From
"The Christian Post"
:
"Inside the faith-filled film 'Soul on Fire': 'You don’t get to choose the path, but how you walk it'"
This is a long article.
Here are some excerpts about Joel.
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"Soul on Fire" stars Joel Courtney (“Jesus Revolution”) as a young O’Leary and John Corbett (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) as his father, Dennis (Denny), with William H. Macy and DeVon Franklin rounding out the cast. Shot in St. Louis, where O’Leary still lives, “Soul on Fire” is based on his bestselling book, which highlights that choosing life and hope is not a feeling, but a daily decision.
“Choosing life is a choice,” Courtney told The Christian Post. “John talks a lot about the victor or the victim life that he could have chosen, which Denny told him about. You don't get to choose the path you walk, but you get to choose how you walk it. And I think that is something that John chooses every single day. He chooses every day to love, to live. That's huge for him, and stepping out into the world and sharing his heart and his story, once he started his speaking engagements, was just it was an inflection point in his life.”
Filmed in many of the real-life places where O’Leary’s story unfolded, the film follows his life, from his childhood accident to his college years, where he hid behind a mask of confidence and hid his pain through partying, concealing the deep trauma he carried.
Courtney, a Christian himself, said his preparation for the film required an understanding of the internal battle between shame and grace.
“He was that fun, party-boy guy, ‘I’m fine, nothing to see here,’” Courtney said. “But deep down, he was hiding himself from the world. Putting myself in those circumstances, trying to understand what that feels like, to live with those kinds of scars and still show up, that was the hardest part.”
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For Courtney, “Soul on Fire,” like “Jesus Revolution,” marked an opportunity to tell a story that inspires viewers to find the courage to choose hope, even when it seems impossible.
“As a Christian, I always love telling stories of faith,” he said. “Stories where people are really going through it, but they choose love, they choose to lean on God, to be led. That’s always meaningful for me. I don’t only do Christian films, but when one like this comes along, it’s special. It’s personal.”
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Joel Courtney and Masey McLain, stars of the forthcoming movie, "Soul on Fire," talk to CBN News' Tré Goins-Phillips about the film chronicling the life of John O'Leary, the life-changing wonder of miracles, and the power and importance of prayer. The new movie debuts in theaters nationwide Oct. 10.
"Soul on Fire": In Theaters This Friday!
From
"Spectrum Local News"
:
"Hollywood stars in 'Soul on Fire' share experiences working on film"
ST. LOUIS — The Hollywood stars in the new “Soul on Fire” movie, premiering soon in theaters, say audiences should get ready for a good cry as the story of a St. Louis native who was severely burned as boy, is an inspirational, joyful tearjerker.
Director Sean McNamara told Spectrum News John O’Leary’s journey is “the most incredible story.”
“When I read the script, I cried, I laughed, I got really mad, but at the end of the day, I go, ‘That’s a miracle in this story,’ ” he said. “I like to leave the audience with hope for miracles at the end.”
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Those who star in the new movie are Macy, John Corbett, Joel Courtney, DeVon Franklin, Masey McLain and Stephanie Szostak, with McNamara as the director and produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment’s AFFIRM Films.
Courtney who plays a young John, said he is proud of the film.
“I can’t wait for people to see it and walk away feeling inspired,” he told Spectrum News. “It’s such a joy to share (the family’s) story, their pain and their overcoming.”
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Courtney said “Soul on Fire” will always be a stand out film to him, mentioning it is a universal film for all walks of life.“It’s not about an actual fire as much as it is about the universal fires that everyone goes through,” he said.
“This has been an absolute honor and it truly has changed my life,” Courtney said, adding that he also listened to O’Leary’s book.
“The film touched my heart in a beautiful way and I’m excited for more people to get to experience that through through the screen.