When we were auditioning for Dirty Little Secrets, I kept hearing from actors that they had just shot 14 pages of a vertical the night before. I’m embarrassed to say I had no clue what that was (yeah, this is the guy teaching film school for 23 years!) So I did some research..
Apparently there is plenty of LA money filtering into this format. In the wake of the severe lack of work, these have stepped up almost like soap operas as a good source of work in the brutal (lack of) production landscape of 2024. Is this something you should get into? Let’s look at a few tips on how to write them. Later, we can do a part 2 on how to shoot them.
Top 5 Strategies for Writing a Vertical Script
Writing a script for vertical video is both a creative and technical challenge. With a mobile-first audience and a unique 9:16 frame to consider, writers need to adapt their storytelling techniques to fit the narrower screen. From character focus to scene pacing, every element should be crafted to maximize impact within the vertical format. Here are five essential tips for making your vertical script more engaging, as well as some insights into which genres work best in this format.
- Write with a Focus on Visuals, Not Just Dialogue
Vertical movies place a stronger emphasis on visuals, especially close-ups and intimate details that make the story feel immersive on a small screen. Rather than relying on dialogue-heavy scenes, think about how you can describe actions and expressions to convey story elements visually. For example, a character’s expressions, body language, and surroundings can reveal as much as spoken words. In your script, include detailed visual descriptions that guide the director to emphasize tight shots and impactful imagery that suits a mobile audience.
To make these visuals compelling, think in terms of depth—what’s in the foreground, middle ground, and background—and how these layers can add context. Instead of wide, panoramic shots that lose impact on a small screen, opt for descriptions that focus on faces, hands, or specific items that hold significance to the plot. Writing in this style makes the narrative more visual and emotionally engaging, ideal for genres like horror and romance, where close-up reactions and intimate visuals are key.
- Emphasize Character Perspective and Emotional Close-Ups
In a vertical script, you’ll want to draw the viewer into the character’s world, creating an emotional connection that feels up-close and personal. Describe scenes with one main character in focus, placing them centrally in the frame for an intimate feel that’s effective in genres like romance, mystery, or psychological thrillers. Writing in this style allows for nuanced storytelling that brings the viewer closer to the character’s perspective, capturing facial expressions, gestures, and subtle shifts in mood.
For instance, in a romance, you could describe a close-up of two characters’ hands nearly touching, creating a dramatic moment that wouldn’t be as striking in a wider shot. Or, in a thriller, you might write a scene where the camera zooms in on a character’s nervous glance over their shoulder, conveying tension. These focused shots help audiences feel what the character feels, a storytelling technique well-suited to vertical formats.
- Plan for Vertical Movement and Limited Side Action
The vertical frame naturally lends itself more to up-and-down movement rather than side-to-side panning. When writing scenes with action or movement, consider how characters or objects can enter or exit from the top or bottom of the frame. For example, in a horror film, a character’s face might appear from below, adding an eerie, unexpected effect. Vertical movement can enhance the sense of suspense or discovery, pulling the viewer’s attention through the frame.
When side-to-side movement is necessary, use it sparingly and in confined settings. For instance, in a mockumentary style, the camera might pan slightly to follow a character’s face, but avoid wide, sweeping movements that feel awkward in vertical. By tailoring your descriptions to the natural flow of vertical space, you create scenes that feel more dynamic and engaging within the format.
- Break Down Scenes into Quick, Mobile-Friendly Moments
Since vertical videos are typically consumed on mobile, it’s important to keep pacing quick and the story accessible. Mobile viewers often watch content on the go, meaning they have shorter attention spans and are more likely to engage with shorter, impactful scenes. Write with this in mind by focusing on concise moments that move the story forward quickly. Each scene should have a hook, an emotional punch, or a plot twist that makes it memorable without relying on extended dialogue or exposition.
A good technique is to think of each scene as a mini-episode or vignette within your story, especially if you’re working in episodic formats like comedy or thriller, where suspense or humor can be heightened. For instance, in a comedic script, you might focus on one-liner jokes or slapstick gags that don’t require a complex setup. This episodic style helps maintain viewer interest while giving the vertical format the attention it needs for effective storytelling.
- Focus on Single-Subject Shots for Clarity
Vertical framing is more restrictive, so it’s often best to keep scenes centered around one primary subject or point of interest. For example, a scene might focus entirely on one character in a confessional-style monologue, a format well-suited to mockumentary, horror, or romance. By centering the action on a single subject, you maintain clarity and allow viewers to focus on what matters most.
Avoid overloading scenes with background activity that could detract from the main focus, especially since vertical frames have less width for complex compositions. When writing your script, ensure descriptions are tight and direct, highlighting one character, action, or object in each scene. This approach will make the visuals clearer and more striking, drawing the viewer into the scene without unnecessary distractions.
Ideal Genres for Vertical Movies
Certain genres lend themselves particularly well to the vertical format, leveraging the close, intimate style of vertical video. Here are some genres that work well in this setup:
- Romance: The vertical frame captures close-up emotions and gestures that make romantic moments feel more personal. Writing romantic scenes in vertical encourages writers to focus on micro-expressions, gentle touches, and character interactions that feel genuine and immersive. The close framing is ideal for romance because it invites the viewer into the characters’ personal space, amplifying emotional engagement.
- Horror: The horror genre thrives in vertical because it brings the audience face-to-face with the characters’ fear. Vertical allows for chilling, claustrophobic close-ups that intensify suspense. For example, a character might glance nervously at the top of the frame, making the viewer feel the presence of something lurking. The frame’s natural depth can be used to create unsettling foreground-background compositions, a staple of horror.
- Mockumentary: Mockumentaries often focus on individual characters delivering confessional-style monologues directly to the camera, making vertical the perfect format for intimate, face-centered shots. The genre also works well for quick cuts and episodic pacing, fitting seamlessly with the mobile-viewing style of vertical videos. Comedy in this genre can be enhanced by the vertical format’s focus on facial expressions and body language.
- Mystery/Thriller: With the right pacing and camera work, thrillers can be adapted to vertical by focusing on suspense-building close-ups and vertical movement. These genres benefit from confined framing, where subtle details, like an anxious hand movement or a shadow in the background, can create tension. Writing for this genre in vertical means placing key details carefully within the limited frame, leaving room for moments of surprise and suspense.
By selecting a genre that fits well with vertical’s strengths and adapting the writing to suit mobile-first, close-up storytelling, writers can create scripts that feel immersive and visually captivating within this format. Writing for vertical is not only about adjusting framing and dialogue but also about tailoring genres and scene structure to meet the demands of an audience accustomed to quick, impactful visual content.
