Haylie Hansen
ACTRESS
What do you do in the Vertical Drama industry?
I am an actress as well as an assistant director
How did you come across Vertical Dramas?.
A makeup artist that I had worked with on a modeling shoot suggested me to her friend that was casting a web series. I got contacted to audition for it and after I booked that one I started networking through the vertical community and booking more and more of them.
What is your favourite project you have worked on so far?
Definitely Mafia’s Tender Torture. It was the biggest vertical that I had ever done and is where most of my viewers/fans have come from. The team behind that was AMAZING as well. It was also the first time that me and my boyfriend in real life got to play each others love interest which just brought us closer together.
What is the craziest thing you have found yourself doing while working on a vertical?
Oh man there have been so many insane things that I've had to do from getting kidnapped and dragged off multiple times, throwing myself into an ice cold pool, or doing some hand to hand combat. I'd say the craziest thing though would be when I played Leah and Lena in MARRYING MY TWIN SISTERS RICH FIANCE and have to do multiple scenes where I was literally fighting myself. This included not only having to be screaming at no one in the scene while the script supervisor read the opposing lines and then quickly changing and then shooting the other side as the other twin and repeating the process, but also slapping and punching MYSELF as the twins had multiple on-screen contact points.
Any funny stories you can share with us?
There's always funny things happening on set and mistakes that go my get noticed after filming a scene. I think my favourite moments though where when while filming LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO I challenged Nick, Joey and some crew members to strength competitions as they were joking about how petite I am. We did wall sit competitions and plank competitions, all of which I won and destroyed them in haha. There is also some directors who, after finishing all the lines in the scene, won't yell cut and will start giving you improve points and you just have to go with it and play along. It makes for some hilarious additions to the scene and some out of pocket lines added.
Who is your unsung hero? Someone in the industry who should get more credit?
I think all the AD's should get more credit on these verticals. I used to only act in them but now that I've stepped into the world of directing I can't believe how hard the AD's work. Because these are low budget productions there are typically 2 assistant directors, compared to a union film which usually has around 4-5 assistant directors. This means that vertical AD's have to do double the work at a very quick speed for a smaller paycheck.
What do you wish more people knew about verticals?
We have a very short filming schedule that's typically between 5-10 days long and each day is about 12.5 hours. You become so close with the team on that project for the duration of that shoot that it feels like a family. It's always such a bittersweet feeling when the show ends because on one hand, it's nice to finally be able to get some rest but on the other hand it's sad to have to say goodbye to that team and start looking for another job right away.
What developments would you like to see in the industry in the year ahead?
Because I am a union actor now, I can no longer act in the verticals as they are all non-union productions. I would LOVE for there to be some agreements made between the union and the vertical productions that enable me to be able to act in them again because I truly miss it. I've been having to just work behind the scenes on them for now, which I love as well, because of this union conflict.
What are you most proud of?
I am so proud of all the traction I was able to make in the vertical would by networking and building relationships with the creatives behind these web series. I have built such a supportive and amazing fan base that keeps growing and spreading love through the reviews, edits and kind messages in my DM's. I also met my now boyfriend on a vertical in the summertime and when we met I was playing the antagonist in the series that tried to kill his characters love interest, which just makes it that much more funny that we ended up falling in love in real life after filming that series. I am also proud of the fact that I now assistant direct for the verticals and am on my way to being able to start fully directing them myself.
Which vertical actor would you like to play you in the biopic of your life?
Myself of course
3 Random Facts:
⭐ I am neurodivergent (as 90% of the film industry is as well)
⭐ I was born and raised out in the country and still live out in the farm lands so I am very much a "get out and get your hands dirty" type of girl.
⭐ When I'm not acting or directing I am usually out in my workshop building wooden decor or carving wood sculptures.
Bonus fact: I am trained in veterinary work and animal health care
Current earworm:
Run This Town by JAY-Z or Heartbreak Hotel by ELVIS
Last movie you saw at the cinema / play on stage:
The Crow
Currently reading:
I am currently reading Autobiography of a Yogi by paramahansa yogananda
Favourite snacks:
Quest protein bars
Thank you Haylie 🙏🏼
Please do check out:
🎞️ Mafia’s Tender Torture - Stardust
📸 Haylie’s Instagram @haylie_hansen_
