vertical actors leaving show reason
Reasons Vertical Actors Are Leaving
Stigma and Career Impact
- Negative Perception: Many in the acting industry do not take vertical dramas seriously, which can affect an actor's career progression. "It's not content that anybody in the professional industry takes seriously. You could do 100 verticals and to a network CD you're still new and inexperienced"
- IMDb Concerns: Some actors have even tried to remove vertical credits from their IMDb to avoid being associated with the genre. "I’ve heard of guys/girls that were able to quit their day jobs doing a lot of these, but I’ve also heard horror stories about actors trying to have VS credits removed from their IMBD because they realized/were told by potential rep that these films are akin to doing a bunch of 'Z grade' movies."
Payment and Working Conditions
- Payment Issues: There have been numerous reports of actors not being paid on time or at all for their work on vertical dramas. "I know 4 people who said they never got paid, and another 3 who said payment was extremely delayed and they had to almost harass them to get their payment."
- Low Wages: While some vertical dramas can offer decent pay, it's often not enough to sustain a living in high-cost areas. "At the current financial structure, you can’t raise a family in Los Angeles on what verticals pay."
Quality of Work
- Poor Writing: Many vertical dramas are criticized for their terrible writing and storytelling. "They’re soooo badly written and acted it’s insane"
- Lack of Artistic Fulfillment: Actors may feel that working on vertical dramas does not provide the artistic challenge or fulfillment they seek. "I had the wonderful pleasure of moving to LA right when these verticals popped off.. /s. Anyway I've shot many of them, and while they are terrible scripts, I've met a lot of wonderful people and made a living in the industry."
Alternative Opportunities
- Transition to Mainstream: Some vertical actors are successfully transitioning to more mainstream projects. "Noah Fearnley seems poised to make the jump. He’s done one or two Hallmark-type movies already and is now filming American Love Story"
- Other Genres: Actors may prefer to explore other genres that offer better quality and career prospects. "I’ve been able to negotiate up to $1,000 per day for leads. There’s no way indie films can compete with that rate of pay."
Future of Verticals
- Potential for Growth: Despite the current issues, there is potential for vertical dramas to improve and become a legitimate part of the industry. "Vertical is huge in Asia. Micro dramas are growing like crazy and making so much money."
- SAG-AFTRA Involvement: SAG-AFTRA is now involved in creating contracts specifically for vertical dramas, which could lead to better conditions for actors. "SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin called verticals an 'exciting new space' in a statement."
Communities for Further Discussion
These communities can provide more personalized advice and insights from redditors who have direct experience in the vertical drama industry.
Posted Apr 2, 2026, 10:33 PM UTC
10