Alon Shtruzman and Scott Einbinder, backed by a consortium of investors, have launched a new microdrama studio alongside their 5X Media banner.
New Short Media aims to work with established content creators and producers and on-screen talent to roll out a slate of vertical content. Director Gev Miron and his team, working with writer-producer Russell Rothberg, will lead development and creative operations for the new slate.
A total of 10 projects are in development, with three announced today: Speeding Towards You, penned by Rothberg (The Offer, Long Bright River); One Foot in Hollywood starring influencer Alex Sparrow; and Polyamour Mon Amour, a dating reality show featuring a celebrity couple.
“Social media distribution and creator-led marketing are one of the most significant shifts in filmed entertainment since the emergence of streaming,” Shtruzman said. “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.”
He added, “Vertical storytelling is evolving incredibly fast, but much of the market still revolves around the same types of romance stories. We see an opportunity to bring broader genres, premium production values and recognizable talent into the space while harnessing the enormous reach of today’s creator economy.”
Einbinder added, “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 and commercially and move beyond posts and clips into character-driven worlds that can live across multiple formats.”
