Campus Rivals
The Vertical Drama Rewriting the Rules — Cameos, Chaos, and College Romance
Vertical dramas are on the rise, but few have sparked as much buzz as Campus Rivals. This eagerly awaited series comes from actor, writer, and creative producer Adam Santa Cruz, alongside fellow creative producer and co-star Eric Guilmette. Set on a vibrant college campus and centered around a high-stakes love triangle, Campus Rivals is more than just a fun watch — it’s one of the most ambitious and creatively driven vertical dramas to date.
Brielle Yuke Li serves as the main producer of Campus Rivals, with Bomi Song of Vigloo as Executive Producer. Brielle produced the series through her own company, Luminelle Productions, and her role was absolutely pivotal — this project simply wouldn’t have come to life without her dedication, vision, and tireless effort. As Eric Guilmette puts it, “She’s a saint.”
Filmed in Los Angeles and coming soon to the Vigloo app, the series is already generating buzz behind the scenes. With over 15 cameo appearances from some of the biggest names in vertical storytelling, richly developed characters, and a strong sense of collaboration on set, Campus Rivals is set to raise the bar for the genre. Think classic CW-style drama with more depth, more personality, and the kind of creative freedom that only comes when actors help shape the story from within.
The Plot: A Modern Twist on College Romance
At its core, Campus Rivals tells the story of Claire (played by Vanessa Nottingham), a college student who transfers schools to be with her boyfriend Chad (Adam Santa Cruz) — only to unexpectedly reunite with her old flame Xavier (Eric Guilmette). The love triangle quickly spirals into drama, secrets, and emotional tension as past relationships resurface and allegiances shift.
What elevates the story is its complexity: characters aren’t boxed into tropes. Chad isn’t just a "bad boyfriend." Xavier isn’t just the sensitive alternative. And Claire isn’t just caught in the middle — she drives the emotional arc of the show with clarity and agency.
While the love triangle is central, Campus Rivals distinguishes itself through nuanced, well-developed characters and tight, fast-paced scripting. “I wanted to write something that felt like a vertical version of a CW show,” says Adam Santa Cruz. “Something fun and stylish, but grounded in real emotion.”
How the Cast Came Together
Eric Guilmette as Xavier Brooks
Eric Guilmette had been on Adam Santa Cruz’s radar for a while — the two had known each other socially and shared a mutual respect for each other’s work in the vertical space, but had never actually worked together. When Adam started writing Campus Rivals, he had Eric in mind for the role of Xavier, one half of the show's central love triangle. Even before the script was finished, Adam reached out while Eric was filming overseas, and sent him an early draft. Eric was immediately drawn to the tone and style of the story, which felt fresh, character-driven, and more grounded than many vertical scripts. Despite a tight schedule, Eric made it work — and not only signed on to star, but also came on board as a creative producer, helping to shape the project both on and off screen.
Vanessa Nottingham as Claire Emerson
Vanessa plays Claire, the emotional anchor of the series — a character torn between the comfort of the past and the uncertainty of what’s ahead. She was always a top contender for the role. Both Adam Santa Cruz and Eric Guilmette had worked with her before, including on a demanding 21-day feature film shoot, and knew exactly what she could bring to the table. When the producers submitted their shortlist for the lead, Vanessa’s name stood out — and in a rare moment of complete alignment, she was also the platform’s top choice.
Her acting credentials speak for themselves: she’s known for her precision, her emotional depth, and what castmates call her “uncanny” ability to cry on cue. In a role that required balancing scenes with both leads and holding together the emotional thread of the story, Vanessa rose to the challenge.
“She fits the character of Claire so perfectly,” said Guilmette. “This was a head role, and she delivered.”
“She really had to carry the load,” added Santa Cruz. “And she nailed it — every scene.”
