EXCLUSIVE: A fitting one for Halloween. Former So You Think You Can Dance winner Dushaunt “Fik-Shun” Stegall is leading cast in short form mobile series Pizza Guys vs Vampires, which is due to debut this week on new US vertical streaming platform Inverted.film.
The Flashback Pictures production is an 80s-inspired action-comedy following pizza delivery driver Kenji, whose first night on the job takes a supernatural turn when he discovers his customers are vampires.
Also starring are Toru Uchikado (Heroes Reborn), John Druska (All American), Quartay DeNaya (Kings), Alan Smyth (NCIS), and Melanie Rains (Hawaii Five-0). Written by Mat Raney (Bull), the series is directed by Raney, Dominic Russo, and Daniel Cotroneo.
Flashback currently has nine titles in development encompassing live action features, animation and episodic series. It’ll host premiere screenings for Pizza Guys vs Vampires on November 1 at The Motoring Club, Santa Monica, and November 2 at The New Parkway Theater, Oakland.
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Inverted.film is a new U.S.-based streaming platform designed specifically for vertical content. The first five eps of Pizza Guys vs Vampires will be available free, with the remaining nine episodes available for $2.99.
“We built Flashback with a Moneyball mindset — identifying undervalued opportunities in talent and format,” said Daniel Cotroneo, founder and CEO of Flashback Pictures. “Audiences are spending more time with short-form content than ever before. Our mission is to deliver that same immediacy and accessibility, but with the production value and storytelling depth of traditional film and television.”
“I think the vertical format is underestimated,” added Fik-Shun, who plays Raif—a vampire with serious martial arts chops. “I’ve done so many vertical videos, but it’s really cool to get into a space like this. Professional set, professional cameras. Everything and everyone is top notch.”
Dominic Russo, co-creator and executive producer of Workaholics, who produced and directed several episodes, commented: “When I made the web series that became Workaholics, web formats were undervalued and overlooked—the vertical format feels similar today. Vertical storytelling is exciting because it doesn’t have to follow the traditional TV playbook; we can take risks, reimagine structure and experiment with cinematic features not possible in 16:9. If you’ve ever watched TV lying sideways on the couch, you’re already watching 9:16, and you love vertical formats—probably Pizza too.”