American actor Michael Vaccaro has acted in 31 Duanju series in just two years

Amid the hustle and bustle of American studios, one actor quickly made the leap into duanju: Michael Vaccaro. A New Yorker living in Los Angeles, he started out as a child, working in films, commercials, and theater, before finding himself, like many others, interrupted by the health crisis and the strikes that paralyzed Hollywood. It was then that he discovered a new playing field: verticals, or duanju, short fictions designed for mobile devices.

As the first American vertical productions were released in 2023, Michael Vaccaro jumped right in. Two years later, he'd already shot 31. "My entire recent career has been in this space," he explains. From wealthy, tyrannical CEOs to flamboyant comedic characters, he explored the archetypes that still dominate the genre, while also seeking to expand its contours. For him, the experience is both an artistic challenge and a real chance to continue working in a fragile industry.

While verticals are sometimes criticized for their modest budgets and stereotypical stories, Michael Vaccaro sees them above all as an opportunity. In a Hollywood marked by declining production, successive strikes, and competition from platforms, these fictions offer work and visibility. "Verticals are no longer marginal: we film in Los Angeles, but also in London, Bogota, Istanbul... It's a global format," he emphasizes. For an actor, it's an opportunity to travel, meet new audiences, and expand their repertoire.

Beyond simply being an economic alternative, Michael Vaccaro emphasizes the changing outlook on verticals. Productions are becoming more professional, budgets are increasing, and the first formative events are appearing. In the United States, Vertfest brought together actors and fans for the first time around panels and screenings. In Europe, Jen Cooper created the Vertical Drama Awards. Even in China, RealShort honors its best productions. These are all signs of a nascent artistic recognition that is pushing the format beyond its initial image as simple, quick entertainment.

Michael Vaccaro is excitedly looking to the future. His latest project, Game of Choice, with an estimated budget of over $500,000, stands out for its visual and narrative ambition, far from the usual clichés. "This might be the vertical that will prove that we can break out of the romance-conflict paradigm," he hopes. And he's already dreaming bigger: why not a musical vertical?

His message is clear: if the format continues to invent itself, to surprise and to professionalize itself, it can offer a space of unprecedented creativity for both actors and spectators.

#MaelleBillant