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25Q4 | Actors in the Vertical Era: Liyanne Marie on Casting, Performance, and the Rise of Vertical Drama
Description
🌍 Short Drama Alliance — Learning Resources & Industry Insights
📘 Essential Industry Book
Short Drama Writing 101: Write What Platforms Want
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX45ZXK7
📙 Self-Paced Online Course
Short Drama Writing 101: A Practical Course with Real Case Studies
https://maggie-han.mykajabi.com/short-drama-bootcamp-1?preview_theme_id=2166150379
🎬 4-Week Online Bootcamp (with Real Feedback)
Short Drama Bootcamp
https://maggie-han.mykajabi.com/short-drama-bootcamp
🌏 Industry & China Market Insights
Future Playbook: China’s Short Drama Ecosystem and Insights for Global Business
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX5QBY3Y
Today’s episode features a conversation from our 2025 Q4 Short Drama Forum with Liyanne Marie — a Casting Director (CDA) and Head of Casting at Onset Octopus, working across film, TV, commercials, theatre, and especially vertical dramas in the UK and internationally.
In this interview, Liyanne shares how casting for vertical dramas differs from traditional screen work, what she looks for in actors in a fast-paced mobile-first format, and why authenticity and emotional clarity matter more than ever.
We also talk about:
· how vertical dramas are reshaping casting pipelines,
· the rapid demand for new talent across global platforms,
· and the skills actors need to succeed in this emerging format.
If you’re a creator, producer, or actor navigating the vertical-drama space, her insights offer a clear, practical look at how the industry is evolving behind the scenes.