HIFILM Panel: The Rise of the Vertical Drama
The Dirty Little Secret of Indie Film or What Pays The Bills - A HIFILM Industry Panel - Free to HIFILM Members
These fast-paced, mobile-first productions—shot vertically for platforms like ReelShort, DramaBox, and ShortMax—originated in East Asia and have grown into a multibillion-dollar industry. Now they’re taking off in the West as traditional productions slow down and creators look for new income streams.
Once seen as a stopgap or side hustle, vertical dramas are proving to be a fast, low-cost, and highly engaging way to reach global audiences. For filmmakers in Hawaiʻi, this panel explores how we might learn from this shift—whether by attracting vertical drama shoots to the islands or creating our own place-based stories in this format. We’ll dive into production models, monetization strategies, and the unique creative opportunities this trend presents.
Vertical is no longer a trend—it’s a new frontier.
Panelists:
Shu Zhu is a Chinese Canadian director working across narrative film, animation, and immersive media. His work explores themes of psychological transformation and environmental collapse through a genre-forward lens and has been showcased at Venice, Busan, Telluride, and many other international festivals and art institutions worldwide. In 2023, Shu was among the first wave of directors working in the emerging medium of vertical short drama in North America. He has since directed 15 series across major platforms and garnered over 200 million views.
Belle Zhang is a filmmaker with an international background, holding a BA in Film from the University of Toronto and an MA in Film Production from Goldsmiths, University of London. She has produced over 13 vertical short dramas, known for clear storytelling and strong audience appeal. Her hit series Mafia’s Tender Torture stayed at the top of overseas short drama charts for more than five months and is still the platform’s most popular title, with tens of millions of views and fans worldwide. Belle is recognized for delivering high-quality work on tight schedules and creating stories that connect with audiences across cultures, and she continues to create cinematic experiences that captivate audiences worldwide.
Miguel Angel Helu is a passionate cinematographer and camera operator with a decade of experience in film. Originally from Mexico and now based in Vancouver, Canada, his deep appreciation for storytelling and cultural perspectives makes him a keen observer and critical thinker behind the lens.
In June 2024, Miguel began working on vertical drama series as a camera operator, quickly advancing to a full-time cinematographer by September of the same year. He played a key role in shaping the visual style of the hit series MAFIA TENDER TORTURE and LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO, overseeing lighting and camera direction to bring the story to life.
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