Kunqi (Lexi) Yang has produced over 15 vertical mini-series.
Vertical mini-series, micro-dramas designed for mobile viewing in a 9:16 frame, have quickly become one of the fastest-growing formats in digital entertainment. Built for scrolling, optimized for speed, and emotionally supercharged, these one-minute episodes combine the addictive beats of romance novels with the immediacy of TikTok. The format first exploded in China, where the vertical drama market exceeded $5 billion in 2023, with projections suggesting it could reach $13 billion by 2027. Today, these dramas are growing in popularity with U.S. audiences and rapidly gaining traction globally.
Apps like ReelShort, FlexTV, SnackShort, and DramaBox now offer ultra-short series designed to be mobile-first,– meant to be watched without investing too much time or attention,– but engineered to keep viewers coming back. Even Netflix is now getting in on the trend. It recently announced a test of vertical video feeds for select users on its mobile app.
Kunqi (Lexi) Yang, a Chinese-born, Los Angeles–based producer and founder of LeaderSheep Pictures, has produced over 15 vertical mini-series so far. With most episodes clocking in under 90 seconds and productions wrapping in just a few weeks, it’s a format that demands speed, clarity, and absolute alignment across the team.
Kunqi (Lexi) Yang.
“This industry is highly efficiency-driven,” Kunqi (Lexi) Yang says. “There’s almost no margin for error. You prep, shoot, deliver, fast. But film is still a collaborative process. Every department needs to move together, even when there’s barely time to think.” For her, that means not only making logistical decisions but also navigating creative tension. “In commercial productions, clients often have real-time input, and their vision doesn’t always match the crew’s. As a producer, I’m the one who has to mediate. It’s not about formulas. It’s about understanding people.”
Recalling her time studying filmmaking at the New York Film Academy’s Los Angeles campus, she says, “That was my first time in LA. It sparked a deep connection with the city that still lasts today.” That instinct eventually led to the founding of her visual production company, LeaderSheep Pictures.
“I was interested in everything: writing, directing, editing. But when I produced my first short and it got a festival nomination, I realized: producing lets me see the big picture and support every part of it. That’s what I wanted.” She adds, “I didn’t start a company because I had some grand entrepreneurial plan. It was the people around me, clients, collaborators, who trusted me to lead. Their belief gave me the courage to step into that role.”
In September 2024, Destined to Love You: Marry Me Again became an overnight hit. The vertical mini-series has since surpassed 8 million views on Playlet and remained in the platform’s top 3 ranking through November 2024. “It’s hard to point to any single breakout element that made it take off,” Lexi says. “I treat every project with the same level of care. That one happened to land. But I really believe success is 99% hard work and 1% luck. That 1% of luck can come from many unpredictable factors: viewer trends, market timing, client marketing choices, or even a bit of cosmic alignment. The vertical short drama format is built around instant emotional resonance and addictive pacing; designed to keep viewers watching and drive monetization through continued engagement.”
Destined to Love You: Marry Me Again.
Another of Lexi’s series, Forced to Love the Ruthless CEO, gained remarkable traction shortly after release. She has also produced eight dramas in the “CEO romance” category, a genre known for its heightened emotions and irresistible hooks. “It works for a reason,” she says. “These vertical mini-series give you a strong, emotionally loyal male lead and a kind, sincere female character who audiences want to protect. It’s been tested so many times, and it delivers.”
But she’s not content to stay there. “We don’t think the market should stop at one formula,” she says. “My team is actively exploring fantasy, sports, multicultural storylines; anything that brings new energy into the space. The audience is ready for more.”
Above all, Kunqi (Lexi) Yang is committed to telling deeper stories about women. “I’m interested in characters who work, fail, rebuild. Not just the ones who are beautiful or soft or pure. These women might be mothers, janitors, or designers. It’s not about their job title. It’s about their drive.”
That belief extends to the environment she creates on set. “I actively hire talented female crew members. I stand up for actresses when they’re treated unfairly. And I make it clear that inappropriate behavior will never be tolerated. That’s the part of the job I care about most.”
Even in a format built for fast views and rapid consumption, Kunqi (Lexi) Yang believes sincerity matters. “Audiences are smart. They can tell when something’s made with care. You only have a minute or two; but if you’re honest, they’ll feel it. And that’s what makes it ticked.”
After Switched Fiancé, I Married a Mafia Boss.
This summer, her latest dramas After Switched Fiancé, I Married a Mafia Boss and A Sweet Contract with the Mafia Boss climbed to the top of NetShort and Flex TV’s trending charts. The vertical mini-series wave shows no sign of slowing down. For Lexi, it’s just the start of where vertical storytelling might go next.
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam
