The Vertical Buzz

🎬 What happens when one risky vertical drama becomes an entire franchise? On this episode of The Vertical Buzz, host Buzz Leer sits down with actor Sky Kawai and writer, actor, and director Jen “JP” Parkhill, behind ReelShort’s “boy” universe: Poolboy, Waterboy, Stable Boy, and Waterboy: Second Down. They reveal how a queer love story that felt like a risk became an award-winning hit, what it takes to build momentum across multiple titles, and why the chemistry between actors and a director can make all the difference. JP shares the journey from indie filmmaking and Sundance to directing verticals, including adapting shot lists to tight budgets and fast schedules. Sky talks about growing up in Utah, musical theater, and how medical school was once his backup plan. We also hear how Stable Boy came to life, why release timing matters in the AI-content boom, and how fans have shared deeply personal stories about seeing themselves represented onscreen. Plus: the rescue of set puppy Joey, rapid-fire favorites, a debate about director freedom, and Sky’s truly unbelievable story about being kidnapped twice. 🐶😱 In this episode, you’ll hear about: How Poolboy helped open the door for queer vertical stories. The shock of winning an award for Waterboy. Turning individual microdramas into a recognizable franchise. Why trust, authenticity, and chemistry matter on set. The realities of negotiating projects and navigating release timing. How vertical stories build unusually close relationships with fans. The wild story behind Sky’s two kidnapping experiences. Chapters 00:00 Episode Trailer 03:01 Bios And Sponsor Shoutouts 06:43 JP Indie Roots And Sundance 11:07 Sky Utah And Pre Med 17:54 First Vertical Shock 31:04 Poolboy Franchise Begins 32:08 Queer Director Breakthrough 33:24 Awards Night Shock Win 34:36 Authenticity On Set 35:19 Franchise Momentum Sparks 38:20 Waterboy Negotiations Pressure 41:33 Stable Boy Idea Origins 43:15 Stable Boy Trailer Watch 45:05 Release Timing And AI Boom 46:31 Set Puppy Joey Rescue 01:03:12 Overused Set Words 01:04:13 Breaking Character Games 01:04:49 One Take vs Ten 01:05:42 Director Freedom Debate 01:07:26 Waterboy Magic 01:12:05 Rapid Fire Favorites 01:17:26 Keep One Boy 01:20:16 Kidnapped Twice Story 01:25:32 Franchises and Farewell Sponsor: AEIRO (Arrow Air Purifiers) AEIRO helps identify, reduce, and monitor airborne contaminants. Featured in this episode: the AEIRO AC150, with smart sensor controls, true HEPA and carbon filtration, and coverage for rooms 300+ sq ft. Website: AEIRO.co Official Sponsor: Blackmagic Design 🎥 Blackmagic Design has been part of The Vertical Buzz from day one. We’ve built our production workflow around their professional cameras and live production equipment, and we’re thrilled to welcome them as an official sponsor of the show. From cinematic cameras and production switchers to DaVinci Resolve editing and color-grading software, Blackmagic Design creates tools that help filmmakers and content creators bring their ideas to life. We’re proud to use their technology to produce The Vertical Buzz and excited to have them officially on board. Explore their cameras, production equipment, and creative tools at: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com Instagram: @blackmagicnewsofficial Guests Sky Kawai is a Japanese American actor and performer from Springville, Utah, with a BFA in musical theater from the University of Utah. His vertical credits include Poolboy, Waterboy, and Stable Boy. Instagram: @skykawai_ Jen “JP” Parkhill is an LA- and Austin-based writer, actor, and filmmaker, and a graduate of NYU Tisch. Her work includes award-winning ReelShort vertical dramas Poolboy, Waterboy, Stable Boy, and Waterboy: Second Down. Instagram: @jenparkhill Host: Buzz Leer Actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space. Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Owned and operated by Erika and Jason Hanan. Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Director: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano 🎵 Theme Song: Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley, The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media: Robb Leer, Leer Communications, Inc. Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer #TheVerticalBuzz #VerticalDrama #SkyKawai #JenParkhill #VerticalEntertainment #ReelShort

