About us

Meet the founders of Aria Starlight Pictures ltd.

 

 

Simon Elvin, co-founder and Director of Aria Starlight Pictures.

Screenwriter, film director, composer, musician, actor, artist and all-round Renaissance man.

I have been a creative storyteller my whole life. From child actor and musician to published and recorded singer-songwriter, to artist, adult actor, playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker and film score composer. In pretty much that chronological order.

Alongside this creative life, I held down day jobs for many years to support my family. This parallel path, in leadership training and professional development, led me to become experienced in the psychology of individual and group behaviour, psychometrics, heuristics and motivational drivers. Whilst I didn’t realise it at the time, this has given me an enormous step up in my creative writing. What motivates us, builds us, damages us, drives us…all of this is gold for writers as we create characters with truth.

In 2024 I completed an MA in Writing for Script and Screen with Falmouth University, passing with Distinction. While still on the MA programme, I cast and filmed a no-budget, 93 minute comedy feature: The Websters, an almost vertical learning curve in directing, editing and scoring. This was not part of the MA, but the result of my realisation that practical experience in making a feature-length film would both inform my writing and show my perseverance to get a project over the line. And it takes a lot to get a project over the line. I describe film making as a stream of ‘Now get out of that!’ problem solving.

We completed the film and I learned a lot in the process! I’d recommend to any screenwriter to film something, so that you see and hear actors bringing your action and dialogue to life. Every word on the page counts when it becomes real and the cameras are rolling. Editing is also a great way to understand the pacing and musicality of a film. Editing has a rhythm to it, and the musician in me finds this quite an instinctive thing.

I took my MA as a great foundation for my own continued professional development, and after graduating I continued writing, reading and building friendships and collaborations with others who share my passion for story. This, I think, is essential. We never stop learning if we remain open to reflective practice. I took this seriously enough to quit my day job to become a full-time writer and filmmaker.

In November 2025, my participation in Talent Campus – an eight-day programme run by the London Screenwriters Festival at Ealing Studios – gave me the push I needed to become master of my own destiny. Rather than go cap-in-hand to production companies to try and get my stories filmed, I decided to become the production company. I knew I could say ‘yes’ to myself.

So here we are. The inception of Aria Starlight Pictures Ltd.

Rachel Adams, co-founder and Director of Aria Starlight Pictures.

Producer, health professional, super-switched on cookie and world class organiser. Never mind ‘Save the Cat’, Rachel can save the day – and actually save your life – in a heartbeat.

I have always had a love for film and music. This became very real in September 2008 when I was a supporting artist in Tim Burton’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’. The back of my head was in a Hollywood film! (A bit of trivia: Simon also appeared in the film, however, we didn’t meet on set. He was one of the party dancers in the opening sequence, filmed at Anthony House, Cornwall, while I was in the closing scene in Charlestown. We had known each other as teenagers and when we met up again in 2015, we found we’d almost met, but not quite, in the same film.)

My analysis of films has been informed by Simon’s MA in Writing for Script and Screen – I gained the knowledge while I watched him do the coursework! Or to put it another way, I didn’t do an MA – I had my people do it for me. During this time I served as a producer to Simon’s undergraduate films and his first feature, The Websters.

My background is NHS nursing. Over many years I gained extensive experience of critical care nursing, clinical education, and as operational lead for resuscitation services (so I really can save your life). I have also worked as a Practice Nurse in GP surgeries in socially deprived urban areas. This brings a unique and valuable perspective to film production. With a comprehensive understanding of working in high-pressure, complex environments I have gained experience in managing competing priorities, making decisive judgments, and delivering results under tight constraints. Whilst producing films calls for a wide skills set, the decisions tend not to be life and death ones, so it’s all good.

One thing my years of NHS work has in common with film production is the need for communicating clearly with diverse teams, nurturing talent, and developing creative and practical solutions – key strengths in co-ordinating stakeholders across all stages of production. 

PREVIOUS WORK

A small selection of early short films, as well as a few of Simon’s songs, can be found on YouTube channel The Elvin Marbles, and The Elvin Marbles archive. We’ve come a long way since those early days, but everything is part of the learning process.

ENDORSEMENTS

“Loved working with the Elvin Marbles! It’s been a great learning experience acting for Simon, as it feels all of us in that moment were learning to build a story together! Amongst the silliness, rollercoasters, and slapstick comedy of The Websters, it’s been awesome to have been part of Simon’s vision coming to life!”

Alex Russo, actor ‘The Websters’

“Working with Simon is like working with Father Christmas. He is generous, collegiate, a great communicator and he makes things happen!

Belona Greenwood, screenwriter