Adam Santa Cruz as Chad Miller
Adam Santa Cruz always knew he wanted to play Chad — the sharp-edged, emotionally complex boyfriend at the center of the show’s love triangle. As both the writer and one of the producers, Adam created the role with himself in mind from the beginning. “I like playing a villain sometimes,” he explained, “and Chad isn’t a full-on villain — he’s just messy and flawed, which makes him fun to play.” At one point, scheduling concerns almost forced him to consider swapping roles and playing Xavier instead, but once Eric Guilmette was confirmed, Adam was able to take on the character he originally envisioned.
Brittany Marsicek as Hannah Myers
Brittany’s portrayal of Hannah, the show’s antagonist, is anything but one-dimensional. Interestingly, Brittany usually avoids playing villains. “I often say no to roles like this,” she explained. “I don’t want to play someone mean just for the sake of it. I need to understand why they’re doing what they’re doing.” But Campus Rivals was different.
She and Adam Santa Cruz had previously worked together on another vertical shoot, where she, Adam, and Vanessa Nottingham would hang out between takes drinking boba tea. It was during one of those breaks that they joked about Brittany playing an over-the-top villain who runs a boba shop — constantly chewing tapioca pearls while scheming in the background.
“I pitched being a villain just chomping boba,” she laughed. “And Adam said, give me that energy in your audition.”
What started as an inside joke evolved into a character with real emotional weight. Hannah isn’t simply cruel — she’s hurt, protective, and lashing out in the only way she knows how.
“You broke my heart, so I’m going to break your reputation,” she says in one of her key scenes — a line Brittany says captures the heart of the character.
“She’s not making the right choices,” Brittany adds, “but she’s making choices a lot of us have made.”
It was this combination of vulnerability and bite that made the role something Brittany could connect to.
Lawson Grayson as Autumn Spencer
Lawson Greyson plays Autumn Spencer, Claire’s female best friend — a rarity in the vertical world, where female leads often end up with gay male sidekicks.
“It was the first time I’ve had a female friend in a vertical,” Lawson says. “We need to show that women like each other!”
Lawson and Adam had worked together eight years prior on a short film and stayed connected through social media. When this role came up, she jumped at the chance. And with close friend Brittany Mariscek also on board, it was an easy yes.
Her bond with Claire is warm and grounded — a relationship that helps Claire navigate the chaos unfolding around her.
But Autumn isn’t just a confidante; she’s also caught in the emotional fallout between Claire and Chad. And her relationship with Chad? Complicated.
“From Autumn’s perspective, Chad is punchable,” Brittany joked. “And I want to punch him in the sequel — in character, of course!”
Filming Locations
The team shot the entire series in Los Angeles, cleverly repurposing:
A church with classic college architecture for classroom scenes
Several mansions transformed into frat and sorority houses
Fully dressed dorm rooms, complete with oversized fraternity letters (which Adam regrets forgetting to take home)
Set design was key — and Marcel Andre (set designer) along with Anthony Louis Lee (set decorator) treated the shoot with cinematic care, decorating entire rooms to accommodate vertical framing. “Most verticals only decorate what’s in the shot,” Eric explained. “We treated every wall like it would be seen — and often, it was.”
15 Cameos: The Vertical World’s Greatest Crossover Event?
Campus Rivals features 15 cameo appearances — a record for vertical dramas — from some of the genre’s most recognizable faces.
How It Happened
Adam and Eric set out with a goal: to make a vertical series that didn’t feel like “work.” “So many verticals feel like you’re working for someone,” says Eric. “We wanted it to feel like hanging out with friends while making something meaningful.”
They started by texting friends — big names in the vertical world — and asking them to come by for a scene. Soon, word got out, and other actors began reaching out to them, asking if they could be involved. Cameo roles were written into party scenes, classroom moments, and fraternity gatherings.
Some of the notable cameo appearances include:
Jessie Gallagher
Lawson Greyson played a key role in bringing Jesse Gallagher into Campus Rivals. The two had worked together on Return to Make Them Pay and remained close. When Eric Guilmette reached out to Jesse about a cameo, she asked if Lawson was on set. Once Eric confirmed, Lawson sent a photo of herself from set, playfully pleading with Jesse to join them — and it worked. Jesse made it, and her scene quickly became a highlight. “I fell in love with that woman,” Lawson said. “She’s one of the funniest people I’ve ever met — wickedly hilarious and unapologetically herself.”
