The Benefits of Vertical Video

Vertical video. Among video professionals, the term may provoke feelings of frustration, anger, or disgust. Often it's been mocked and ridiculed as an invalid format choice (see below).

But vertical video is a preferred format for platforms like Snapchat and Instagram Stories. Already, vertical video has been added to my list of deliverables. Whenever I finish editing a project, I'm asked to create different versions, including one oriented vertically for social media. 

Last night I came across a thread on Twitter from Anthony Monteleone, a video editor I follow. He made some very good, rational arguments regarding vertical video I felt they were worth sharing and discussing. 

It's time for a rational discussion on the benefits of Vertical Video.
Often it's mocked by production and post alike as silly or worthless. It's neither.

— Anthony Monteleone (@ajmonteleone) August 2, 2018

The goal of any video is to tell a story. The format can either aid that, or not. Lawrence of Arabia feels expansive due to the 2.2:1 70mm format. pic.twitter.com/NnZz9RHi4z

— Anthony Monteleone (@ajmonteleone) August 2, 2018

That expansiveness is diminished when taken out of the theater and displayed on TV.
That means we have to consider two formats: how we produce the image *AND* how the image will be displayed. pic.twitter.com/lPPFWGqu4r

— Anthony Monteleone (@ajmonteleone) August 2, 2018

On the other end of the spectrum, having an image closer to square can be used to convey intimacy or eliminate distracting elements.
We don't need to see the whole messy newsroom. We need to see Tom. Tom's important.
The format aids in telling the story. pic.twitter.com/AOkb5jZjjG

— Anthony Monteleone (@ajmonteleone) August 2, 2018

Over the years many formats have been developed to tell specific stories. Since Étienne-Jules Marey created the 90mm chronophotography process in 1888, there have been at least 153 film formats and 86 color systems.

— Anthony Monteleone (@ajmonteleone) August 2, 2018

Clearly, the industries of film and television are no strangers to the rapid technological changes that come with the medium. We've developed new formats at the rate of 1.17 a year, and that's *before* the digital revolution.

— Anthony Monteleone (@ajmonteleone) August 2, 2018

For fun, make sure and check out https://t.co/bjNFpwhL8l for a look at one of the last, boldest attempts by film to hold it's own against the digital storm: a 70mm, 48fps system that exceeded digital 2k's tech in '99.

— Anthony Monteleone (@ajmonteleone) August 2, 2018

We're now in the age of the smartphone. It's a device that is designed to be held vertically. This is it's natural position. While some will scream that it should always be held sideways to record or watch video, this is unnatural.
That's simply ergonomics.

— Anthony Monteleone (@ajmonteleone) August 2, 2018

(I'm not saying don't hold it sideways to watch or record. By all means, go ahead. But don't tell me it's not uncomfortable. It's a gesture device meant to be used single-handedly.)

— Anthony Monteleone (@ajmonteleone) August 2, 2018

As we begin to understand the format of the smartphone, we can learn what stories can best be told through it. There are many. Here's a few I thought of.

— Anthony Monteleone (@ajmonteleone) August 2, 2018

Sports highlights: Snowboarding, skateboarding, basketball, baseball, golf. The action occurs in a vertical space. pic.twitter.com/DtnRXfcnKi

— Anthony Monteleone (@ajmonteleone) August 2, 2018

Fashion and news. pic.twitter.com/FScnT8CsBZ

— Anthony Monteleone (@ajmonteleone) August 2, 2018

All these shots contain a lot of elements that don't necessarily aid in telling the story and can be cropped out to focus on what's important.
Changing the format allows us to get closer to the action.

— Anthony Monteleone (@ajmonteleone) August 2, 2018

This obviously doesn't work in every situation, but on the other hand I don't see networks rushing to shoot sports in Todd-AO.

— Anthony Monteleone (@ajmonteleone) August 2, 2018

What this all means is we should accept and embrace change, especially if it comes with a paycheck attached. The industry is one of constant chaos.
Will production have to learn to frame for vertical on some shoots? Yes.
Will post have to crop for it? Absolutely.

— Anthony Monteleone (@ajmonteleone) August 2, 2018

Before I hear a word of complaint about that, let's not forget TV used to be shot on 16/35mm film and a great deal of the image had to masked out.
Yes, it was a lot of work. But it was also helpful.
Especially when Franklin, PA is actually Vancouver. pic.twitter.com/PQN9SXjXNy

— Anthony Monteleone (@ajmonteleone) August 2, 2018

Framing, masking, cropping — these are all tools of the trade we've always had to use. They're useful and will always be as we meet audiences at the format they choose to watch video on.
And that's the way it is.

— Anthony Monteleone (@ajmonteleone) August 2, 2018

One immediate ramification I've seen in my own work with vertical video is that footage needs to be acquired in 4K. If you need to deliver vertically, it's nice to have that extra resolution to play around with when you have to scale up and crop in. Otherwise, the video can start to pixelate rather quickly.

What are your thoughts about the validity of vertical video? Continue the discussion in the Comments section below.