Building Star Light: How Industry Veterans Backed Lee Cummings’ Vision

At The Reel Fleet, we believe that filmmaking is not only about creativity but also about collaboration. One of the strongest examples of that is Star Light, a feature film co-directed by our co-founder, Lee Cummings, which brought together some of the biggest names in independent horror.

A Team of Horror Veterans
Variety first reported that Star Light marked the beginning of a new feature slate from some of the most respected producers in the horror genre:

• Jeffrey Allard (Indie Entertainment) – best known for producing the 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

• Mitchell Altieri (The Butcher Brothers) – co-director of cult hits like The Night Watchmen

• Orama Filmworks (Leo and Cheryl Staurulakis) – an emerging production company committed to innovative independent cinema

The collaboration was designed to finance and produce three to four features a year, beginning with Star Light.

The Story and Production
Set to film in Kentucky, Star Light follows the story of a teenager whose life is turned upside down after helping a world-famous pop star escape from her violent pursuers. The project combined supernatural horror with youthful energy, making it a fresh entry in the indie horror space.

The script was penned by Mitchell Altieri, Jamal Jennings, and Andrew Mardirous, with Altieri, Jeffrey Allard, and Cheryl Staurulakis producing, and Leo Staurulakis and Andrew Mardirous serving as executive producers.

Why This Matters for Reel Fleet
For Reel Fleet, Star Light represents more than a film credit — it reflects the caliber of partnerships and professional networks that our students gain exposure to. Working alongside horror veterans and established producers, Lee Cummings brought his creative vision to life while proving that independent films can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with larger studio productions.

This project underscores Reel Fleet’s mission: mentorship built on real industry experience, professional collaboration, and distribution-ready projects. By learning from mentors who are actively shaping the industry, our students don’t just study filmmaking — they see firsthand how to build careers through collaboration, strategy, and execution.

Star Light is proof that with the right team, independent voices can break through, make noise, and shine on screen.