The four year friendship between Image Refinery Productions President Andrew Sullivan and Starlight Runner Entertainment President Jeff Gomez resulted in the formation of Zealous Pictures, Inc. and the production of writer/director Gomez's short film Red Light August. The Zealous team contributed to the development of the film, both on aesthetic and technical terms, as well as raised much of the funding needed to launch and maintain the project.

Formed in 1998, Zealous Pictures consists of Sullivan and Gomez, along with Red Light August co-producers Christopher Schlerf, Geoffrey Orthwein, and Sean Connelly.