Actor and creator Ryan Ray Vincent joined The Buzz – BuzzWorthy Radio for a wide-ranging conversation that quickly moved beyond the structure of a typical Q&A. What unfolded was a candid look at vertical storytelling, the realities of modern acting, and how creatives are navigating an industry that is evolving in real time.
Vincent described vertical storytelling as a format defined by rhythm and constant engagement.
“It’s very much specific, kind of like in a comparison like a comedian doing stand-up,” he said. “You’re trying to get a joke every 15, 20 seconds to keep the rhythm of the room.”
That rhythm, he explained, is what drives the entire structure of the format.
“It’s the same kind of approach, but instead of comedy, we want a dramatic beat, some kind of cliffhanger that keeps you like, ‘What is going on?’”
For Vincent, that shift doesn’t just change how stories are told—it changes how actors work inside them.
“You don’t have the luxury of like, I have all this time to focus,” he said. “One day you’re a mafia guy, the next day you’re a CEO, and then after that you’re a prince.”
The speed of the format requires constant adaptability.
“You have to be moving very fast,” he added. “It’s not for the faint of heart.”
That sense of momentum carried into a broader discussion about how actors and creators are building careers in today’s industry. Rather than waiting for traditional pathways, Vincent emphasized action over hesitation.
“You have to really take the bull by the horns and be a very self-starter and not wait,” he said. “It’s very important—you just can’t wait.”
That mindset extends into how he approaches the craft itself, including writing and filmmaking outside of formal training.
“I didn’t have to go to school for it,” he said. “I just got to work.”
When the conversation turned toward competition and visibility in the industry, Vincent didn’t soften the reality of it.
“There are thousands of you,” he said. “You have to figure out a way for you to stand out so they choose you over all the other people that look just like you.”
Then came a line that framed that idea even more directly.
“You’re not a needle in a haystack—you’re a needle in a stack of needles.”
Beyond industry mechanics, the conversation also moved into mindset and resilience—how people navigate pressure, uncertainty, and internal doubt.
“When that feeling would come up, I would say to myself, ‘I love this,’” Vincent said. “So now I’ve done it so many times that when the nervous thing kicks in, I just say, ‘You love this.’”
He described how that simple internal shift changes how he moves through unexpected moments, including live or unscripted situations where he has to speak without preparation.
“It just was fluid,” he said. “It came right out.”
The conversation ultimately reflected a larger shift happening across entertainment: faster production cycles, changing audience behavior, and an industry that increasingly rewards adaptability over tradition.
Still, Vincent kept returning to a simple throughline.
“Just start paying attention,” he said. “Opportunities are always going by you.”
Watch the full interview with Ryan Ray Vincent by clicking on the player above or on Spotify.