Shay Dineen as a fraternity brother who shares a scene with Brittany. Although the character doesn’t have a major role, the scene left a lasting impression on Brittany. “It was one of my favourite things I’ve done.”
Ashley Michelle Grant
Brooke Moltrum
Drake Clowe
Jeff Violette
Kristine Kay Larsen
Mark Pontarellis
Natalie Collins
Nick Ritacco
Rebecca Berg
Several others (names under wraps) are woven into party scenes, fraternity banter, and classroom dynamics — making Campus Rivals feel like a who's who of vertical stars.
Eric Guilmette has thrown down the gauntlet…
“I pose the challenge to any other vertical. Try and get that many vertical stars in one show, and I guarantee you won’t be able to do it. So I will make that stand right here right now.”
Behind the Scenes: Creative Freedom, Real Chemistry
The creative spark between Brielle Yuke Li, Tingting Lyu, Bomi Song, Adam Santa Cruz, and Eric Guilmette was one of the things that made Campus Rivals feel so different. The whole team just clicked — everyone brought their own ideas and strengths, and it all came together in a way that felt exciting and fresh. Brielle, who led the charge as producer through her company Luminelle Productions, was at the heart of it all — this project wouldn’t have happened without her.
Director Tingting Lyu also brought something really special, with a clear vision (her lookbook alone was incredible) and a sense of play on set that helped scenes come alive. With Bomi’s support from Vigloo and the shared creative energy from Adam and Eric, it became the kind of set where great ideas bounced around constantly — and everyone had a voice.
With Adam and Eric both serving as creative producers, actors had the freedom to improvise, make suggestions, and shape their characters in real time. As creative leads, they built a unique atmosphere on set. Actors were encouraged to pitch ideas, tweak lines, and contribute to the emotional beats of their scenes.
Instead of focusing solely on timelines and budgets, Adam and Eric prioritized collaboration, character depth, and fun. They actively welcomed cast input and championed creative ideas — from wardrobe tweaks to spontaneous new character moments.
“If an actor came to us with an idea, we didn’t shut it down,” said Adam. “We’d take it to the client and fight for it. We wanted everyone to feel like they were helping make something special — not just reading lines.”
The result was a ripple effect across the cast and crew. People arrived hours early or came to set on their days off just to hang out. New friendships formed, backstories were invented mid-shoot, and scenes gained depth that hadn’t existed on the page.
“It was one of those rare sets where every single person wanted to be there,” Lawson said. “You could feel it in the air.”
Adam and Lawson’s characters even developed a sibling-like dynamic that wasn’t scripted but felt so authentic, it stayed in the final cut.
Costume designers created lookbooks for every lead. Xavier’s style was clean and preppy — layered polos and smart casual pieces — while Chad leaned into a grungier, edgier vibe with vintage band tees and flannel. “You had a Sum 41 T-shirt and I was like, I want to wear that,” Eric joked to Adam. “And then I was in a preppy sweater and you wanted mine.”
Director Tingting Lyu played music on set during key scenes — especially parties and dances — creating atmosphere and giving the actors something to actually react to.
“For the first time, we could actually hear the music we were pretending to dance to,” said Adam. “It made all the difference.”
And at the heart of it all was a shared creative goal: to enjoy making something together.
“I just wanted us all to have fun again,” Adam said. “I’ve done 16 verticals. This one finally felt different.”
When Can You Watch It?
Campus Rivals will be released on 10 July 2025 on Vigloo.
Final Thoughts
Campus Rivals isn’t just about love, betrayal, or college antics — it’s about what happens when you give artists full creative control and a platform willing to take risks.
It’s not just another vertical. It’s a world.
Watch it. Spot the cameos. Rewatch it. Demand a sequel.