TV and film producers Aron Stolzman (“La Brea,” “Our Boys”) and Scott Einbinder (“Killer Joe,” “The Hitman’s Bodyguard”) are getting into the vertical microdrama business.
The producers launched New Short Media, a studio specializing in micro-storytelling, alongside the 5X Media banner. As part of the announcement, director Geb Miron and writer/producer Russell Rothberg (The Offer, Long Bright River) will oversee development and creative duties.
Stolzman, founder and founding CEO of Keshet International, said that while the vertical space is rapidly evolving, he believes there is room for more genres and “to bring premium production value and recognized talent into this space, while leveraging the enormous influence of today’s creator economy.”
“Social media distribution and creator-led marketing are one of the most important changes in film entertainment since the advent of streaming,” he said in a statement. “By combining that with premium, mobile-first storytelling, New Short Media aims to reach more new audiences. We believe the next generation of Hollywood series won’t necessarily start on TV or in theaters, but on the phone.”
Added Einbinder: “Hollywood is discovering that verticals are becoming more than just another distribution format, they’re becoming an entirely new storytelling medium. By combining experienced filmmakers with creators who have already captivated passionate audiences around the world, New Short Studios is creating projects that aim to break through culturally and commercially and move beyond posts and clips into a character-driven world that can exist across multiple formats.”
Shtruzman and Einbinder announced the studio’s first three projects.
Speeding Towards You, written by Russell Rothberg, is “a Mr. and Mrs. Smith-style action-romance thriller about two competing car thieves in the midst of a covert operation to take down one of the top criminal organizations.”
One Foot in Hollywood stars influencer Alex Sparrow and is “a Guy Ritchie-style action comedy about a group of influencers who accidentally cross over into a cartel and end up making a movie with the cartel boss’ daughter to survive. Real-life influencers appear in unlikely situations.”
“Polyamour Mon Amour” is a dating reality show that “features celebrity couples in love who are ready to expand on their love and take the next step of welcoming a third person into their lives.”
Producers plan to expand beyond romance into thrillers, sports, crime, comedy, documentaries, reality, music and creator-driven original formats, while developing projects that combine established actors, digital stars and influencers on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and other platforms.
