August 11, 2025
Actors Kat Cunning and Connor Paolo for the film STAR PEOPLE
Mentors on the Mic: Your guide to pursuing a career in the Entertainment industryAbout this episode
Adam Finberg's STAR PEOPLE starring actor and recording artist Kat Cunning (The Deuce, On Swift Horses), McCabe Slye (Destroyer, Fear Street Trilogy), Connor Paolo ( The Last Stop in Yuma County, Revenge, Gossip Girl), Eddie Martinez (The Sinner, Night Swim), Bradley Fisher (Westworld), and Adriana Aluna Martinez (Duster) will open in theaters July 25, with a VOD release to follow nationwide on all major platforms on August 12. Synopsis of STAR PEOPLE - On March 13, 1997, thousands of people in Arizona witnessed the largest mass UFO sighting in U.S. history—now famously known as The Phoenix Lights. Among them was 10-year-old Claire, who felt as if the lights called to her. Years later, Claire ( Kat Cunning ), now a photographer, is still chasing that moment, hoping to capture the lights on camera and finally make sense of what she saw. When a mysterious tip leads her deep into the Arizona desert during a deadly heatwave with her UFO streamer boyfriend ( Connor Paolo) and troubled brother ( McCabe Slye) in tow,they encounter a vulnerable immigrant family whose plight complicates her mission. As tensions rise, Claire searches for the answers she seeks on terra firma and among the stars. KAT CUNNING (CLAIRE) is a true multi-hyphenate—actor, writer, singer, songwriter, and director—whose range spans Broadway, immersive theater, film and television. They are known most recently for the role of Gail in ON SWIFT HORSES, (Jacob Elordi, Daisy Edgar Jones), Reina Rein in Rapsh!t (Issa Rae), and the Netflix hits, Purple Hearts (Nicholas Galitizine), and Trinkets. Cunning credits The Deuce (James Franco, Maggie Gyllenhaal) as their break-out role on screen, but their performance career began in concert dance, for which they hold a BFA from SUNY Purchase. As a musician, Cunning is known for their traffic stopping voice and LGBTQ advocacy. They areset to tour “Glass Jaw,” (their debut EP) this fall. CONNOR PAOLO (JUSTIN) can currently be seen in Francis Galluppi's award-winning film: THE LAST STOP INYUMA COUNTY and on the festival circuit in Vivian Kerr's feature: SEANCE and J. Zachary Thurman's: THE DEMON CORE. Upcoming films include Tyler Shields': CHAPTER 51, currentlyshowing in select IMAX screenings, and Kim Caicedo's debut feature: SHEEPWELL. Select past film work includes: AMBUSH, THE YOUNG WIFE, A CREATURE WAS STIRRING, FLOCK OF FOUR, the STAKE LAND films, SNOW ANGELS, ALEXANDER and MYSTIC RIVER. Select TV work includes: Revenge, Gossip Girl, Electric Dreams, Fire Country, The Resident and The Brave.Guest: Kat Cunning - Instagram Wikipedia Website IMDb Connor Paolo - Wikipedia Instagram IMDb Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com and www.mentorsonthemic.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle If you like this episode, check out: Tribeca: Luke Kirby and Daniel Serafini-Sauli for World Premiere of Terror Keeps You Slender Tribeca: Dir Jon S. Baird and Writer Steven Rogers for World Premiere of "Everything's Going to be Great"