Matteo Corsaro on Breaking Into Vertical Dramas and Building a Global Career (Exclusive)

For Matteo Corsaro, acting wasn’t always the plan. But once he committed to it, things moved quickly. In an exclusive interview with Vertical Drama Explorer, he reflects on his journey into vertical dramas and shares behind-the-scenes photos from productions he filmed across multiple countries.

Matteo Corsaro didn’t take the traditional path into acting, but in a short span of time, he’s built a career that has taken him across multiple countries, landing leading roles in vertical dramas and steadily refining his craft along the way.

Vertical Drama Explorer sat down with Corsaro in the Philippines, where he had just wrapped filming a new vertical drama, to talk about his journey into acting, the realities of working in the format, and what continues to drive him forward.

Vertical drama actor Matteo Corsaro | Source: Matteo Corsaro

From Football to Film

Before acting, Corsaro was focused on football. Performing was always part of his personality, even if it wasn’t his original career path.

“I always enjoyed clowning around, doing impressions, mimicking teachers, friends, parents," he recalled, adding:

One of his social media headshots | Source: instagram/matteocorsar0

That instinct eventually led him to explore acting more seriously after university.

“I just started to do one-to-one lessons because I just wanted to try it out and just see how I felt. How confident was I? Could I play these different characters?” he said.

His early years weren’t polished, but they were formative.

“I did a couple of years of just learning the ropes and gaining confidence,” he said, and just getting used to auditioning and being in front of people until the world of vertical dramas opened for him.

Between takes on the set of a vertical drama project in Georgia | Source: Matteo Corsaro

Breaking Into Vertical Dramas

Corsaro’s entry into vertical dramas came through a mix of timing, persistence, and a bit of unpredictability.

After struggling to secure representation—and nearly signing with an agent just before COVID lockdowns disrupted everything—he continued taking on smaller projects while rebuilding momentum.

Eventually, an unexpected opportunity introduced him to the vertical format.

“I got a message on a casting platform, and they said, ‘Oh, we'd like to give you this role,'” he recalled. “And I was like, ‘What is this?’ So, I went along and had to play like this sleazy character.”

Filming a scene alongside fellow cast members in Georgia | Source: Matteo Corsaro

That one role led to more opportunities, including a recommendation that brought him to a project in Georgia, an experience that helped open doors to further work across London, Turkey, China, and beyond.

In just over two years, he’s appeared in over 20 vertical productions.

Behind the scenes in Turkey | Source: Matteo Corsaro

“None of it was planned,” he said. “I flew to China with one project booked in December and then ended up staying in Asia for 5 months until I landed a role in the Philippines.”

That momentum is reflected in a growing list of credits, including “I'm My Husband's Divorce Lawyer,” "Kissing the Ruthless Tycoon," “Now You Know Who I Am,” “Professor, I’m Addicted to You," and "Destined for the Alpha.”

The posters for "Destined for the Alpha," "Now You Know Who I Am," and "I'm My Husband's Divorce Lawyer" | Sources: IMDB | youtube/reelshortapp

Acting Under Pressure

For Corsaro, one of the defining features of vertical dramas is the pace. Filming could run as short as 4-5 days.

Behind the scenes in Georgia | Source: Matteo Corsaro

That environment demands a different kind of preparation.

“My process really is … reading the story and trying to build up that world initially,” he explained. “And then I just go very character-focused.”

He focuses on understanding objectives, relationships, and emotional intent rather than over-rehearsing.

“As long as I've got the… foundations and understanding [of] the story," he said, "then I feel I can get the timing and stuff pretty in turn.”

Finding Room for Creativity

Even within tight timelines, Corsaro looks for ways to bring authenticity into his performances:

But that creative freedom often comes within constraints.

“You’re trying to tell a story in the most truthful way… and then you get writing that’s a bit corny or over the top,” he said. “You think, ‘They wouldn’t say this…’ so you’re trying to adjust and make it feel real.”

When directors are open to it, he leans into small, instinctive choices to elevate a scene, like suggesting little one-liners or reactions.

A Career Built Across Borders

Corsaro’s work has taken him across multiple countries, shaping both his craft and perspective.

“There’s so much that I’ve learned… not only from acting, but from people and cultures,” he said.

Filming a vertical drama that required him to speak in Spanish | Source: Matteo Corsaro

On set, that adaptability extends beyond performance and into the atmosphere he tries to create around him:

But once he’s preparing to get into character, he turns very serious, which can be surprising to those who are used to his demeanor when cameras aren’t rolling.

On set in Hainan, China | Source: Matteo Corsaro

That same flexibility also shapes how he approaches his career, one that isn’t tied to a single place.

Corsaro said being able to move between countries and productions has suited both his personality and career goals:

Filming a wedding scene in Hainan, China | Source: Matteo Corsaro

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For Corsaro, vertical dramas also offer something unique that other formats don’t always provide.

“It’s the opportunity to work frequently… to improve, to study what I’m doing," he said. "You have an opportunity to really craft in such a kind of high-stress environment."

Behind the scenes in Turkey | Source: Matteo Corasro

Looking Ahead

Corsaro sees himself in a period of transition, one where he continues building on what he’s already achieved while aiming for more complex roles. He shared:

Corsaro added, “Hopefully I see it going in a direction where I can… apply my enthusiasm and passion… to have a bit more depth in characters and stories… and more opportunities in movies as well.”

Looking ahead, he hopes to take on more layered roles while continuing to explore opportunities in both vertical dramas and film, with the long-term goal of eventually working in Los Angeles.

At the same time, he has no plans to step away from the vertical space:

For now, he’s continuing the path he’s already on, one that’s taken him across continents and into a rapidly evolving industry.