Roku believes that directing a vertical web series is by no means easier than directing a traditional film and TV—in fact, it’s often more challenging. “Verticals aren’t just competing with traditional horizontal-screen media,” she says, “they’re also competing with all kinds of social media content that you see on the internet.”
For a director, this means developing a deeper understanding of the script, maintaining precise control over the rhythm of performance, and using visual elements in inventive ways to capture the audience’s attention every single second. — “That’s not an easy task.”
VERTICAL WEB SERIES
Some fun BTS captured while working on the verticals
Photo by Roku Long
Roku has always been curious about new forms of storytelling, and she’s eager to see how the vertical web series industry will continue to evolve in the future. In the meantime, she genuinely enjoys—and feels proud of—every project that has found its way to her. 🫶
Roku sees a huge opportunity in vertical storytelling to open doors for the next generation of filmmakers. If you’d like to learn more or explore a collaboration, email her at rokujingwenlong@gmail.com
"I see the vertical drama industry as something like when the internet was first introduced to our parents’ generation— full of potential, and waiting to be explored. As audiences’ attention spans grow shorter and shorter, this format offers a fresh way of storytelling—compact, emotional, and deeply engaging."