Chris Crema & Matthew Ko | Inside Knockout Shorts at Sunset Las Palmas: The Vertical Buzz S2E12

Welcome to The Vertical Buzz, where vertical entertainment finds its voice. This week, we're on location at the legendary Sunset Las Palmas Studios in Hollywood, California, for our first ever episode filmed outside Glendale Podcast Studio.

Host Buzz Leer sits down with Knockout Shorts co-founders Chris Crema and Matthew Ko to explore how they're helping shape the next generation of premium vertical storytelling. Together, they discuss why they left traditional Hollywood to build something new, how Knockout Shorts was born, and why they believe the future of entertainment will be built by creators willing to take risks.

The conversation goes beyond filmmaking as Chris and Matt give Buzz an exclusive tour of their brand new standing sets inside Sunset Las Palmas Studios, showing how productions can shoot multiple locations in one space while maintaining a premium cinematic look. They also discuss elevating production quality, empowering creators, bridging traditional Hollywood with vertical entertainment, and why the industry is still in its earliest chapters.

In this episode, you will learn:• How Chris Crema and Matthew Ko founded Knockout Shorts• Why they believe vertical storytelling is still in the early innings• How standing sets dramatically improve production efficiency• What it takes to build premium vertical productions• Why creators should continue pushing creative boundaries• How Knockout Shorts develops and finances original projects• Why Hollywood and vertical entertainment are beginning to merge• How practical production design can create dozens of unique locations• Why raising standards benefits the entire vertical ecosystem• What the future of premium short-form storytelling looks like

Chapters00:00 The Vertical Buzz on Location01:02 Vertical Storytelling Future02:24 On Location Kickoff03:59 Meet Chris and Matt07:02 How Knockout Shorts Began13:44 Building at Sunset Las Palmas16:51 Recycled Sets Glow Up23:15 Tipping Point and Mission27:57 Projects and Showreel33:13 Studio Tour Begins43:03 Courtroom Set Versatility44:21 Gavel Moment Guilty Verdict44:57 Cheers Style Bar Set46:07 Pre Lit Rig Explained48:57 Analog Lighting Control Box50:34 Apartment Set Walkthrough55:48 Vertical Budget Misconceptions58:49 Verticast Rapid Fire01:10:22 Raising Standards And Bridging Worlds01:12:58 Closing Vision And Thanks

Sponsor: AEIRO (Arrow Air Purifiers)AEIRO Air Purifiers help identify, reduce, and monitor airborne contaminants to create a cleaner indoor environment for homes and professional spaces.Featured in this episode: AEIRO AC150, powerful enough to clean rooms 300+ sq ft, quiet enough for production, with smart sensor controls and true HEPA plus carbon filtration.Website: AEIRO.co

Rapid Fire Sponsor: VertiCastVertiCast is a casting app built for the speed of vertical storytelling. Actors can create profiles, upload clips, share availability, and make it easier for casting directors and producers to find them quickly.Instagram: @verticastapp

Guests: Chris Crema & Matthew Ko

Chris Crema is the co-founder of Knockout Shorts and an award-winning producer whose background spans independent film, documentaries, and premium vertical storytelling. After producing numerous vertical series, he partnered with Matthew Ko to build Knockout Shorts with a mission of raising creative standards and empowering filmmakers in the fast-growing short-form space.Instagram: @chris_crema

Matthew Ko is the co-founder and CEO of Knockout Shorts. Before launching the company, he worked with Scott Rudin Productions, A24, Ace Entertainment, and The Freddy Wexler Company, developing projects across film and television. Today, he is focused on bridging traditional Hollywood storytelling with premium vertical entertainment.Instagram: @matthew_k0

Knockout ShortsInstagram: @knockout.shorts

Host: Buzz LeerInstagram: @buzz_leer