Vertical microdramas are the brand new go-to for fictional romance — and far of the interest stems from the new leading men.
Many TikTok users are aware of ads popping up on their FYPs for fanfiction-esque shows. From age-gap romances to forbidden love stories, each miniseries appears like a mixture between a soap opera and a Lifetime movie. The purpose of the ads is to drive users to download applications corresponding to ReelShort and DramaBox that host the short shows, which normally last a minute or so per episode and are designed for mobile viewing.
CandyJar’s content — including Nick Skonberg‘s Loving My Brother’s Best Friend and Joseph Purcell‘s Falling for My Bodyguard — went viral as mostly female viewers tuned in to get their romance fix.
“CandyJar’s the one company I’ve worked with, but they really know their audience and what their audience wants. CandyJar [projects] are very directed from the feminine gaze and from the feminine standpoint,” Skonberg previously told Cosmopolitan. “You see that the scripts follow numerous romance tropes and character tropes, but in addition how they do the costumes and the way they shoot the scenes and lightweight the scenes. And we had an important intimacy coordinator, Sasha Smith. She was specific about: ‘OK, this can be a moment once you stop her with a hand grab otherwise you stop her along with your voice.’”
Keep scrolling for a guide to the most well liked leading men within the vertical microdrama space:
Cameron Porras
Cameron Porras probably looks familiar for vertical dramas corresponding to My Stepbrother’s Dirty Secret, Taming My Bullies, Outplayed and more.
Joseph Purcell
Joseph Purcell, who’s the son of actor Dominic Purcell, has taken over the vertical drama space with roles in His Nerd, Falling for My Bodyguard, Private Lessons and more.
Tyler Scherer
For fans of Heated Rivalry, Tyler Scherer caught Us‘ eye in CandyJar’s sports romance Did You Must Be a Hockey Star? He might also look familiar for Professor, I’m Hooked on You, To Be by My Side, Ex-Husband Step Aside and lots of more.
Nick Skonberg
After going viral for his role in CandyJar’s Loving My Brother’s Best Friend, Nick Skonberg has also appeared in other shorts including The Cheer Scandal and Apollo.
Evan Adams
Evan Adams has won viewers over with Pucked by My Brother’s Rival, Kissing the Improper Brother and the Twilight-inspired miniseries titled Kissed by Claw and Fang.
Who doesn’t love love story? Girl falls in love with boy, then falls in love together with his best friend too, for instance. The love triangle has been a frequent plot point in TV and film for years, but there’s perhaps no more iconic angsty trio than the one between Dawson (James Van […]
Ben Armstrong
Speaking of Kissed by Claw and Fang, Ben Armstrong is best known for enjoying none aside from Asher King in If Loving You Is Sin Then I’ll Go to Hell but he has also been in Fake Dating My Wealthy Nemesis, Bad Boy’s Tutor and more.
Jesse Morales
You most likely remember Jesse Morales from How you can Tame a Silver Fox but he has also appeared in Pregnant by My Ex’s Professor Dad, Dominated by My Dad’s Boss and more.
Eric Guilmette
Eric Guilmette had a scene-stealing performance in Boss Please Behave but he has since remained booked and busy with Campus Rivals, The Healing Touch, My Silent Treasure and more.