TV and film producers Alon Shtruzman (“La Brea,” “Our Boys”) and Scott Einbinder (“Killer Joe,” “The Hitman’s Bodyguard”) are getting into the vertical micro-drama business.
The producers have launched New Short Media, a studio alongside their 5X Media banner devoted to micro-storytelling. As part of the announcement, director Gev Miron and writer-producer Russell Rothberg (“The Offer,” “Long Bright River”), will oversee development and creative operations.
Shtruzman, the founder and first CEO of Keshet International, said he believed that while the vertical space is evolving fast, there’s room for more genres, “premium production production values and recognizable talent into the space while harnessing the enormous reach of today’s creator economy.”
“Social media distribution and creator-led marketing are one of the most significant shifts in filmed entertainment since the emergence of streaming,” he said in a statement. “By combining that with mobile-first premium storytelling, New Short Media is aimed at reaching new and larger audiences. We believe the next generation of Hollywood franchises won’t necessarily begin on television or in theaters but on the phone.”
Added Einbinder: “Hollywood is discovering that vertical isn’t simply another distribution format – it’s becoming an entirely new storytelling medium. With New Short Studios combining experienced filmmakers with creators who already command enthusiastic global audiences, we’re creating projects designed to break through culturally, commercially and move beyond posts and clips into character-driven worlds that can live across multiple formats.”
