Caldwell Academy
Caldwell Academy
Directed by Thomas Pallier
At an elite boarding school, student president Eden Clarke has her future all figured out until she lands a month of detention with lacrosse star Beckett Langford. Falling for him could cost her more than her reputation. And at Caldwell, everyone’s watching.
After the Screening: Following the screening, join the creators for a live Q&A.
Saturday, October 17, 2026
1:45 PM · AMC 19th Street, Theater 6
Creator Statement
SuperLab created Caldwell Academy to demonstrate that ambitious vertical storytelling can build a shared audience across social media and traditional streaming. Having worked in microdrama since its arrival in the U.S., I saw an opportunity to expand its creative range through stronger scripts, new genres, and material that moves beyond the format’s familiar tropes.
Caldwell’s central romance gave us a way into larger questions of class, ambition, and who gets to make mistakes without paying for them. I worked closely with writer Adam Santa Cruz and director and producer Thomas Pallier to build out that world. We wanted the supporting characters and their competing interests to carry enough weight to sustain the series beyond its central couple and first season.
We also believe creators are the next generation of entertainment. Across every SuperLab series, including Caldwell, we collaborate with creators to bring their talent, perspective, and loyal audiences into an original scripted world. They’ve already built relationships with viewers who are invested in what they do. We see an opportunity to turn that connection into an audience for new characters and lasting franchises.
YA was SuperLab’s starting point because it connects an established television audience with a generation whose viewing habits span streaming and social media. That audience overlap gives us a strong foundation for a strategy we’re pursuing across genres. With Caldwell and our other SuperLab series, we’re putting this approach into practice through both vertical and traditional distribution, developing projects with the potential to sustain multiple seasons and reach audiences across formats.
Filmmaker Bio
Grace Swanson is the Head of Production and Development at SuperLab, SuperOrdinary's entertainment studio. Since joining the company a year and a half ago, she has built SuperLab from the ground up, leading the development and production of branded series and original programming. SuperLab’s series have generated over 300 million views across Meta, TikTok, and YouTube.
Swanson is an actor and producer with four years of experience across traditional film & television, 40+ vertical series with every major platform, and digital content. Her experience both on camera and behind the scenes informs her approach to developing compelling stories and building series with long-term franchise potential.
Swanson studied economics, theatre, and business at Northwestern University. Originally from Chicago, she now lives in Los Angeles.
Cast & Crew
Director:Thomas Pallier
Creator:Grace Swanson
Writer:Adam Santa Cruz
Producer:SuperLab
Principal Cast: Noah Fearnley, Mariah Moss, Griffin Winters, Molly Anderson, Shane Porter, Adam Santa Cruz, Josi Raya, and Grace Swanson.
Production Company:Thomas Pallier (Enzyme Films)
