Interview with Jimmy Wu
Raising the bar in vertical drama production
Recently, Behind the Verticals had the opportunity to visit one of cinematographer-turned-vertical-producer Jimmy Wu’s sets in Vancouver and also do a follow-up interview with him.
But first, this week’s global vertical drama news…
👀 Spotted:
Issa Rae’s Hoorae Media sets first microdrama series ‘Screen Time’ in TikTok content deal.
The National Enquirer’s archives to be mined for microdramas in new deal.
Musical Microdrama ‘Playback’ unveils trailer and you can join the premiere tomorrow in LA. This is also an interesting BTS of microdrama editing.
TikTok is hiring a Short Drama Content Business Partnership Manager and Script Planning & Evaluation Manager.
Fox Entertainment CEO claps back at vertical dramas’ bad rap and looks to the future with Dhar Mann.
Microdrama Platform ReelShort teams with Thailand’s AIS in first Southeast Asia telco deal.
Great American Media partners with Minivela to develop and distribute microdrama slate.
Ubisoft eyes microdrama market but considers it too ‘cheap’ to enter for now.
A ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Top Gun’ producer is joining the micro drama craze. Read his pitch deck.
Australian production company Ronde Media launches first reality microdrama.
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🎙️ Interview with Jimmy Wu
Jimmy didn’t plan on pivoting to verticals. As a TV movie cinematographer, he had a career, a crew, and a pipeline. Then the industry-wide strike brought everything to a halt. When the phone stops ringing for a freelancer, he says, it etches itself into your brain.
In December 2023, he was approached to shoot the first vertical production to take place in Vancouver. The budget was low, the format was new, and he didn’t think much of it at first. But in the months that followed, he dug deeper and realized he was looking at a real, growing market.
“That’s when I knew I needed to make my pivot,” he says. “Not just for me, but for the people I work with.”
He hasn’t looked back. Today, Jimmy has around 30 vertical shows to his name and a growing reputation for bringing a cinematic eye to a format that hasn’t always demanded one.
Jimmy’s tip for those looking to enter the space: LinkedIn.
We talked about AI in vertical drama production, IP ownership, Vancouver as a filming location, and the current and future state of the industry. Read more below.