What happens when Hollywood tells you hard work isn't enough, but a new entertainment revolution gives you a second chance? 🎬📱 Richard Sharrah has lived through two major shifts in entertainment. From helping create viral YouTube hits Kid History and Kid Snippets to becoming one of vertical drama's recognizable faces, Richard knows what it takes to build an audience, create opportunities, and spot a disruptor before everyone else catches on. In this episode of The Vertical Buzz, Richard shares how a primetime TV deal collapsed during COVID, why he pivoted to an MBA at USC, and how his first vertical drama, The Billionaire's Baby Bargain, changed everything. We also get into the flood of AI-generated verticals, why audiences may tune out, and whether vertical entertainment can become a true meritocracy. Plus, we discuss his work with Lighthouse Verticals and its family-centered, faith-based slate connected to Tim Tebow. In this episode, you will learn: How Kid History became a viral hit and attracted major brand deals. Why a near-miss with primetime TV forced a career pivot. How an MBA helped Richard recognize vertical drama as a potential industry disruptor. Why his first vertical hit reached audiences around the world in just 12 hours. What 450,000 AI verticals could mean for the future of the format. Why Richard believes vertical entertainment can reward talent and hard work. Chapters 00:00 Cannons and Violins 01:31 Vertical Buzz Intro 04:50 Growing Up Everywhere 06:42 Australia Full Circle 10:29 Mom Peru and Movies 13:47 NYU Tisch to YouTube 21:06 Going Viral and Brand Deals 32:06 Primetime Deal Collapses 34:06 Family Pressure Pivot 35:40 GMAT Chaos During Covid 36:37 USC MBA Grind 39:51 Grownish Meets The Volume 41:52 First Vertical Breakthrough 48:44 Vertical Fame And Industry Shift 01:01:02 AI Content Saturation 01:01:37 Robocalls And Cold Emails 01:03:09 Peak TV Vs AI Flood 01:03:53 Dust Settling And Live Action 01:05:37 Lighthouse And Tim Tebow Slate 01:11:33 Vertical Meritocracy Lessons 01:13:33 Rapid Fire And Wrap Up Sponsor: AEIRO (Arrow Air Purifiers) AEIRO helps identify, reduce, and monitor airborne contaminants. Featured in this episode: the AEIRO AC150, with smart sensor controls, true HEPA and carbon filtration, and coverage for rooms 300+ sq ft. Website: AEIRO.co Guest: Richard Sharrah Instagram: @richardsharrah Host: Buzz Leer Actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space. Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Owned and operated by Erika and Jason Hanan. Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Director: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song: Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley, The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media: Robb Leer, Leer Communications, Inc. Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer #TheVerticalBuzz #VerticalDrama #RichardSharrah #VerticalEntertainment #AI

What happens when a Hollywood screenwriter decides the future of entertainment is vertical, but refuses to let an algorithm tell him what stories to make? 📱🎬 This week on The Vertical Buzz, Buzz Leer sits down with Sal Paskowitz, screenwriter, director, producer, and co-founder of Super Punchy Studios. Sal co-created and co-wrote The Age of Adaline, starring Blake Lively and Harrison Ford, and now he's bringing his cinematic approach to the rapidly evolving world of vertical entertainment. But Sal's story starts far from Hollywood. Raised as one of nine children in a legendary surfing family, he spent much of his childhood traveling the world in a camper. With an unconventional education built around books, nature, and movies, Sal developed a lifelong passion for creativity and storytelling that took him from art and graphic design to Hollywood filmmaking. Now, with Super Punchy Studios, he's taking a different approach to vertical drama. Following the success of Step by Step, Sal is determined to put the story first, rather than simply repeating whatever an algorithm says is working. He shares why he believes audiences deserve more than recycled tropes, how vertical framing changes the way directors tell stories, and why he sees this format becoming a fully integrated part of the entertainment industry. We also talk about Layover, Super Punchy's upcoming projects, the growing pains of the vertical market, and Sal's bold vision for what comes next. Plus, stick around for rapid-fire questions, surfing stories, celebrity impressions, singing, and a surprising family connection to legendary voice actor Mel Blanc. In this episode, you will learn: 🎬 How Sal went from an unconventional childhood to co-writing The Age of Adaline 🏄 What growing up in a legendary surfing family taught him about creativity 📱 Why Sal believes vertical entertainment needs to put storytelling ahead of algorithms 🔥 What made Step by Step connect with audiences, and what's next for Super Punchy Studios 🎥 How directing and production design change when the frame goes vertical 🤖 Why Sal is betting on handcrafted stories in the age of AI 🌎 Why he believes vertical entertainment is becoming a fourth major format alongside movies, TV, and streaming 🎞️ What Layover's selection for the ALZA Film Festival means for Super Punchy 🎤 The surprising story behind Sal's connection to Mel Blanc, plus his voices and musical talents Chapters 00:00 Writing vs the Robot 00:34 Voices and Mel Blanc 01:29 Vertical Buzz Intro 02:58 Sal