We recently connected with Anthony Caldwell and have shared our conversation below.

Anthony, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Two years ago, I attended the Cleveland International Film Festival with a film I produced and starred in called Convergence. While I was there, I found myself inspired by filmmakers boldly telling Jewish stories, a part of my own heritage with which I’ve often struggled to connect. At the time, America was experiencing a wave of movements confronting prejudice and hate, particularly the Black Lives Matter movement. It really made me ask myself: ‘How can I use my platform to create social impact while exploring a part of my identity that’s complicated and, at times, uncomfortable?’

That question led me to craft the first treatment of “Our Lives After,” a story about a criminal justice lawyer who survives an attack on a synagogue and is forced to reckon with the trauma and survivor’s guilt that follows. To me, his journey reflects the generational trauma many Jewish-Americans carry: the weight of historic tragedy alongside the daily reality of rising antisemitism. That reality hit especially close to home when a gunman opened fire on the Chabad synagogue I attended as a kid in Poway, California, on April 27, 2019.

The project has evolved through multiple drafts, collaborators, and creative hurdles, and it’s easily been the most difficult — yet most meaningful — project I’ve produced to date. It’s deeply personal, emotionally heavy, and logistically complex. But I believe it’s the kind of story that needs to be told for my own healing, and hopefully to spark conversations for others.

That said, acting remains my first love, and I’m excited to return to the stage this winter in Red Light Winter by Adam Rapp. Being produced by Ramon Suzara and Helena Orts, it’s an incredibly raw, intimate play that explores longing, connection, and the human need for escape. The material is dark, honest, and vulnerable. People can keep up-to-date with the project by following @redlightwinterla on Instagram or searching Red Light Winter Los Angeles on Facebook.

I’m equally excited for Zechariah Thormodsgaard’s next project titled, “Void” that will be completed later this year. Adapted from a short story, I play Tony, a writing program graduate student who unlocks his powers of foresight while finishing up his thesis paper. It’s a love story wrapped up in a grounded sci-fi. If you loved Convergence, this will definitely be up your alley.

Finally, Seri DeYoung’s ‘Unfaithful!” is making the festival rounds and it was a blast playing Nate in this film.

Anthony, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I currently work at an interesting crossroads between the entertainment industry’s business side and the creative side. By day, I work in motion picture finance for one of the major studios, overseeing production budgets and supporting the teams that bring film and television projects to life. Some of my friends like to say, “I’m working for the man.” But my 5-9 is my real passion: storytelling. I’m an actor, producer, and filmmaker focused on creating projects that challenge audiences, spark conversation, and explore complicated aspects of identity. In other words, at night, I’m rebelling against the man.

My way into this industry in a bit of a non-traditional route. I didn’t come from a Hollywood family or have a clear roadmap. I started out pursuing acting, first landing roles in student films at NYU Tish Asia (while studying abroad) and at my alma mater of Arizona State. Later, I found myself working on bigger projects like American Horror Story, but along the way, I realized how much power there is behind the camera. Producing has allowed me to take control of the stories I wanted to tell, stories that as an actor, I feel fulfilled in telling.

What sets me apart is that I bring both the creative and the financial lens to every project. I understand the artistic side, but I also know how to get a project off the ground, navigate the logistics, manage a budget, and build something sustainable. That combination has allowed me to produce several short films, including Convergence, a more commercially appealing genre film, and Our Lives After, a charged social justice drama that means a great deal to me personally.

At the core of everything I do, whether it’s acting, producing, or collaborating with other creatives, is the desire to tell stories that matter. Stories that make people feel seen, that challenge assumptions, and that remind us of our shared humanity.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Definitely. There are a few books and teachings that have really shaped my approach to both leadership and creative work. One of the biggest influences has been Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. It really cemented for me how much success depends on mindset, clarity, and the ability to keep going despite obstacles.

Another one that’s been hugely influential is How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. I know it’s a classic, but the principles in that book such as listening actively, building real connections, leading with empathy have been invaluable. So much of this business comes down to relationships, collaboration, and trust, and that book reinforced how to approach those dynamics with authenticity.

On the creative side, The Mystic in the Theatre really changed how I think about acting and storytelling. It’s required reading at The Imagined Life, the acting studio where I train with Faline England. The training and the studio and the book have shaped my philosophy that acting isn’t about pretending, it’s about accessing our shared humanity. That mindset spills over into every part of my work.

Although, I’m not spiritually aligned with Buddhism as a whole, I also often listen to Buddhist teachings about what it means to be human. That we must have presence, compassion, and stay grounded in the face of uncertainty. That’s been essential, especially as a producer where you’re constantly navigating challenges and leading teams under pressure.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the idea that our stories will outlive us. Not to be bleak, but there’s something profoundly humbling and strangely comforting about that. I always think about this moment in Damien Chazelle’s “Babylon” (a film that’s chaotically grandiose in a lot of ways) that I’ll never forget.

Jean Smart’s character, Elinor St. John, is telling Brad Pitt’s character, Jack Conrad, that his time in the spotlight is over with the rise of talkies. What she says sent shivers down my spine in the theater and has stuck with me: ‘A child born in 50 years will stumble across your image flickering on a screen and feel he knows you, like… like a friend, though you breathed your last before he breathed his first. You’ve been given a gift. Be grateful. Your time today is through, but you’ll spend eternity with angels and ghosts.’

Spoiler alert: Jack ends up killing himself, likely because of that conversation. And the film itself is severely depressing. However, that moment reminds me that as artists, our work isn’t just about personal success or recognition. It’s about creating something that might reach future generations. Something those future people can connect to, that make them feel seen, understood, or even just entertained for a moment. That legacy is what makes this path worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://imdb.me/anthonybcaldwell
• Instagram: @anthonybcaldwell
• Other: Check out future updates for Red Light Winter at https://redlightwinterla.com.

Image Credits

Main image shot by KnopFoto (Sascha Knopf)

BTS for “Our Lives After” provided by Franz Steiner
BTS for “Void” provided by Sarah Thormodsgaard.
BTS of “Void” with director Zechariah Thormodsgaard.
BTS of “Unfaithful!” with director, Seri DeYoung.
Photo for Red Light Winter Promo shoot taken by Lacy Fisher.