Jackson Tiller | Why Everyone Wants This Leading Man: The Vertical Buzz S3E3

🎙️ This Week on The Vertical Buzz

Welcome to The Vertical Buzz, where vertical entertainment finds its voice. This week, host Buzz Leer sits down with one of the breakout stars of vertical entertainment, Jackson Tiller.

Jackson's journey to Hollywood was anything but conventional. Growing up in the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina, he initially pursued nursing before making the leap into acting and eventually heading west to Los Angeles. After years of grinding in LA, one unexpected opportunity in 2023 changed the trajectory of his career and introduced him to vertical storytelling.

🎬 Today, Jackson is known for starring in hit verticals including The Diamond Rose, 30 Days of Love, Dracula's Kiss, and From Contract Lover to the Billionaire Bride. He talks openly about the realities of becoming a leading man in this rapidly evolving industry, from the intense pace of vertical production to the passionate fans who have embraced the format.

🤖 Buzz and Jackson also get into one of the biggest issues facing actors right now: AI. They discuss the opportunities and threats AI presents, the possibility of digital replicas, and why Jackson believes real actors and AI can ultimately occupy their own lanes.

The conversation also gets personal, with stories about Jackson's childhood, sports injuries, his transition from nursing to acting, dream roles, doing his own stunts, North Carolina pride, and the roles he would absolutely refuse to play.

And yes... we settle the North Carolina barbecue debate. 🌶️

In this episode, you will learn:• How Jackson went from nursing student to full-time actor• Why one opportunity changed his Hollywood career• How he discovered vertical storytelling in 2023• What it takes to become a leading man in vertical entertainment• How vertical acting differs from traditional film and television• Jackson's thoughts on AI and the future of acting• Why he believes AI and live-action entertainment can coexist• What actors should know before entering the vertical industry• The dream roles Jackson hopes to play someday• Why he refuses certain roles on principle• And, of course, where Jackson stands on North Carolina barbecue 🍖

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Coin Flip to LA00:16 First Set Reality Check00:43 AI and Vertical Advice01:16 Show Intro and Guest Bio02:40 From Nursing to Acting05:24 Asheville Roots and Family09:02 Sports Injuries and Mindset11:54 Sponsor Break and Casting App12:54 Theater Class to Hollywood Leap17:27 LA Hustle to Vertical Breakthrough39:04 Vertical Scripts Level Up40:02 AI Pros and Job Fears40:53 Dream Roles and Stunts42:24 Advice for Newcomers43:35 Rapid Fire and Verticast48:42 North Carolina Roots50:40 Embarrassing Stage Moment54:36 Teddy Bear Persona Reveal01:02:38 Creative Freedom on Set01:07:35 AI Replicas and Wrap Up

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