Kansas City might be best known for ribs, Mahomes magic, and Taylor Swift’s glittery suite at Arrowhead—but in a plot twist no one saw coming, it’s also quietly becoming the epicenter of America’s vertical film revolution.
And leading the charge? A little production crew with big drama energy: 9:16 Productions.
📱 Vertical, Fast, and All Midwest
Founded in 2023 by a crew of scrappy, camera-loving creatives from the heart of the city, 9:16 got its start shooting vertical content the same way most people start side hustles—broke, bold, and too caffeinated to care.
The team includes names you’ll want to remember—Max J, Joy Q, and a small army of local actors and techs who’ve traded wedding gigs and indie doc shoots for high-stakes love triangles and accidental werewolf pregnancies.
Their first breakout hit? A steamy melodrama called My Beloved True Gentleman that made a surprise splash on the mobile app circuit—and proved that you don’t need Hollywood to shoot something binge-worthy, you just need grit and a vertical frame.
🎥 KC Shoots Hit Different
While New York scrambles for permits and L.A. worries about union drama, KC’s 9:16 team is turning local homes, parks, and strip malls into sizzling backdrops for everything from mafia weddings to secret billionaire babies. (You think we’re kidding? Check their slate.)
“We don’t have million-dollar budgets,” said one anonymous crew member. “But we’ve got scripts, speed, and people who’ll hang curtains for a hospital scene at 3 a.m. without asking why.”
That’s love. That’s KC.
🏈💋 Travis and Taylor Would Be Obsessed
If Taylor Swift’s current era is “Football Girlfriend,” then Kansas City’s is “Vertical Romance Empire.” Imagine the show:
She’s a PR crisis manager.
He’s a quarterback with a criminal record sealed by daddy’s money.
They fall in love at a BBQ competition.
Someone fakes a pregnancy.
Cut to black.
Call us, Tay. You’d be perfect for Episode 9.
💼 From Side Hustle to Vertical Studio Darling
Here’s the real tea: 9:16 isn’t just grinding—they’re scaling.
They’re averaging a new series every few weeks, working with top vertical platforms like Vigloo and DramaBox, and growing a pool of talent that includes real stage actors, local legends, and first-timers who’ve gone viral by accident.
They’re also proving that Kansas City doesn’t need to “catch up” to L.A. or Atlanta. It’s got its own thing going—and the rest of the country is catching on.
💅 Final Word: KC Is in Its Vertical Era
9:16 Productions isn’t playing catch-up. They’re running the play. While other cities fumble, they’re shooting 60 episodes in a week and wrapping before your UberEats order arrives. And they’re doing it in Missouri, y’all.
If you thought Kansas City was just barbecue and ballgames, think again. There’s a full-blown soap opera industry growing behind the scenes—and 9:16 is calling the shots.
🎤 Have You Worked With 9:16 or on a KC Vertical Set? We Want the Tea.
Seriously. We’re hearing whispers about wild shoots, surprise hitmakers, and a few rising stars we need to know about. If you’ve been on set in KC—or know someone who has—slide into our inbox.
We’re watching, we’re curious, and we’re ready to spill.
