Introduction
A photographer receives a tip that could shed light on her childhood UFO sighting, but a heatwave and some unexpected guests threaten to derail her investigation. Adam Finberg’s Star People, starring actor and recording artist Kat Cunning (The Deuce), McCabe Slye (Fear Street Trilogy), Connor Paolo (Gossip Girl), Eddie Martinez (Night Swim), Bradley Fisher (Westworld), and Adriana Aluna Martinez (Duster) is available on VOD on all major platforms.
Meet Kat Cunning
Kat Cunning is set to independently release their debut EP, Glass Jaw, in 2025. Known for supporting powerhouse artists like LP, Verité, and G Flip on sold-out tours, Kat now steps into the spotlight with their lead single “Sinderella,” out now. Their follow-up track, “Dancer,” also dropped August 1. Kat will also headline shows this fall at ‘The Echo’ in Los Angeles on October 6 and ‘Elsewhere’ in New York City on October 15. On screen, Kat can recently be seen in On Swift Horses, alongside Jacob Elordi, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Will Poulter.
Interview
Cinema Scholars’ own Glen Dower recently interviewed actor and recording artist, Kat Cunning, about their new sci-fi/thriller Star People, directed by Adam Finberg. Star People opened in theaters on July 25, with a VOD release to follow nationwide on all major platforms on August 12, and distribution by Blue Harbor Entertainment.
Lightly edited for content and clarity.
Glen Dower:
Kat Cunning, how are you this fine morning?
Kat Cunning:
Oh, I’m so decent. How are you, Glen?
Glen Dower:
I’m extremely decent — that’s excellent! So, you are the ‘star person’ of Star People. How does it feel to be leading such a great ensemble?
Kat Cunning:
Oh, honestly, it’s the treasure of my life so far. It’s my first leading role, and the cast — as you so aptly put it — is the heart of this film. Adam took so much care in casting everyone, and acting alongside them was an incredibly grounding experience for me. Everyone brought their A-game and their full humanity to the project, along with a deep understanding and care for the script. It was pretty incredible.
Glen Dower:
I love that you said “humanity.” I just finished reviewing the big three blockbusters of the summer — Superman, Fantastic Four, and Jurassic World. They all share a theme of people coming together to face a greater threat — including aliens. But your movie feels, of course, more grounded. It touches on those same themes, but in a more nuanced, less flashy way. But so much more affecting.
I was speaking with your director, Mr. Finberg, about how the ensemble in Star People represents archetypes — the believer, the non-believer, the cynic, the old soul, and so on — and you lead that group. The relationships in the film are so powerful. How did you go about, as Claire, building those connections — especially with your on-screen brother, played by McCabe Slye? That relationship is something special.
Kat Cunning:
McCabe is incredible to work with. I honestly can’t say enough good things about everyone involved. Like I said, this was my first lead role, and it was a shift for me because I usually play more character-driven or comedic roles. With Claire, I got to just be myself in the story. She’s someone with a singular focus who learns that things outside of that mission matter. I loved how delicately the script handled what each character was going through — addiction, foster care, immigration — all woven into this sci-fi story.
What drew me in was how science fiction here is used as a lens for telling a very human, grounded story. So, for me, it was hard to trust my performance — to trust that being the through-line for the audience was enough. I’m used to bringing the brightness, the flair, like McCabe does in this film. So I had to lean on the incredible cast around me and let the story come through them, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JnaAHawOKo
Glen Dower:
Yeah, absolutely. And when I spoke to Mr. Finberg, we talked about the Phoenix Lights — how that real-life phenomenon helped inspire the story. Were you worried about those kinds of things? And are you a believer yourself? Is the truth out there, Kat Cunning?
Kat Cunning:
I love that question! I’m the kind of person who’s truly agnostic, meaning, yes, aliens could exist. God could exist. Anything could exist. And I don’t think humans are necessarily meant to know for sure. When I read the script, belief in aliens became more symbolic to me. It was about belief in yourself, belief in something bigger than you, belief in your goals. Faith in general. So yes, I’d say I’m a believer. I’m just not sure what I believe in. I loved diving into the lore around the Phoenix Lights. There’s so much fascinating culture and mystery there.
Glen Dower:
It’s endless. You could fall down that rabbit hole forever.
Kat Cunning:
Completely. And Adam is such a pro. He knows his stuff. He gave me so many amazing resources to dive into.
Glen Dower:
Was there one resource or story that stood out? Something that either totally convinced you. Or debunked everything?
Kat Cunning:
Even just how the film begins, with those witness accounts, was compelling. The lights could be anything. Honestly, I think the ocean is just as mysterious as the sky. There are things all around us that we don’t fully understand, so why not aliens? But I do think we project a lot. Like how we’ve come to picture aliens as these green, oval-headed beings. It’s wild how consistent those images are, like we’re trying to shape them in our image. And I think that’s part of the film’s message too. That something bigger is out there, but it may not look like we expect. Claire’s journey is about realizing that there’s more than just her. But that the truth might be closer than she thinks.
Glen Dower:
Let’s talk about how you came to be involved in the film. Were you approached? Or did you receive the script and audition like everyone else?
Kat Cunning:
Just like any other actor, I received the script and auditioned. What caught my attention immediately was the mention of orange Fanta. That detail told me the writer was enjoying the story. Paying attention to the small things. Then the title, Star People, was so intriguing. At first, I thought it was going to be about people chasing fame. But it turned out to be about people reaching for the stars in a much deeper, more soulful way. So many layers I didn’t expect.
I loved the script so much that I submitted two tapes — I redid the first one and sent both. And one thing I admire about Adam is that he didn’t ask for a callback. He just called to have a conversation and see if we vibed. That says a lot about him — choosing actors not just for their performance but for their connection to the story.
Glen Dower:
Another thing Adam and I spoke about was the locations. Those vast, remote landscapes. It reminded me of The Thing, honestly. You’ve got to find those big, open spaces, but you also have to make them workable for a cast and crew. When you arrived at those locations, with nothing but sky above, did you ever get lost in the moment? What was that like?
Kat Cunning:
Absolutely. It put me in character. Playing Claire was such an immersive experience because the environment gave us half the story. It was hot. Like really hot. So the heat wave you see on screen wasn’t a stretch. We were all actually sweating, hydrating constantly, feeling the real air, the real dust. But we were also awestruck by the stars. Sure, there’s a bit of CGI for the aliens, but most of what you see is real. And that level of authenticity totally informs the performance. It’s such a gift as an actor to be in the actual environment. Not on a studio set with the AC blasting. We were living the story. It was magical.
Glen Dower:
“Magical” is a great word for it. Okay, last question, Kat. For your fans, or even people who are not fans yet, why should they come and see Star People?
Kat Cunning:
If you’re already a fan, you should come see Star People because you’ll get to see a different side of me. Something more grounded, more personal, a version of me that’s closer to who I am. And if you’re not a fan yet, come see it because we all deserve to escape for a little while, and then come back to ourselves. That’s what this film does. It lets you float among the stars and still somehow brings you back down to your most human, heartfelt self.
Glen Dower:
What more could anyone want from a movie? Kat, thank you so much for your time — it’s been a real pleasure. And best of luck with the VOD release!
Kat Cunning:
Thank you, Glen!
Adam Finberg’s Star People, starring actor and recording artist Kat Cunning, McCabe Slye, Connor Paolo, Eddie Martinez, Bradley Fisher, and Adriana Aluna Martinez, opened in theaters on July 25, with a VOD release nationwide on all major platforms on August 12.
Read more Cinema Scholar interviews!
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