Gillian Ryan Dittmer on Finding Her Place in Vertical Dramas and Taking On New Challenges (Exclusive)

Gillian Ryan Dittmer didn’t plan to work in vertical dramas, but the format has pushed her to grow as an actress. In an exclusive interview, she shares what it’s like taking on roles outside her comfort zone.

With a background in ballet and musical theater, Gillian Ryan Dittmer built her early career on structured performance. Moving into vertical dramas introduced a very different pace—one that requires quick adjustments, instinct, and a willingness to take on unexpected roles.

In an exclusive interview with Vertical Drama Explorer, she talks about her transition into the format and how it’s shaping her as an actress.

Gillian Ryan Dittmer | Source: instagram/gilliannryan

Where It All Started

Before stepping into vertical dramas, Dittmer’s foundation was rooted in performance.

“I grew up as a ballet dancer,” she said. “And then I started doing musical theater when I was like 14.”

That early interest led to formal training. She majored in musical theater in college before moving to New York, where she began building a career in theater.

A ballet performance of "The Nutcracker" during her younger years | Source: Gillian Dittmer

While she continues to work in theater, her focus has gradually expanded.

“I’m still doing musical theater, but I’ve shifted a little more to film,” she said, adding that she’s taken on independent projects alongside vertical dramas.

As Liesl in "The Sound of Music" | Source: Gillian Dittmer

How She Got Into Vertical Dramas

Dittmer’s introduction to vertical dramas came through a connection close to home.

Her roommate had already worked on a project in the space, which led her to explore it for herself.

“I just auditioned,” she said. “The first one I did was… the villain in a Good Short.”

That first role in “My Sister is Not Someone to Mess With,” featuring Teig Sadhana and Paige Marie Smeltzer, opened the door to more opportunities, giving her a new space to apply her training in a very different environment.

Behind the scenes of her first vertical drama, "My Sister is Not Someone to Mess With" | Source: Gillian Dittmer

When Scripts Don’t Always Feel Natural

Coming from a structured background in theater, Dittmer quickly noticed how different the vertical format could be.

That shift requires not just preparation, but flexibility, especially when it comes to dialogue.

“Sometimes they’re like, ‘No, it needs to be word-perfect,’” she said. “Even if the translation is making it not make sense, they’re like, ‘Say the lines... Other times I’ve had directors be like, ‘This doesn’t make any sense. Change it. Say it how you want to say it.’”

That push and pull between sticking to the script and adjusting it on the spot can make things tricky, especially when both the dialogue and the situations themselves don’t always feel natural.

“For me it can be a little tough. Some of the scripts are so, you know, difficult to make them sound natural,” she said. “And so sometimes I feel like, ‘How do I be a good actor right now in this scene where I’m just slapping people over and over again?’”

During a light moment on the set in Manila | Source: Gillian Dittmer

What Makes It Fun

Despite the challenges, Dittmer sees a unique kind of enjoyment in vertical dramas.

One of the biggest highlights, she says, is the experience of working closely with a team under intense conditions.

“It’s such a fast process, but you feel like a family by the end of it,” she said.

Behind the scenes photo during a vertical shoot in Miami | Source: Gillian Dittmer

There’s also a level of unpredictability that sets the format apart.

“It gives you opportunities to do all of these fun, silly, weird things that you would never do in other types of films,” she said. “There are things that are specific to verticals that I think are just so much fun... In the last vertical I did, I had an egg fight. We’re throwing eggs at each other… ‘When would I ever otherwise get to throw eggs?’”

Playing Characters That Don’t Come Naturally

One of the most defining aspects of Dittmer’s experience so far has been stepping outside her natural tendencies. She shared:

But the roles she’s taken on have often pushed her in the opposite direction.

“I got to be like the complete opposite of all of my instincts, which is very fun,” she said.

For Dittmer, that contrast is part of what makes the work engaging.

When the cameras aren't rolling | Source: Gillian Dittmer

The Stories She Wants to Tell More Of

“I want to do more rom-coms,” she said.

She’s also interested in seeing the format expand further into thriller and horror.

At the same time, she’s open to continuing to explore different kinds of roles.

What She’s Looking Toward Next

As the vertical drama space continues to grow, Dittmer is paying close attention to where it’s headed.

“I think it is kind of just going to keep growing and growing… and more and more competitive,” she said.

For now, her focus remains on building experience, expanding her range, and continuing to adapt to a format that challenges her in new ways.