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Director: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley, The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media Robb Leer, Leer Communications, Inc. Thank you Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer #TheVerticalBuzz #NateThomas #World1Championship #MicroSports #VerticalEntertainment #BattleBots #Sports #VerticalVideo #WorldOne
- Sep 24, 20261h 25m
Kevin Singer | How Vertical Video Is Changing Political Campaigns: The Vertical Buzz S3E9
What happens when political campaigns move from the television screen to the phone? 📱🎥 This week on The Vertical Buzz, Buzz sits down with Kevin Singer, political media strategist and founder of Singer Strategic, to explore how vertical video is changing the way candidates communicate with voters. Kevin brings a unique perspective to the conversation. He has spent more than a decade working in political communications and paid media, previously worked in public affairs media at Meta, and is also a professional actor. That combination makes for a fascinating look at the intersection of politics, performance, advertising, and authenticity. We break down what makes political vertical content work, why simply repurposing a television commercial usually misses the point, and why the first few seconds of a vertical ad can be critical. In this episode, you will learn: 📱 Why political campaigns have increasingly become phone-first 🎬 How vertical video differs from traditional TV and CTV advertising ⏱️ Why the first five seconds can make or break a political ad 🎭 Why authenticity is so difficult to fake in vertical video ⚾ What political campaigns can learn from a viral baseball ad 🤖 How campaigns are approaching AI-generated political content 💰 Why paid media remains critical, especially for local campaigns 📲 Why TikTok's restrictions on political advertising matter 🎙️ How politicians can use podcasts and influencers to reach voters 🧠 Why vertical content requires campaigns to balance speed, volume, and risk 🎥 What campaigns can learn from the vertical strategies of candidates like Zohran Mamdani and Abdul El-Sayed 🏛️ And Kevin's thoughts on how political communication could continue evolving Plus, Kevin and Buzz get into acting, Machiavelli, baseball food, theater critics, and the Vertical Top 10: Signs Your Political Campaign Has Gone Vertical. Chapters 00:00 Vertical Campaigning Shift 01:52 Show Intro and Big Questions 03:23 Meet Kevin Singer 06:22 Origins and Berkeley Years 08:57 Politics Meets Acting 13:25 Launching Singer Strategic 17:24 Why Vertical Video Wins 28:39 Tax Day Viral Timing 30:00 Backlash And Speed Risks 32:16 Stop The Scroll Authenticity 35:23 Vivek Baseball Ad Breakdown 40:46 AI Versus Human Content 43:07 Local Campaign Vertical Strategy 46:34 El Sayed And Endorsement Clips 01:00:13 Borrowed Credibility Explained 01:01:18 Podcast Clips as Political Ads 01:03:26 Rapid Fire Segment Begins 01:04:30 Why TikTok Bans Political Ads 01:13:59 Machiavelli and Authenticity 01:18:13 Vertical Top 10 Countdown 01:22:38 Final Wrap and Where to Find Him 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: Kevin Singer Kevin Singer is a political media strategist and founder of Singer Strategic, an Oakland-based firm specializing in media strategy, creative production, and advertising for political campaigns and nonprofit organizations. Website: singerstrategic.com Host: Buzz Leer Buzz Leer is an actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space. Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Owned and operated by Erika and Jason Hanan Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Coordinator: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media Robb Leer Leer Communications, Inc. Thank You Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer #TheVerticalBuzz #KevinSinger #PoliticalMedia #VerticalVideo #PoliticalAdvertising #DigitalMedia #SocialMedia #CampaignStrategy #SingerStrategic #VerticalEntertainment
- Sep 17, 20261h 22m
Zak Shaikh | The Data Is In... Vertical Entertainment Is Exploding: The Vertical Buzz S3E8
What happens when you stop guessing about the future of entertainment and start looking at the data? 📊📱 This week on The Vertical Buzz, we sit down with Zak Shaikh, U.S. General Manager of Ampere Analysis, one of the entertainment industry's leading data, research, and analytics firms. Zak takes us inside the numbers behind the explosive growth of vertical entertainment and microdramas, revealing what audiences are actually watching, where they're watching it, and why major Hollywood streamers are suddenly paying very close attention. We dig into some eye-opening data, including: 📱 Smartphone viewing and the shift away from traditional TV 🌎 Why Asia and other mobile-first markets are leading the microdrama explosion 📈 The scale of apps like DramaBox and ReelShort 🎬 Why Hollywood is developing a vertical strategy 💰 How paywalls and microtransactions are changing entertainment economics 🎭 Why microdramas are expanding beyond romance, revenge, and betrayal 🤖 Where AI fits into the future of vertical entertainment 🧠 And the critical question: can data and optimization ever replace authentic human storytelling? Zak also explains exactly how Ampere gathers its data, from global surveys and publicly available information to consent-based viewing data. This is The Vertical Buzz from a completely different angle, using real data to understand where entertainment is headed next. 