LOS ANGELES — Inside Dr. Self Tape’s studio, Joseph Harold works on a camera. He is making sure everything looks good.
Joseph and his brother Joel started this studio to help actors make auditions and self-tapes. Now, they are making something new: vertical micro-dramas.
Vertical micro-dramas are short videos made to be watched on phones. They are popular in Asia and are starting to be popular in the U.S.
“This is a big chance for filmmakers,” Harold said. “We have been making films for ten years.”
Joseph’s new project shows the funny parts of auditions. He knows this world well from his studio.
“I spend a lot of time on the phone. It’s easier to watch short videos like these,” he said.
Many big studios are still figuring out this new style of storytelling. But small filmmakers are growing.
City Council member Bob Blumenfield wants Los Angeles to support these new creators. He says the city needs to keep its film industry strong.
“We should help micro-drama creators stay in Los Angeles,” he said. “This is the next wave in entertainment.”
Vocabulary List:
- Vertical /ˈvɜːr.tɪ.kəl/ (adjective): Upright; oriented in a direction that is perpendicular to the ground.
- Micro-drama /ˈmaɪ.kroʊ ˈdrɑː.mə/ (noun): A very short dramatic video designed for viewing on mobile devices.
- Auditions /ɔːˈdɪʃ.ənz/ (noun): Tryouts for a role in a film or theater where actors perform for judges.
- Filmmakers /ˈfɪlmmɛɪkərz/ (noun): People who produce or direct films.
- Creators /kriˈeɪ.tərz/ (noun): Individuals who bring new ideas products or works of art into existence.
- Storytelling /ˈstɔːrɪˌtɛlɪŋ/ (noun): The act of narrating or presenting a story often through various forms of media.
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