Episode 8 | Directing in 9:16 featuring Danny Farber

This week on The Vertical Buzz, host Buzz Leer sits down with Danny Farber, a Chicago-born director, actor, writer, and producer who has been crushing it in vertical entertainment across multiple countries and platforms. They kick things off with a cold open on why vertical is not just a phone rotation, it is a storytelling shift that changes framing, blocking, pacing, and emotion. Danny shares how he broke into verticals as a director, why the trend vs format debate is missing the bigger point, and what makes a great vertical performance when the screen is small but the moment has to stop the scroll. They also get real about creative pitfalls, the client and platform dynamic, and why detachment matters when you do not own the final cut. Then Buzz and Danny go deep on Chicago. Why is there a vertical boom coming, what is the reality of tax credits and sets, and what would it take to build a real pipeline there. The episode finishes with rapid fire predictions and a breakdown of a standout cake scene that became a fan-favorite moment. In this episode, you will learn: • How Danny Farber got his first vertical directing break and what the ramp-up really looks like • Why vertical storytelling is changing the language of film and how pacing becomes the secret weapon • The trend vs format debate and where vertical fits alongside traditional film and TV • Performance pitfalls actors and directors hit in vertical and how to avoid them • What is happening in Chicago and why it may be the next major vertical production hub • The sets, tax credits, and infrastructure reality behind building a Chicago pipeline • Rapid fire takes on the future of vertical and what is coming next • A scene breakdown on the viral cake moment and how those beats get built for the audience Chapters 00:00 Show Cold Open 00:08 Vertical Storytelling Shift 01:40 Meet Danny Farber 03:37 Music Side Quest 05:24 First Vertical Breakthrough 12:03 Trend or Format Debate 17:15 Performance and Pitfalls 43:26 Chicago Vertical Boom 44:14 Sets Tax Credits Reality 45:39 Build Chicago Pipeline 46:00 Chicago Love And Winters 48:41 Rapid Fire Vertical Future 55:55 Cake Scene Breakdown 01:10:54 Cheer Up, Baby Trailer and Wrap Up Guest: Danny Farber Danny Farber is a Chicago-born director, actor, writer, and producer with over a decade in the entertainment industry. Based in Los Angeles and working internationally, he has built a diverse portfolio spanning vertical dramas, commercials, music videos, and narrative content. Since 2023, Farber has directed more than twenty feature-length vertical dramas for platforms including ReelShort, Dramabox, and Goodshort, with projects shot in Los Angeles, Istanbul, London, and Vancouver. His award-winning short film Thoughts and Prayers was executive produced by Amy Poehler. As an actor, Farber has appeared in 1923, Chicago Fire, and Proven Innocent, and continues to create and perform in projects driven by his signature creative hustle. Instagram: @sirdannyfarber 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 Producer: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Music: 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 #VerticalFilm #VerticalDrama #MicroDrama #Acting #ActorsLife #Filmmaking #MobileStorytelling #ShortForm #VerticalSeries #TheVerticalBuzz