With Sea Star Productions, Bethany Thomson explores the Duanju

In London, Sea Star Productions is one of the young teams exploring the language of vertical storytelling. Under the creative direction of Bethany Thomson, the British company seeks to combine technical rigor with the joy of telling short stories. Between film and digital content, its ambition is simple: to create, learn, and bring new forms of storytelling to life.

The vertical format as a testing ground

Specializing in the production of micro-fictions shot for smartphones, Sea Star Productions approaches each shoot as a stylistic exercise in its own right. “We treat each episode like a mini-movie,” explains Bethany Thomson, who oversees creative and strategy for the studio. The teams come from film and television backgrounds, but adapt their methods to the speed of the vertical format, emphasizing spontaneity and rhythm.

A European vision of micro-drama

For Bethany Thomson, the vertical isn't just a passing fad. She envisions a natural evolution of the format, adapted to European tastes: social comedies, urban thrillers, intimate dramas, at the crossroads of genres. The studio wants to draw inspiration from the dynamism of Asia, while developing an identity specific to British culture.

On set, the approach is collaborative. "The first time you step onto a vertical set, everything seems different: the framing, the direction of actors, the rhythm..." This framework allows young directors and technicians to quickly learn, experimenting with new methods. Sea Star regularly works with new talent and considers each shoot as a shared learning experience.

The company also places a strong emphasis on distribution. Bethany Thomson sees marketing as a natural extension of creation: communicating is also about storytelling. Using social platforms like TikTok and Instagram, Sea Star combines emotion, storytelling, and visibility. The idea isn't to sell, but to involve the viewer in a universe.

Under the leadership of its founder Dennis, the studio cultivates an atmosphere of trust and boldness. "If you believe in it, do it," he likes to repeat. This climate of freedom transforms Sea Star into a true collective workshop, where experimentation takes precedence over demonstration. For Bethany Thomson, this is what makes the vertical so vibrant: a space where you learn by creating, with no other ambition than to tell a better story.

Interview by Maëlle Billant

#MaelleBillant