Felix Merback | Vertical's Smoothest Villain: The Vertical Buzz S2E2

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 Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Vertical Buzz 01:31 Meet Felix Merback 03:26 Felix Origin Story 05:30 Acting for Vertical Closeups 09:18 Why Vertical Hooks Us 10:43 Early Adopters and Wild West 14:15 Working Actor vs Vertical Actor 20:11 Sponsor Break Aero AC150 21:10 FMA Productions Origin 28:37 Changing Vertical Storytelling 37:12 Rapid Fire Warmup 38:05 Set Life Snacks 38:24 Dream Co Star Pick 39:13 On Set Red Flags 40:21 Hidden Talents Revealed 41:41 Fame Versus Control 42:03 Pressure To Capitalize 45:29 Future Of Vertical Hollywood 46:58 What Makes Verticals Viral 57:48 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 Merback Felix 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 Leer 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