Ronald Strauss

Ronald Strauss (a.k.a. Jesse Vernon) is a Canadian writer, creator, and technology entrepreneur based in Waterloo, Ontario. For more than 25 years, he has written songs, poetry, books, and screenplays—alongside hundreds of professional technology documents for high-growth ventures.

When the rules say “dim,” they refuse. They Shine On.

The Shine On Trilogy (Shine On, Streetlights, Delta Rising) was forged over fourteen years of healing and personal rebuilding—and then brought to life through an intense year of focused creation. It is a music-driven, family-friendly franchise built on original songs and character-first storytelling, crafted as a return to feel-good movies that leave audiences singing, energized, and happy.

Overview

The Shine On Trilogy is a three-film, family-friendly musical franchise—Shine On, Streetlights, and Delta Rising—that follows a core ensemble of nine young performers as they grow from pop/K-pop energy to hip-hop and R&B ambitions and ultimately into the soul of Delta Blues. Each film is anchored by original songs and large-scale performance set pieces, while the emotional engine remains constant: resilience, belonging, and the courage to choose unity when pressure demands conformity. Designed as a return to true feel-good cinema, the trilogy delivers heart, humor, and soundtrack moments that leave audiences energized—still singing after the credits roll. Nine artists are told to be practical—to get a real job, to take the safe route. The trilogy asks a different question: do you have the courage to be who you were meant to be?

Company

Shine On Group Publishing Inc. is the Canadian rights-holding and publishing company founded and wholly owned by Ronald Strauss (a.k.a. Jesse Vernon). The company was created to develop, protect, and commercialize the Shine On Trilogy and its related intellectual property—including screenplays, original songs, character assets, and franchise materials—supporting film, soundtrack, publishing, licensing, and merchandise opportunities as the brand expands and charitable ventures.

Rights

All underlying written materials for the Shine On Trilogy—including screenplays, original songs/lyrics, characters, and related franchise documents—are owned and controlled by Ronald Strauss (a.k.a. Jesse Vernon), personally and/or through Shine On Group Publishing Inc. Rights are maintained to support film and television production, soundtrack and music publishing, and related licensing opportunities. For rights inquiries, partnerships, or licensing discussions, please contact us through the Stakeholder Portal or the site’s contact form.