Rebecca Berg
What do you do in the Vertical Industry?
I am an actress.
How did you come across Vertical Dramas?
I auditioned for one in April last year, booked it, was so confused about what it even was, but luckily had Kyra Wisely to hold my hand and I learned quickly, lol.
What is your favourite project you have worked on so far?
Tough one! I just wrapped one with the working title "Alpha vs Maid" which will be on Shorts app. I loved the entire cast and crew, but also the script is different from the scripts I usually come across in the vertical world and that I found very exciting! There's so much to each character and they all have an arc. I hope it will be well received!
What is the craziest thing you have found yourself doing while working on a vertical?
Oh boy... apart from drugging people, seducing people, slapping people, almost getting away with murder? So many things!
I was on set when the wildfires were happening. I had slept a total of 2 hours in the past 3 days and I was on high alert as we're in the middle of a natural disaster.
I'm on set and in the middle of a take ALL of our phones go OFF with the red zone mandatory evacuation order saying we must leave NOW. A few moments of panic and then another alert - the first alert was a false alarm and sent in error and we're all safe.
But it was kind of wild (but actually also nice!) to be on set in the midst of all that.
Any funny stories you can share with us?
Many! But.. you'd have to be there. :)
Who is your unsung hero? Someone in the industry who should get more credit?
The crew!!! Everyone on the crew!
The hmua team who comforted me as I had received bad news one morning and was crying - with some comfort and their magic makeup wands they made me go from puffy and swollen Quasimodo to a glamorous badass. :)
The AD's who make an impossible vision and timeline, possible - I seriously don't know how they do it and keep a cool head while doing it. But everyone, truly! Each person on these sets work so hard; from the director to the pd's to costumes, sound, pa's... any and all. It's indeed a team effort.
What do you wish more people knew about verticals?
That we're all in on the joke! It often gets critiqued for "bad acting" and I don't think that's always accurate or fair; I've met some of the most talented, hard-working and clever creatives on these.
The thing is, this is a niche genre and there is nothing subtle about it. Often when people say the "acting is bad" or whatever it is - actors are directed to go way over the top and play that dramatic, soapy, telenovela style - it's what this genre often requires. Then, add the sometimes outrageous storylines and the sound effects - and boom - you got the recipe for something entertaining and over-the-top. And this is simply the style of many of these, that's the genre. The word "subtle" doesn't exist.
But that doesn't mean that us actors aren't capable of doing other genres - in fact, many of us are. We are just also capable of doing this and, hopefully, entertaining you and/or make you laugh. :)
What developments would you like to see in the industry in the year ahead?
New storylines, more three dimensional characters and arks. I'd love to see more themes and characters in "the grey area" and not so much everything being so black and white.
I think there's so much potential in this world and I'm excited to see where it goes!
For me personally, I'd love to do a romcom and period piece!
What are you most proud of?
Moving 9000 miles across the ocean away from all my friends and family.
I'm born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark and when I moved to LA to study acting at The Lee Strasberg Institute, I knew literally 2 people here.
Now, I've built a life here. I'm quick to judge myself and be hard on myself for not having achieved what I want to achieve yet. But, when I look back on my starting point, I've come quite a long way. Moving to America, building a life and getting to work and stay here is NOT easy.
Which vertical actor would you like to play you in the biopic of your life?
Kasey Esser. I'd love to see him walk a mile in my shoes. Like, literally.
3 Random Facts:
⭐ I don't have a driver's license. Like, I do not know how to drive.
⭐ I have a cat named Elton John I rescued 7 years ago
⭐ I have a banana phobia. I'm totally shooting myself in the foot here, because I always tell productions I'm allergic, but I just have a really bad phobia and if I see someone eat a banana I will feel physically ill and might throw up. And I'm very embarrassed about it.
Favourite snack:
Marabou chocolate with pistachio (which I cannot get in the US)
Current earworm:
Pink Pony Club
Last movie you saw at the cinema:
"Babygirl". Loved it.
Currently reading:
A script! And Tove Ditlevsen: "The Copenhagen Trilogy".
Thank you Rebecca🙏🏼
Please do check out:
🎞️ The Pool Boy on Vigloo
🎞️ 100% Destined for Your Love on Goodshort
🎞️ Mistaken For A Gold Digger on Goodshort
🎞️ Rebecca’s IMDB
📸 Rebecca’s Instagram @beccabjerg
