Steamy Romance Trilogy Ignites New Era for Vertical Content!

USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone recently found herself in an unexpected collaboration with ReelShort, a platform specializing in vertical dramas. Known for her boundary-pushing and often erotic romance novels, Simone's work had not previously attracted Hollywood adaptations due to its taboo content. She noted the difficulty in securing buy-in for such explicit material in traditional film and TV, humorously questioning the mainstream appetite for themes like 'priest effin’'. However, ReelShort approached her with interest in adapting her Lyonesse Trilogy, a queer, kinky contemporary retelling of Tristan and Isolde, reimagined as a throuple falling in love with Mark, Isolde's betrothed.

Simone was initially apprehensive, having been upfront about the Lyonesse Trilogy being an 'unabashedly queer story' with an MMF dynamic, which she insisted should not erase the MM part. Other potential studios had shown 'anxiety about how carnal the stories are.' To her surprise, ReelShort's response was enthusiastically positive, without 'even a blink about the queer content' or the 'kinky' nature of the story. This acceptance, along with their agreement to involve queer voices behind the lens and cast actors capable of conveying the books' unspoken nuances, was highly appealing to Simone.

The casting process focused on finding the right trio for the Lyonesse Trilogy: Isolde Laurence, Tristan, and Mark Trevena. Katelyn Rose, a relative newcomer to acting, was cast as Isolde. Initially unfamiliar with vertical dramas, which typically consist of 60 one-to-two-minute episodes, Rose was apprehensive but quickly became passionate about the medium after an earlier project. She expressed confidence that she wouldn't get the part of Isolde, given the script's intimidating kinky and emotionally heavy themes, and the unprecedented month-long filming schedule for the entire trilogy. This extended production time allowed her to deeply explore Isolde, whom she described as an 'intense' nun and 'killer'—a welcome departure from typical 'damsel-in-distress' roles in short-form content.

Jake Lively, a seasoned actor in the vertical drama space with over 25 roles to his name, took on the character of Tristan, a former soldier and loyal bodyguard. Lively embraced the month-long shoot, describing it as a significant 'leveling up' opportunity, enabling a deeper connection to the character than the usual 9-10 day productions. He noted the Lyonesse adaptation’s unique complexity, with more 'up and down' and 'turmoil throughout all three seasons,' offering a nuanced narrative unlike the clear-cut romantic formulas he typically encountered.

Perhaps the most recognized name in the cast, Nico Tortorella, known for Scream 4 and Younger, entered the vertical drama world after the COVID-19 pandemic and 2023 SAG-AFTRA/WGA strikes impacted traditional acting opportunities. Inspired by a conversation with former co-star Robert Palmer Watkins, who found consistent work in verticals, Tortorella was introduced to ReelShort's Cameron West. Reading Simone's 'Salt Kiss,' Tortorella was 'blown away' by the characters and dynamics. After chemistry tests, he and Lively formed an 'immediate bond and camaraderie,' leading to Tortorella's casting as Mark Trevena, the outwardly cruel, emotionally detached billionaire dom. He highlighted the fast-paced nature of verticals, requiring actors to 'make bold choices very quickly and stick to them.'

The production itself was an intense 'marathon' of 26 days, an unusually long period for vertical dramas. This extended time allowed Rose, Lively, and Tortorella to forge strong off-camera bonds, which significantly enhanced their performances. The shoot included challenging scenes like an emotionally draining boat sequence, multiple three-way kisses, steamy X-cross scenes, and knife-fighting stunts. Sierra Simone visited the set during the filming of Bitter Burn, the trilogy's pivotal installment. She was deeply moved by the actors' embodiment of the characters' profound human connection, which transcended threats of violence or death.

Vertical dramas, often dismissed as bite-sized phone content, are a burgeoning billion-dollar industry that originated in China and are now rapidly expanding in the U.S. Simone argues that this space excels at 'trope-forward storytelling' and genuinely embraces the romance genre, something traditional Hollywood often struggles with. She criticizes the notion that romance alone isn't enough to hold an audience's attention, a belief disproven by the enduring popularity of films like You've Got Mail and series like Bridgerton. Verticals, in contrast, validate the HEA (happily ever after) as a sufficient narrative driver.

Simone likens the current experimental phase of vertical dramas to the early days of indie publishing for romance authors in 2015, where technology opened new frontiers for creative exploration. Both industries, she suggests, feed an eternal 'hunger for happiness, for human connection, for empathy.' Lively, too, praises the new wave of book adaptations in verticals, appreciating the depth and complexity drawn from talented authors. Beyond artistic merit, verticals provide crucial work for both above-the-line talent and below-the-line crew in a challenging industry, with traditional channels like Lifetime, FOX, and Bravo also venturing into this space. This indicates that verticals are not a fleeting fad but a growing, additive segment of the entertainment industry.

Tortorella, now officially 'bitten by the vertical bug,' expressed gratitude for the existence of this space, not just for established actors but also for newcomers. He views verticals not as a replacement for modern television but as a 'brand-new leg of the industry' that adds more opportunities for everyone involved. The Lyonesse Trilogy—Salt Kiss, Honey Cut, and Bitter Burn—is now available to stream in full on the ReelShort app.