Calvin Ross Barnes (born January 14, 1988) is an American actor, director, screenwriter, film producer, novelist, and playwright. Barnes moved to Los Angeles in 2009, where he began his career by starring in short films, appearing in television commercials, and writing screenplays.Myers, Ashley Scott. Script Magazine Cal Barnes. Script Magazine. Retrieved August 7, 2019 His stage play, Rise, won Best World Premiere at the 2012 Hollywood Fringe Festival.Holder, Travis Michael. "Rise is a Roller Coaster of Emotional Impact" Backstage. November 11, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2019Rise 'Best World Premiere' at the Hollywood Fringe Festival Hollywood Fringe Official Site. Retrieved February 1, 2019 In 2014, Barnes appeared in the Universal Studios horror film, Unfriended, which was executive produced by Jason Blum.Ebert, Roger. "Unfriended Review" Roger Ebert. April 17, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2019Hall, Sacha. "The Blair Witch Project's Skype Revenge" The Hollywood News. January 17, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2019 He has three published novels, True Grandeur (2017),Los Angeles Public Library, True Grandeur LAPL Official Site. Retrieved February 1, 2019Mason, Todd. True Grandeur is a Hollywood Novel for the 21st Century. The California Literary Review. Retrieved May 8th, 2020 and the Peter Pan sequels, Son of Neverland (2021), and Son of Neverland and the Kingdom of Time (2025), both in which he is attached to star in.Vincent, Owen James. Cal Barnes x Revamp Magazine. Revamp Magazine. Retrieved March 24th, 2023.'The Astrid Experience' Star and Director Publishes New Peter Pan Fantasy Series to Star In. EIN Newsdesk. Retrieved November 29th, 2021.'Son of Neverland' Press Release. PR. Retrieved November 11th, 2021. He is the star of theThe Astrid Experience, which marks his feature film directorial debut.Cal Barnes IMDB. Retrieved September 8, 2019
Early life and education Cal Barnes was born in Salem, Oregon.Lynn, Capi. Statesman Journal Speaks with Actor and Filmmaker Cal Barnes. The Statesman Journal. Retrieved August 17th, 2020. He studied creative writing, journalism, and theatre at Portland State University before moving to Los Angeles.About Cal Barnes . Cal Barnes Official Site. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
Career
Barnes started his acting career in 2010 when he began booking numerous short films he self-submitted for that filmed in and around Los Angeles. He began acting professionally in 2011 when he landed his first agent and began booking theatrical and commercial work.Myers, Ashley Scott. SYS Interview with Writer/Director Cal Barnes. SYS with Ashley Scott Myers. Retrieved August 5, 2019 In late 2011, he moved to the Franklin Village neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills, where he began penning feature screenplays.Myers, Ashley Scott. LA Screenwriter, Cal Barnes Interview. LA Screenwriter. Retrieved August 7, 2019Belnick, Jake. Radio Interview with Cal Barnes and Mickey River. Do Me A Solid Show. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
During his time in the village, Barnes penned his first play, RiseStanley, Steven. "24 Year-Old Barnes Shows Considerable Promise in His Debut Play." Stage Scene LA. November 20, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2019Birchall, Paul. "Rise. GO!" LA Weekly. June 13, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2019Manus, Willard. "Barnes Keeps Going Deeper Into Character" Total Theatre. June 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2019 (2012), which went on to win Best World PremiereTheatre in LA The Los Angeles Examiner. June 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2019 at the 2012 Hollywood Fringe Festival.Johnson, Reed. "Hollywood Fringe Festival Performs its Own Way" LA Times. June 20, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2019 He also wrote his first novel, True Grandeur,"A Young Writer is Seduced by Hollywood Life".Kirkus. December 12, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2019Carlson, Mari. Debut Novelist Cal R. Barnes Takes Us Into the Soul of a Young and Rising Star. The Midwest Book Review. September 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2019 which chronicles the tale of Conrad Arlington, a young Hollywood hopeful that moves to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming a great artist, all while managing his affections for Gracie Garrison, a young Hollywood it girl who takes an interest in him.True Grandeur on Audible. Audible. Retrieved September 8, 2019 In an interview regarding the novel, Barnes stated, "I was inspired by some experiences I had in my early twenties when I first moved to Los Angeles."Barnes, Cal. Cal Barnes Writer Interview. Awesome Gang News. Retrieved September 8, 2019.Meet Cal Barnes of Nineteen Films. Voyage LA. Retrieved November 9th, 2020. He also had a role in the successful horror film franchise, Unfriended (2014), which was produced by Timur Bekmambetov and Jason Blum, and released by Universal Studios.GoodyKoontz, Bill. "Unfriended Takes a Clever Stab at Social Media Horror" Statesman Journal. April 20, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2019Sachs, Ben. "Unfriended Review" Chicago Reader. 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2019
