Adam Chisnall Talks About Acting, Creativity, and the Rise of Vertical Dramas

From staging musicals in his basement to leading roles in fast-paced mobile dramas, this actor is finding creative freedom in one of the newest storytelling formats.

Adam Chisnall didn't chase a Hollywood dream in the traditional sense. With a background in theatre and a love for bold, unconventional characters, he's now emerged as a familiar face in vertical dramas, an increasingly global genre tailored for smartphone screens.

Adam Chisnall on set, seated behind a mysterious wooden chest during a scene, as posted on October 26, 2025 | Source: Instagram/theadamchisnall

For Chisnall, it's not just a new medium. It's a space where adaptability, speed, and trust meet creativity.

From Basement Shows to Stage and Screen

Chisnall was born in Staten Island and raised in Pennsylvania, where his passion for performance began early. Inspired by Disney parades, he convinced his parents to enroll him in dance classes. He landed his first acting role in second grade and never looked back.

In his teens, he formed "Basement Productions" with neighborhood friends, staging "The Rocky Horror Show" and "Little Shop of Horrors" at home and for veterans at the hospital where his father worked.

"I mean, at 16 years old, I was in a fishnet stocking singing 'Sweet Transvestite.' So yeah, I've always loved to perform and, you know, put myself out there and be crazy and kooky and have a good time," he recalled, in a May 2025 Vertical Drama Love interview.

He later earned a BA in Music Theatre from Point Park University and trained in comedy at The Second City in Chicago. Chisnall has since worked across theatre, including "Old Jews Telling Jokes" and "God of Marz;" television, such as "General Hospital" and "The Upshaws;" and indie films like "Gaytopia" and "The Long Island Exorcist."

Adam Chisnall on Embracing the Vertical Format

Chisnall first learned about vertical dramas in early 2024. "And in my mind, I thought it was just like, this is gonna sound so silly, sort of, it was just like hot people in front of the camera," he said, unsure whether his character-actor profile would fit. But after booking a role as a director in his first project, he found himself cast again and again.

Since then, he's appeared in several vertical dramas, with roles ranging from the comedic to the sinister. He has starred in projects such as "Money, Robots, and a Happy 4th of July," "Badass Plumber Girl Is the Hidden Heiress," and "The Real vs. the Fake Heiress."

Chisnall embraces being known as a character actor. He's proud to play unique, often quirky or exaggerated roles rather than traditional leading men. When asked if he liked being called the "king of character roles," he said it suited him.

In fact, he admitted that if he were ever cast as a romantic lead, he would feel "so uncomfortable" and out of his element. He prefers to feel at ease and confident on set.

Directing vs. Acting: Adam Chisnall on Finding Balance on Fast-Paced Sets

With experience both in front of and behind the camera, Chisnall brings a unique perspective to collaboration on set. "Well, when I was a director, I felt I was a better director because I was an actor and I knew how it felt to be directed by all kinds of directors," he shared.

Adam Chisnall listens intently during a production discussion, mid-shoot, as posted on October 26, 2025 | Source: Instagram/theadamchisnall

He said that as an actor, you have to be open to direction and not take feedback personally, and that it's part of the job to listen to the director's notes and adjust your performance accordingly.

Chisnall admitted that sometimes he doesn't understand or agree with what a director wants, but he reminds himself that acting is his job, and sometimes you just have to do the work and move on, especially in vertical dramas where filming is fast and time is limited.

However, Chisnall has built strong working relationships with some directors, including one he named — Longway — who gives him space to improvise and pitch new ideas.

"We've already built that trust, which is always fun to have, especially on a set with the verticals where there's not enough time to really create and collaborate," he said.

As vertical storytelling gains momentum, Chisnall is embracing its growth. He admitted he was once unsure who the audience was, thinking it might only be overseas. But that changed.

"They're blowing up," he said, noting how even his mom's friends are now fans of the format. The reach, he realized, is global. "Yeah, I think it's such a new form of content that people are slowly getting onto it and on top of it," he added.

He realized just how mainstream the content had become when he saw a vertical drama advertised on a popular LGBTQ+ dating app. "I was like, wow, they're really hitting all kinds of audiences here," he said.

For him, the strategy made sense: many of these dramas feature attractive leads that appeal to a wide and diverse viewership.

Whether he's playing a villain, a sidekick, or someone entirely unexpected, Chisnall continues to carve out his space in the world of vertical dramas, one role at a time.