📊 In this episode, you will learn: • How Ampere Analysis collects and analyzes entertainment data • Why smartphone viewing has become such an important part of the global entertainment landscape • What the data says about the explosive growth of microdramas • Why mobile-first markets have embraced vertical storytelling • How DramaBox and ReelShort have changed the competitive landscape • What Hollywood's major streaming companies are doing in response • How paywalls and microtransactions work in vertical entertainment • Which genres are expanding beyond the traditional microdrama formula • How AI is being used to market and promote content • Why authentic storytelling still matters even in a highly data-driven industry Chapters 00:00 Phone Beats TV 01:33 Vertical Buzz Intro 03:18 Meet Zak Shaikh 05:16 Zak’s USC Journey 09:25 What Ampere Does 13:06 How Ampere Gets Data 18:54 Microdramas Hit the Radar 30:57 Global Downloads Breakdown 32:05 Why Mobile-First Markets Win 34:17 Microdrama Apps Catch Streamers 36:35 Hollywood Takes Notice 40:17 Paywalls Pricing and Retention 43:15 Gamification and Rewards Loops 52:55 AI Marketing vs Authenticity 59:09 Authenticity Over AI 59:35 Rapid Fire Begins 01:00:33 Arsenal Dreams And Choices 01:01:45 Personal Picks And Recommendations 01:04:37 Microdrama Apps Playbook 01:07:00 Brands And Freemium Future 01:12:17 Anthologies Market Catchup 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: Zak Shaikh Zak Shaikh is the U.S. General Manager of Ampere Analysis, a global data, research, and analytics company focused on the entertainment and media industries. Website: ampereanalysis.com Host: Buzz Leer Buzz Leer is an actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space. Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Coordinator Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media Robb Leer Leer Communications, Inc. A special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family... and especially the fans! -Host, Buzz Leer #TheVerticalBuzz #ZakShaikh #AmpereAnalysis #VerticalEntertainment #Microdrama #VerticalVideo #Streaming #EntertainmentIndustry #Hollywood #DataAnalytics
- Sep 10, 20261h 13m
Larry Namer | The E! Founder Who Saw Vertical Coming 8 Years Ago: The Vertical Buzz S3E7
What if the future of vertical entertainment looks a lot like the past of cable television? 📱📺 Larry Namer has seen this movie before. As the co-founder of E! Entertainment Television, Larry helped build one of the world's most recognizable entertainment networks from the ground up. But his story goes far beyond E!. From starting out underground splicing cable in New York, to moving to Los Angeles, creating E!, expanding media operations into Russia and China, and experimenting with digital media before the technology was ready, Larry has spent more than five decades identifying where entertainment is headed next. And when it comes to vertical entertainment, Larry isn't looking at it from the outside. He has been producing vertical content in China for years. After discovering that 73% of the audience for one of his shows was watching on cellphones, he asked a simple question: Why are we still shooting horizontally? 📱 In this fascinating conversation, Larry explains why he believes vertical will become the dominant way people consume video, why simplicity is one of the format's biggest strengths, and why Hollywood may be misunderstanding what vertical audiences actually want. He also breaks down the economics behind China's vertical model, including how a $150,000 movie could potentially generate a $35 "ticket price" through episodic paywalls. 💰 We also get into Larry's incredible history: founding E! after more than 100 rejections, the early days of Talk Soup, putting cameras in Howard Stern's radio studio, international media ventures, his wild stories from Russia, and his work helping develop China's media industry. 🌎 Plus, Larry talks about the future of vertical genres, why horror and sci-fi could be next, AI's impact on entertainment, consumer robotics, and the lessons he's learned from more than 50 years in media. And yes, there's Rapid Fire. ⚡ In this episode, you will learn: 📱 Why Larry believes vertical could dominate video consumption by 2030 🇨🇳 What China understood about vertical entertainment years before the U.S. 💰 How the Chinese vertical paywall model works 📺 How Larry and his partners built E! Entertainment 🚪 Why Larry believes creators no longer need traditional gatekeepers 🎭 Why vertical entertainment is essentially "soap operas on steroids" 🔮 Which genres Larry thinks could be next 🤖 What Larry is watching in AI and consumer robotics 🌎 Why entertainment is no longer geographically tied to Hollywood Chapters 00:00 Vertical Video Future 00:36 Asia Vertical Model 01:40 Show Intro Larry Namer 04:55 Brooklyn Roots 05:43 Cable TV Break In 10:30 LA Move Movie Trailers 13:28 Founding E Network 17:01 Pirate Programming Hits 19:32 Global Expansion Russia 25:57 China Media Reform Verticals 36:30 Televisioncom Gamble 37:22 Dotcom Crash Fallout 38:11 Going Global 2000s 39:17 Creators Without Gatekeepers 40:29 Why Vertical Wins 42:45 Paywalls And Pricing 44:51 Soap Operas Reborn 46:32 New Genres And Audiences 48:58 Rapid Fire And Robotics 54:23 Book Food And The Future 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: Larry Namer Larry Namer is a pioneering entertainment executive, global media entrepreneur, and co-founder of E! Entertainment Television. With a career spanning more than five decades, Larry has worked across cable television, international media, digital entertainment, emerging technologies, and vertical storytelling. Instagram: @larrynamer Host: Buzz Leer Buzz Leer is an actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space. Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Coordinator: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley, The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media Robb Leer, Leer Communications, Inc. Thank you Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's The Vertical Buzz daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of The Vertical Buzz as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the The Vertical Buzz podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official The Vertical Buzz product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by verticalbuzzdistro.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts, any in the catalog. Basic raises that to 15, Pro to 40 and Max to 100. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does The Vertical Buzz release new episodes?
The Vertical Buzz publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does The Vertical Buzz cover?
The Vertical Buzz covers topics including Technology, Film, TV & Film. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting The Vertical Buzz summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.