Matt Macedo: The Director Redefining Vertical Storytelling in Modern Media

From farm fields to festival circuits, Matt Macedo is turning his lifelong passion for storytelling into a defining voice in vertical digital filmmaking.

Matt Macedo's path into directing wasn't a straight line through Hollywood — it was a winding road shaped by grit, creativity, and resilience. Raised in California's Central Valley and grounded in working-class values, Macedo has emerged as one of the most prolific directors in the fast-growing world of vertical microdramas.

Matt Macedo on set, observing a scene with focus and intent during the production of a vertical drama, as posted on May 21, 2024 | Source:

From early indie films to directing buzzy streaming titles, his journey reflects the changing face of modern media—and the power of persistence.

Matt Macedo reviews a scene setup with actors on set, as posted on September 24, 2025 | Source: Instagram/mattmacedo

Matt Macedo's Roots: Creativity Sparked by the Central Valley and a Working-Class Ethic

Born in the San Joaquin Valley in 1994, Macedo's love for storytelling began at home. Between the ages of 3 and 6, he appeared in his step-brother's homemade movies. By 12, he was already writing short stories, one of which became his first screenplay, "Envision."

He grew up in poverty, with both parents modeling an unwavering work ethic. "My dad is still a farm worker. I work with him every now and then out there in the fields, because it's a lot of work. So yeah, whenever I visit, I'll help him. And my mom, always a hard worker. So I get a hard work ethic from both my parents," he shared in a 2025 interview.

Though travel was out of reach, he was drawn to Los Angeles, often visiting Universal Studios as a child, and dreamed of working in film.

Matt Macedo's Previous Work Before Vertical Dramas

Macedo began building his filmmaking foundation in 2011 with "Homeless in Hanford," a short documentary that explored addiction and homelessness in a small town. He followed with "Drug of Choice" (2015), a dramatic look at teen addiction rooted in childhood trauma.

Over the next several years, he continued writing, directing, and producing short films through his own banner, Macedo Productions. His credits include "Without Regret" (2017), "Homegrown" (2018), "Our Oceans" (2019), and "Portrait of a Subtle Suicide" (2019).

These films were selected for multiple film festivals and earned accolades, including Best Director and Best LGBTQ+ Short Film for Our Oceans at the 2020 Hanford Film Festival and Indie Shorts Fest.

In 2016, Macedo moved to Los Angeles to attend the New York Film Academy, graduating summa cum laude with a BFA in filmmaking in 2019. When the pandemic hit, he kept creating — editing past projects, launching a podcast, and writing books.

"So I kept myself very busy in that sense of just, you know, basically just keeping myself from going crazy. And I think that just kept me on a radar of some producers of like, this person is just, they're still hustling and they're keeping in the momentum of, even though everything's shut down," he said.

Matt Macedo on Vertical Dramas: From Early Doubts to Creative Embrace

That consistency led to a key opportunity in 2023: an offer to direct vertical dramas for mobile platforms. "And it was, I got asked, 'Would you be interested in directing this very new type of content?' And just to add some context to it as well, during the pandemic, I was going through a lot of health issues," Macedo recalled.

Matt Macedo on set, observing a scene with focus and intent during the production of a vertical drama, as posted on May 21, 2024 | Source:

At the time, the format — often fast-paced, melodramatic, and low-budget — was still developing. He admitted that some people might have seen it as a bit cringy, but he saw both the potential and the opportunity to work.

Early productions were demanding, with over 150 pages of script shot in just 10–12 days. True to his nature, Macedo did more than direct — he localized dialogue and brought care to each story. "If I get a script, I just can't help but edit it or fix anything that," he admitted.

Since then, he has directed some of the genre’s most popular series, including "Call Me Alpha," "The Unwanted Mate," "Love Trap with My Dashing Knight," and "Kiss Me, My Fated Alpha." He works with major vertical platforms like ShortMax, DramaBox, and ReelShort.

Now a respected voice in this growing field, Macedo remains reflective. "You know, the consistency of, like, this hobby that I had as a kid is now my job. And it's just this dream case scenario that hopefully is still just the beginning," he said.

Looking ahead, he hopes to stay behind the camera for decades to come, just like the legendary directors he admires. For Macedo, filmmaking isn't just work; it's his happy place, and he envisions himself still on set well into old age, doing what he loves most.