Have you gotten yourself hooked on Chinese or English series on Facebook or TikTok that keep popping up on your feed or FYP? Those short clips that don’t give you the whole story because they ask you to download an app to continue watching? If so, you’re not the only one.
Those are vertical series—short, mobile-optimized episodes designed for social media platforms. Lately, these series have been gaining buzz as more viewers get drawn into their bite-sized content, often left hanging by cliffhangers that push them to install an app or subscribe for full episodes.
Filmed in portrait or 9:16 format, vertical series are designed for smartphone users who prefer scrolling and watching content without turning their phones sideways. They thrive on platforms like TikTok, Facebook Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels—where algorithms help push these episodes directly to users’ screens.
Many of these series come from Chinese or English production companies that tap into trending genres such as romance, suspense, or mystery. Each episode is typically a few minutes long, making it easier for viewers to binge-watch or stumble upon the story while scrolling. Some feature dubbed content or English subtitles, making them more accessible to a wider audience.
In the Philippines, the vertical series trend is also taking off. Director Barry Gonzalez recently helmed what is known as the first vertical series in the country. Gonzalez directed Saving Sarah on Beetzee Play, starring JC Alcantara and Yuki Takahashi.
“In terms of production, there’s no difference. Mostly, it’s technical. You have to consider the video format, you cannot do tight shots, mostly midshots, because it will not fit in a vertical format,” Gonzalez told Manila Standard Entertainment.
Beetzee Play is a new player in the local entertainment scene, branding itself as the first and only Piso Serye platform in the country. The streaming service focuses on short-form dramas designed for vertical viewing and offers full episodes at just P1 per episode.
Positioning itself as a budget-friendly and accessible platform, Beetzee Play has partnered with fintech giants Maya and GCash to make payments easier for viewers.
“We believe that entertainment should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their income. With Beetzee Play, we’re giving Filipinos the chance to enjoy top-notch drama at a price that fits their lifestyle,” said Dae Lee.