Insights.

Vertical Isn’t a Format. It’s a Revolution.

Real Reel™

06 Aug 2025 — 2 min read

Hello everyone! 👋

Real Reel™ is an open playground for all things vertical drama: the craft, the chaos, the hot-takes. If you’ve ever felt thrilled or annoyed about watching stories in portrait, we want to hear from you.

Two fresh reads to kick-start the debate:

1️⃣ 9:16 — “Vertical Isn’t a Format. It’s a Revolution.”
Five nuggets you’ll pick up:

History in a swipe — from Snapchat Stories to TikTok takeover.
The Age of the Face — why 9:16 close-ups feel extra intimate.
Hook → Invitation — shifting from “Look at me!” to “Come hang out.”
Up-and-down camera moves that replace the classic pan.
Damien Chazelle’s The Stunt Double — proof an iPhone can stand as tall as IMAX.

9:16 is new to Medium, so every clap, comment and share means the world.
👉 Read it here: [link]

2️⃣ Saahil Thakkar — “If you’re making microdramas, be f — -ing afraid.”
Key points:

Vertical microdramas are cash-rich now… but ceilings come fast.
Big studios are circling; when they dive in, cheap content gets wiped out.
Quantity is a short-term game — invest in quality IP or get left behind.

Disclaimer: Saahil’s opinions are entirely his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Real Reel or its editors.

👉 Dive in here: [Saahil link]

Want to add your voice?

We’re looking for personal essays (roughly 400–600 words) on any angle of vertical drama — creative process, business trends, viewer psychology, you name it.
Submit your draft to the Real Reel™ Publication on Medium; we’ll review and let you know if it’s a fit.

Drop your hottest take in the comments, see you there. 😉

Standing tall, frame by frame.

— RR

EVNT. ｜GOING VERTICAL: The Vertical Short Revolution Forum

Creators, producers, and platform folks, we’re bringing the 9:16 conversation into the room. Real Reel™, in collaboration with UCLA Center for Chinese Studies ↗ and the International Short Drama Association ↗, will host a two-panel forum putting both the craft and the business of vertical shorts on the table. Seats

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