As his work on ReelShort continues to expand, Seth Edeen is watching the vertical space evolve faster than ever — and positioning himself at the forefront of its future.
All the way from the quaint state of Wyoming to sunny California, Seth Edeen has taken media content by storm on all fronts. In a recent interview with Dolce, Edeen shares that his younger life as a dedicated and focused athlete helped him remain grounded and self-disciplined, which prepared him for a career where egotism can take over and values can be compromised.
Today, as Hollywood entertainment is shifting toward mobile-first creator- driven content, Edeen represents the next generation of talent. His vertical short- form projects have earned over 300 million views each across multiple titles, building a dedicated following among young-adult audiences and positioning him as one of new media’s most compelling breakout stars.
Dolce may have sat down with Edeen at the crossroads of where entertainment is heading next …
@sethedeen
Q: Tell me a little bit about your childhood — what was it like growing up?
A: I was a big hockey lover growing up. Acting wasn’t on my radar at all — not even mentioned. It was all sports: football, hockey, literally anything other than artistic.
But even in fifth grade, I was obsessed with USC football. That was my team. I always knew I wanted to live in Southern California — L.A. or San Diego. After graduating from college, I took a good job to save money, then a couple of years later, I quit and moved to Southern California, thinking, “I’ll figure it out when I get there.” When I arrived, vertical dramas started popping up — and here we are.
Q: When you were first introduced to vertical drama, what was your impression, and how did you know it was something you wanted to dive into?
A: When I first started, I thought what most people think: “What the f — is this?” I showed up on set — my first real set — and no one had sent me a script. Three days before filming, I got a 187-page script. I went to my roommate, who’s an actor, and he basically said, “You’re screwed. Just keep reading.”
But it turned into an awesome experience. We moved so fast — 187 pages is insane for any production, especially a vertical. It was chaotic but fun. I’ll never forget that show.
Q: Now that you’ve starred in 30+ vertical projects, what lessons from those early days do you carry into your current work?
A: The biggest lesson came from my roommate: read it, read it, read it. That’s the core of acting — understanding the script and building the world in your head. I still do that to this day. The scripts and stories are much better now, with legitimate writers getting involved.
I remember one show that was so bad it never even aired. I’d ask the director, “What’s my motivation?” And he’d say, “I don’t know, just say it.” Wild times.
Q: Your projects have earned hundreds of millions of views. How did that impact you — and how did your family and friends react?
A: My third vertical ever was with ReelShort — the Netflix of verticals. The filming was great, only 10-hour days. When it came out, I gained about 15,000 followers in two weeks. That show later hit 100 million views. Six months later, because of that success, producers pushed for me to star in Breaking the Ice alongside Nicole Maddox. That project went to the moon. I was in New York filming another show when people started recognizing me from TikTok. That was a turning point. My family is from Wyoming — a small town, low-key. They’re still wrapping their heads around everything. My mom even thinks I run my own fan pages. I swear I don’t have that much free time.
Q: What is your dolce vita?
A: A beach house in Manhattan Beach, California. Somewhere between $20–30 million. Floor-to- ceiling windows overlooking the Pacific, but with privacy, too. I saw so many incredible homes while working as a caterer, and that’s the vision that stuck with me.
