25Q4 | Actors in the Vertical Era: Liyanne Marie on Casting, Performance, and the Rise of Vertical Drama

🌍 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.