Writing, Directing & Producing Vertical Micro Dramas – Inside Christianne Cruz’s Creative Process

Director, writer, and creative force Christianne Cruz joins Jen to reveal how she’s pushing boundaries and redefining quality in the world of vertical dramas. With two hot projects (Red Talons and Power Play) on Salty TV, Christianne shares the wild ride from script to screen—including haunted sets, on-ice filming days, and powerful storytelling rooted in agency and inclusivity.

We cover
🎬 How Christianne transitioned from Hollywood to verticals
🎬 Why Salty TV is setting a new standard for quality and storytelling
🎬 The challenges (and benefits) of shooting in vertical format
🎬 How she casts fresh faces and builds complex female characters
🎬 Behind-the-scenes on Red Talons
🎬 The art and discipline of filming real hockey action for Power Play
🎬 How she handles intimacy scenes with care and consent
🎬 Why diversity and representation are core to her work
🎬 What's next for Christianne

⏱️ Timestamps:
01:00 – From child actor to Hollywood producer
02:40 – How Christianne discovered verticals through Salty TV
04:30 – What makes Salty TV's content stand out
06:15 – The cinema-first approach to vertical storytelling
07:45 – Developing Red Talons and Power Play
09:30 – Writing Red Talons from scratch (and avoiding outside influence)
11:15 – Why script is the blueprint—and how it drives everything
13:10 – Casting fresh talent through Instagram and backstage
21:30 – Filming real hockey action for Power Play
23:00 – Technical challenges of filming action in vertical format
27:00 – Writing empowered romance and handling intimacy scenes
33:00 – Why strong female characters matter—and how she builds them
34:40 – Crafting nuanced villains and rewriting tired tropes
41:00 – Building believable chemistry and flipping typecasting
42:20 – The haunted house on Red Talons
49:00 – Building a brand of auteur-led, women-first storytelling
52:30 – Reframing verticals as “hyper-pop soap operas”
54:00 – The global audience for vertical dramas


💬 Whether you're a vertical drama superfan or a creative curious about the format, this deep-dive into the making of high-quality mobile storytelling is packed with insight and inspiration.

🎙️ Got thoughts on Red Talons, Power Play, or the future of mobile storytelling? Drop a comment below—we’d love to hear from you.

💌 And if you're as passionate about raising the bar for this genre as we are, share this video with a fellow fan or filmmaker. Let’s keep the momentum (and the conversation) going.

☕ Like what we’re doing? Support the channel by subscribing, sharing, and buying Jen a coffee (link below). Every little bit helps keep the vertical drama love going!

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Christianne Cruz IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7766104/?...
Christianne Cruz Instagram   / christianne_cruz  
Salty TV https://salty-tv.com/

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Welcome to Vertical Drama Love, your ultimate destination for all things vertical drama! Vertical Drama Love is dedicated to celebrating and exploring the captivating world of vertical dramas—short-form video series designed specifically for vertical viewing on smartphones. Originating in China, this innovative format has rapidly gained global popularity, offering viewers fast-paced, engaging storylines filled with beloved tropes like enemies to lovers, contract marriages, and supernatural elements.​

At Vertical Drama Love, I offer:

💫 In-Depth Reviews: Discover our curated selection of the best vertical dramas to help you choose your next favorite series.​
💫 Behind-The-Scenes Access: Gain exclusive insights into the creative processes of talented actors, directors, and production crews who bring these stories to life.​
💫 Community Spotlights: Meet fellow fans and creatives through our interviews and features.​
💫 Industry News and Features: Stay updated with the latest developments in the vertical drama industry through our journal and media articles.​
💫 Fan Awards: Participate in our annual Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions in the vertical drama sphere.​

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