Bio and Banter 05:00 Surfwise Childhood 07:00 Books Not School 08:18 Movies as Church 11:52 Finding Sal and Art 18:13 Hollywood and Adaline 25:40 Vertical Wave and Super Punchy 35:03 Why Step By Step Worked 35:13 Beating Algorithmic Tropes 37:14 Vertical Market Growing Pains 38:09 Layover Hits ALZA Fest 39:51 Future Screens Go Vertical 41:35 Directing For Vertical Frames 43:19 Super Punchy Story First Mission 45:24 Rapid Fire Surf And Movies 51:10 Voices Songs And Family Ties 55:28 Top 10 Game And Farewell Sponsor: AEIRO (Arrow Air Purifiers) AEIRO Air Purifiers help identify, reduce, and monitor airborne contaminants to create a cleaner indoor environment for homes and professional spaces. Featured in this episode: AEIRO AC150, powerful enough to clean rooms 300+ sq ft, quiet enough for production, with smart sensor controls and true HEPA plus carbon filtration. Website: AEIRO.co Guest: Sal Paskowitz Screenwriter, director, producer, and co-founder of Super Punchy Studios, Sal is best known for co-creating and co-writing The Age of Adaline. His work now spans cinematic filmmaking and original vertical dramas, including Step by Step and Layover. Instagram: @salpaskowitz Super Punchy Studios: @superpunchystudios Host: Buzz Leer Buzz Leer is an actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space. Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Owned and operated by Erika and Jason Hanan Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Director: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley, The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media Robb Leer, Leer Communications, Inc. Thank you Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer #TheVerticalBuzz #SalPaskowitz #SuperPunchyStudios #VerticalDrama #VerticalEntertainment #TheAgeOfAdaline #StepByStep #Layover

What does it take to become one of the recognizable faces of vertical entertainment in just a few years? 📱🎬 This week on The Vertical Buzz, Buzz sits down with actress Nicole Mattox, whose journey from a painfully shy kid in Texas, to UT Austin, cavern tour guide, and aspiring traditional actress eventually led her into one of the fastest-growing forms of entertainment in the world. Nicole had no idea what “vertical” even meant when she first auditioned for one. Then came Breaking the Ice, a chemistry read squeezed into the middle of a chaotic shoot, and suddenly everything started moving. Within months, Nicole's vertical career was taking off, her work with Seth Eden was connecting with audiences, and she was becoming one of the industry's most recognizable performers. But there's much more to Nicole's story than her vertical credits. She talks about growing up in Texas, studying film at UT Austin, spending years training in the Meisner technique, working as a cavern tour guide, and why all of those life experiences ultimately made her a better actor. We also get into one of the biggest questions facing the industry right now: AI vs. human actors. Nicole isn't against AI, but she believes there is something fundamentally different about watching a real person experience emotion on screen, especially in stories built around human connection. And Nicole explains why vertical acting itself requires a different technique, why she wants to balance vertical and traditional acting, and which genres she believes could be the next big opportunity for vertical storytelling. In this episode, you will learn: 🎬 How Nicole went from Texas to Los Angeles and ultimately found vertical entertainment 📱 How Breaking the Ice became a major turning point in her career 🎭 Why life experience can make an actor more authentic 🧠 How years of Meisner training shaped her acting 🕳️ How working as a cavern tour guide prepared her for acting 🤖 Nicole's perspective on AI-generated actors and human emotion 🎥 Why acting for vertical requires a different physical and emotional style 🌎 How Nicole became part of the early generation helping build vertical entertainment 🔥 Which genres she thinks could be the next big opportunity for vertical storytelling Chapters 00:00 Authentic Acting Truth 00:44 AI Actors Debate 01:22 Show Intro And Guest 04:51 Peacock Micro Drama Trip 06:46 Texas Roots And Childhood 08:05 Early Acting Spark 09:19 UT Austin And Career Pivot 12:54 Cavern Tour Guide Days 20:08 LA Move And Acting Training 25:05 Vertical Breakout And Buzz 33:43 Coffee With Sal 34:17 Thrown Into AD Work 35:17 Super Punchy Rise 35:54 Keeping Set Energy 37:45 Life Experience Acting 38:31 AI Versus Heart 42:42 Back To Traditional 44:10 Vertical Acting Style 45:56 Genres And Growth 54:52 Rapid Fire And Farewell Sponsor: AEIRO (Arrow Air Purifiers) AEIRO Air Purifiers help identify, reduce, and monitor airborne contaminants to create a cleaner indoor environment for homes and professional spaces. Featured in this episode: AEIRO AC150, powerful enough to clean rooms 300+ sq ft, quiet enough for production, with smart sensor controls and true HEPA plus carbon filtration. Website: AEIRO.co Guest: Nicole Mattox Nicole Mattox is a Los Angeles-based actress originally from Schertz, Texas and a graduate of UT Austin. She has become one of the recognizable performers in vertical entertainment, with credits including Breaking the Ice, The Hit Woman, Step by Step, Faded at First Sight, and Twisted Minds. She has also worked with Super Punchy Studios and recently starred in Peacock's first in-house micro-drama. Instagram: @nicolemattox_ Host: Buzz Leer Buzz Leer is an actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space. Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Owned and operated by Erika and Jason Hanan Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Director: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley, The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media Robb Leer, Leer Communications, Inc. Thank you Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer #TheVerticalBuzz #NicoleMattox #VerticalEntertainment #VerticalDrama #MicroDrama #Acting #AI #Hollywood #GlendalePodcastStudio

What happens when you build a sport specifically for the way people watch entertainment today? 📱🏆 This week on The Vertical Buzz, Buzz sits down with Nate Thomas, President and co-founder of World 1 Championship, to explore the creation of MicroSports and why the future of sports may be built vertically from the ground up. Nate is a veteran television producer who has created and produced more than 1,000 hours of programming, including BattleBots and Netflix's Hyperdrive, with previous stops at Merv Griffin Entertainment and Mark Cuban's HDNet. Now he's applying everything he's learned about television, live entertainment, competition, and storytelling to a completely new kind of sports property. From redefining what it means to be the fastest person in the world to creating a new test for the strongest, World 1 is designing competitions that can be understood, produced, and consumed in about 30 seconds. And there's a bigger idea behind it: MicroSports. Sports created for the phone, built vertically from the beginning, and designed to turn the highlight itself into the event. 📲 In this episode, you will learn: 🏆 How Nate went from driving Merv Griffin to producing BattleBots and working with Mark Cuban 🤖 Why BattleBots succeeded when it was reframed as a legitimate sport 📱 Why World 1 is building sports specifically for vertical video ⚡ How the World 1 Speed Chamber will determine the fastest person in the world 💪 How the Bench Squat Max could redefine the strongest person in the world 🎥 Why 30 seconds may be the sweet spot for MicroSports 🌎 How World 1 plans to discover athletes anywhere in the world 📺 Why traditional sports struggle to translate their biggest moments to vertical 💰 How building a sport vertically could create new opportunities for brands and sponsors Chapters 00:00 Episode Trailer 00:23 Vertical Sports Tease 01:30 Show Intro Microsports 03:41 Nate Bio Sponsor 05:03 Breaking Into TV 14:02 BattleBots Reinvented 17:59 World One Speed Chamber 30:43 Reinventing the Sprint 31:11 Strategy and Run Up 31:51 Portable Speed Chamber 33:29 Strongest Event Explained 36:10 Bench Squat Max Strategy 40:40 What Is a MicroSport 47:55 Vertical First Production 01:01:56 Campus Competition Day 01:02:25 Crowns Belts and Champions 01:02:56 Sponsor Break Airo AC150 01:03:21 Vertical Buzz Rapid Fire 01:09:48 Merv Griffin Shar Pei Heist 01:16:23 Test Event at LA Galaxy 01:20:29 Building Stars and Final Wrap Sponsor: AEIRO (Arrow Air Purifiers) AEIRO Air Purifiers help identify, reduce, and monitor airborne contaminants to create a cleaner indoor environment for homes and professional spaces. Featured in this episode: AEIRO AC150, powerful enough to clean rooms 300+ sq ft, quiet enough for production, with smart sensor controls and true HEPA plus carbon filtration. Website: AEIRO.co Guest: Nate Thomas Nate Thomas is President and co-founder of World 1 Championship and a veteran television producer with more than 1,000 hours of programming to his credit, including BattleBots and Netflix's Hyperdrive. He has also worked with Merv Griffin Entertainment and Mark Cuban's HDNet. World 1 Championship: world1championship.com Host: Buzz Leer Buzz Leer is an actor, host, and veteran of the vertical film space. Instagram: @buzz_leer A Glendale Podcast Studio Production Owned and operated by Erika and Jason Hanan Instagram: @glendalepodcaststudio Social Media Director: Ana Karina Cano Instagram: @anakarinacano Theme Song Grace Leer and Bryan Dawley, The Vertical Buzz Theme Song Public Relations and Media Robb Leer, Leer Communications, Inc. Thank you Special thanks to all of my support team, friends, and family. Host, Buzz Leer #TheVerticalBuzz #NateThomas #World1Championship #MicroSports #VerticalEntertainment #BattleBots #Sports #VerticalVideo #WorldOne