HighFive Launches with Joe Mantegna’s ‘The Friendly’ as Its First Vertical Video Feature
EXCLUSIVE: Joe Mantegna’s The Friendly has made history as the first feature film adapted into a vertical video format using the interactive studio app HighFive.
The independent film, which premiered in 2024, underwent adaptation through what creators Jason Strickman and Kumbáli Satori describe as a creative tool for filmmakers, featuring a “Swiss army knife of AI capabilities.” Initially available on Tubi and Prime Video as a transactional download from February 1, it was converted to its new format shortly thereafter.
Mantegna, known for his roles in Criminal Minds and The Simpsons, stars alongside Jessie Borrego, Casey Deidrick, Elpidia Carrillo, and Daniela Nieves. Directed by Strickland, the film is a romantic drama based on a true story that explores themes of PTSD, mental health, and a heroic dog.
“It was a pleasure working with director Jason Strickland and the wonderful cast and crew on The Friendly,” Mantegna commented. “The film’s mission to raise awareness and support for our U.S. military is something near and dear to me.”
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HighFive is touted as the first interactive vertical video studio designed for mobile devices. This innovative platform enables filmmakers to repurpose features for microdrama audiences while also allowing for a shift to wider formats. The app recently launched a horror-themed series, ParanorMALL, as a showcase of its technology, which was unveiled nearly three months ago.
According to Strickland and Satori, this application can produce vertical and immersive experiences, potentially reducing film budgets by up to 65%.
Strickland, who began his career as a child actor in Blossom and The Secret Life of Alex Mack, has transitioned into a successful producer and director. His production company, In The Light Productions, collaborated with Satori’s HigherKey to develop the conversion system. “Technology may shape the future of filmmaking, but human emotion will always be the heart of it,” he stated.
Satori leads the engineering efforts behind HigherKey’s proprietary platform, which claims the ability to restore legacy films to true 4K resolution while intelligently reconstructing composition, motion, and narrative focus. Strickland indicated that this technology has been further enhanced to fully adapt films to a vertical format.
“We are creating technology that allows creatives to be creative,” Satori remarked.