Barnes recently starred in the feature film, The Astrid Experience (2023).Patta, Gig.The Astrid Experience Shows an Unforgettable Night in LA. LRM Online. Retrieved February 25th, 2020The Astrid Experience. Cal Barnes Official Site. Retrieved May 22, 2019Flores, Nica. Interview with Cal Barnes. Radio Public. Retrieved July 2, 2019. It marks Barnes's second collaboration with musician John That, the first being the music video Hippy Girl(2014), which Barnes directed.Hippy Girl Official Music Video. Noblehoooks Music. Retrieved December 28th, 2019 The Astrid Experience is Barnes's feature film debut as director.Moyer, Catie. Interview with 'The Astrid Experience' Triple Threat Cal Barnes. Screen Fervor. Retrieved May 16th, 2020
The Astrid Experience had its world premiere at the Laemmle Royal Theatre in Santa Monica, CA on March 23, 2023. On March 25, 2023, Barnes and That released the film on the Official Noblehooks Productions Youtube channel to 2.5 thousand subscribers.Noblehooks & Nineteen Films. THE ASTRID EXPERIENCE (FULL MOVIE). The Astrid Experience in 4K. Retrieved March 26th, 2023. The film has subsequently been released by Tubi, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV.The Astrid Experience on Tubi. Tubi TV. Retrieved August 23rd, 2023.The Astrid Experience on Prime Video. Amazon Prime Video. Retrieved August 8th, 2023.The Astrid Experience on Apple TV. Apple TV. Retrieved September 15th, 2023 and in 2025 was ranked #5 on FandomWire Magazine's 'Top 10 Movies Shot on iPhone', behind Sean Baker's Tangerine.Sweta. Top 10 Movies Shot on an iPhone. FandomWire. March 6th, 2025. Retrieved March 6th, 2025
On October 27, 2021, Barnes published his second novel, Son of Neverland, a Peter Pan sequel that takes place one hundred years into the future. The novel hit the #1 new release for mythology and folklore fantasy fiction on Amazon for the month of November, 2021. In honor of J.M. Barrie's legacy and support of children's hospitals, Barnes and the publisher set up a charitable fund to continue the endowment. On the official website and in the recitals of the novel Barnes and publisher state that "10% of the net proceeds from this book will go directly towards supporting children’s hospitals, charities, organizations, institutions, and causes worldwide that are designed to keep children safe, healthy, creative, imaginative, and ultimately make their lives better."Son of Neverland Charitable Fund. Son of Neverland Official Website. Retrieved October 27th, 2021
In an Interview with Revamp Magazine in March, 2023, Barnes confirmed that he's attached to play Peter Pan in the franchise. "I am the character," Barnes says. "I'm attached to play Peter, and the novel art has already been created in my likeness, so it's well on its way."
Son of Neverland and the Kingdom of Time, the second book in the series, was released on October 29, 2025.Son of Neverland and the Kingdom of Time Official Trailer. SON KOT Official Trailer. Retrieved October 29th, 2025.
On July 4, 2026, Barnes launched his new show, Unlimited Creation, on Youtube and Spotify.Unlimited Creation on Youtube. Unlimited Creation with Cal Barnes. Retrieved July 24th, 2026.Unlimited Creation with Cal Barnes on Spotify. Unlimited Creation with Cal Barnes on Spotify. Retrieved July 24th, 2026.
In September 2026, Barnes launched a Wefunder campaign to finance his sophomore feature film, 'The Influencer House Massacre', a Gen-Z Horror Film that opened up the investment opportunity to the general public.
Appearances in other media
In 2011, Barnes portrayed the teenage version of Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan in the music video for the Avenged Sevenfold song "So Far Away", which served as a tribute video to the band's late drummer who passed in 2009. It is the band's first number one single. As of April 2026, the video has over 430 million views on youtube.AX7, 'So Far Away'. 'So Far Away' Official Music Video. Retrieved May 22, 2019
In October 2024, Barnes briefly appeared in Tyler, the Creator's "Noid" music video.'Noid'. Tyler, the Creator 'Noid' Official Music Video. Retrieved October, 21st, 2024
Filmography
Films Year Title Role Notes 2011 Plunge Wendell Also Writer, Producer. First short film with his production company. Soundtrack includes 'If Work Permits' by The Format 2012 Faith and Other Weapons Josh Thesis film by Cooper Hefner 2014 Unfriended Rando Pauls 2018 Adolescence NA Writer, Associate Producer 2023 Krispr Matthew Shepp 2023 The Astrid Experience Chase Abbott Directorial Debut. Also Writer, Producer. 2026 The Influencer House Massacre Josh Carter Attached. Also Writer/ Director 2028 Infinite Limits Collin Whitney Attached. Also Writer TBD Son of Neverland Peter Pan Attached. Based on the Novel TBD Son of Neverland and the Kingdom of Time Peter Pan Attached. Based on the Novel
Stage Year Title Role Notes 2012 Rise Playwright Zenith Ensemble / Hollywood Fringe Festival, Won 'Best World Premiere' 2013 The Absence of Sound Dane, Playwright Award-Winning Playwright Competition
Music videos Year Title Artist Role 2011 "So Far Away" Avenged Sevenfold Teenage Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan 2011 "Who's in Control" / Valhalla Dancehall British Sea Power Rebel Leader 2014 "Hippy Girl" John That Director, Producer 2024 "Noid" Tyler, the Creator Robber
Books & Publications True Grandeur: A Hollywood Novel (Magic Hour Press 2017) Son of Neverland (Magic Hour Press 2021) Rise (Prodigy Play Group 2022) Son of Neverland and the Kingdom of Time (Magic Hour Press 2025)
References
External links