PRESS RELEASE: VFSSA Launches The V Seal: The First Professional Standards Mark for Vertical (9:16) Productions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vancouver, BC — August 20, 2025 — The Vertical Film & Short Series Alliance (VFSSA) today announced The V Seal, a verification program that signals when a vertical project is being run above-board, safely, and professionally. Productions that earn the mark are VFSSA Vertified - a fast, trusted cue to agents, managers, and talent that a 9:16 production meets clear standards across crew, talent, compliance, and transparency.
What the V Seal Signals
Professional: documented processes, real insurance, real payroll
Compliant: union/guild obligations respected where applicable
Safe & Fair: clear safety, harassment, and payment practices
Transparent: who’s producing, how to escalate, how to get paid
How Productions Qualify
To earn the V Seal, applicants must demonstrate readiness across five core areas (with vertical-specific workflows baked in). Highlights include:
Company & Compliance: legal entity in good standing; COI covering general liability & workers’ comp; required permits; signed IP/rights agreements.
Labor, Pay & Paperwork: written deal memos; recognized payroll with proper withholdings; disclosed payment schedule; if union, proof of signatory status and adherence.
Safety & Conduct: designated safety/first-aid lead; anti-harassment policy with an anonymous channel; reasonable hours/turnaround; intimacy/stunt coordination where relevant.
Production Standards: call sheets 24 hours in advance; on-set consent for BTS; data-management plan (backup & encryption) for dailies/handoffs; clear crediting and delivery specs.
Transparency & Accountability: public-facing production contact; dispute/escrow or holdback plan (if used); post-wrap payment confirmation and cast/crew sign-off.
Vertical-Specific Readiness: defined 9:16 workflow (framing guides, audio, captions/subs), accessibility plan, and platform-appropriate usage.
How and Where to Display the V Seal
Once verified, productions receive vector lockups and usage guidelines (clearspace, minimum size, color/mono). On Breakdown Services, productions can list:
“VFSSA Vertified – The V Seal: Above-board vertical production. Union-compliant where applicable, insured, payroll-backed, safety-led.”
Application & Renewal
Producers can apply now via the VFSSA website. Applicants receive a response within five business days. The V Seal is granted per production (or per season for series); significant scope or company changes require re-verification.
“Vertical is here to stay - but it must be safe, fair, and professional,” said a VFSSA spokesperson. “The V Seal gives talent and reps an instant signal that a project is properly insured, and run with respect. It raises the bar for everyone.”
“Agents and managers have been asking for a quick way to triage offers in this fast-moving space,” the spokesperson added. “The V Seal is that shorthand - and a practical checklist producers can use to get there.”
About the Vertical Film & Short Series Alliance (VFSSA)
VFSSA is a community-driven collective dedicated to elevating the vertical film industry. The Alliance builds a sustainable, professional ecosystem that bridges clients, unions, producers, cast, and crew - advocating, educating, connecting, and recognizing the people shaping the future of mobile-first storytelling. VFSSA is not a union or agency.
Community Accountability
As part of its professionalization mission, VFSSA also hosts an anonymous Report a Concern channel to help surface unprofessional or unsafe behavior and route it to appropriate parties. (VFSSA is an independent, community initiative and does not provide legal or employment advice.)
Learn more & apply for The V Seal —> HERE.
Media inquiries: Please reach out via the contact form on the VFSSA site.
Disclaimer: VFSSA’s professional standards are informational and do not replace union/guild, insurer, or regulatory requirements; those requirements always control.