Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 07/07/23

Who the heck is Tim Ballard, you ask? He’s the real-life hero who put his life on the line to rescue sex-trafficked children portrayed by Jim Caviezel in Sound of Freedom, the new Angel Studios theatrical release that I reviewed in this space on Monday and which, in its Independence Day opening, has shocked Hollywood by  raiding the top box office spot from Indiana Jones played for a fifth and, likely, final time by Harrison Ford.

Reacting to the upset victory (and, believe me, some folks – especially at Disney – are actually upset), Angel Studios CEO Neal Harmon says “This movie has now taken on a life of its own to become something more than that, a grassroots movement.” He adds “With an A+ CinemaScore rating, we’re the top-rated movie in America, and we’re going to see word-of-mouth spread even further going into the weekend. The world needs to see Sound of Freedom and we know that our biggest competitive advantage — our incredible fans and investors — are going to make sure that happens.”

Angel Studios, as readers of this blog know, operates a platform and studio empowering filmmakers to crowdfund, create and distribute films and TV series globally. It’s previous successes include the worldwide hit streaming series The Chosen which recounts the life of Jesus Christ in an episodic TV format. The CW recently picked up the show to run on its broadcast network beginning on Sunday, July 16th. (BTW, my interview with CW Entertainment President Brad Schwartz about the factors that went into that decision will run next week.)
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Karen Abercrombie presides over her first TV series. Well-regarded for her roles in movies such as 2015’s War Room, 2020’s Discarded Things (which she co-wrote and executive produced) and this year’s MCU epic Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (as Grandma Quill), the versatile actress-singer-writer is currently producing and starring in her first TV series. Streaming now on Pure Flix, Eleanor’s Bench tells the story of a passionate family court judge who returns to her hometown to make a positive difference in the community she grew up in. Our conversation follows the trailer.

JWK: Tell me about the character of the judge and what drew you to this concept?

Karen Abercrombie: Eleanor was named after her mother…When the story begins her mother has (been) passed away for about a year. Now, at this time, Eleanor is working for a prestigious top law firm in Washington D.C. She only goes to her old neighborhood to visit her dad but he becomes very ill so she’s going to have to spend a whole lot of time there. She keeps trying to get him to move out of the neighborhood but he refuses. So, because she’s spending so much time there, she’s now able to really see the changes that have taken place there. You know, it’s dangerous…So, her heart is pricked. She decides to leave the law firm and becomes a judge on the juvenile bench. The whole series is about Eleanor coming back to the best parts of old Eleanor and also dealing with some trauma that she experienced as a young girl. She’s putting her feet back on the ground and stepping up to make a difference.

JWK: You’re father, of course, is played by Demond Wilson who is known to fans of classic television as the son in Sanford and Son. What is it like working with him?

KA: Oh, wonderful! I remember as a kid watching him and enjoying the show – and then watching him in other movies that he did…and watching his process, you know, how he works. So, that was an education, as well. It was such a delight to be able to work with him.

JWK: And your other co-stars are Cameron Arnett and T.C. Stallings.

KA: Oh, yes! Both are amazing actors and I’ve had the opportunity to work with both on several projects. It’s like working with family. So talented! So, it’s like iron sharpening iron, as well. Everyone’s in it to breathe life and help make this the best possible project that we can in order to tell this story and, hopefully, change lives of people no matter what side of the tracks they’re on.

JWK: Would you describe Judge Eleanor as more liberal or more conservative?

KA: Definitely more conservative. She’s definitely conservative but she’s distant. She’s stepped away from the old Eleanor. She’s educated now. She’s rich now. She’s not a bad person but that is her life now. She’s successful, coddled and all of that – and distant, I would say. Coming back home – because she had to – is one of the best things that could have ever happened to Eleanor – and the community, as it will turn out. They are all going to be blessed by one another – and it’s not an easy ride.

JWK: Is this show episodic in the sense that you can watch one episode and get a full story?

KA: It’s definitely an episodic.

JWK: It seems to me the premise lends itself to what they call ripped-from-the-headlines storytelling with plenty of opportunities to deal with current issues.

KA: Oh, yes.

JWK: I know the judge is a woman of faith. Will there be any episodes where the law and her faith come into conflict?

KA: Yes, absolutely. As a matter of fact, she’s walked away from her faith when we first meet her but, slowly, she begins to walk her way back and that is where she gets the strength to heal from past trauma.

JWK: With transgender issues involving families so much in the news lately, I’m wondering if we might see an episode dealing with that subject?

KA: I don’t know. We’ve only gotten the one (six-episode) season done so I’m not sure what the writer’s going to do.

JWK: You’re also a producer on the show, right?

KA: Yes.

JWK: What’s that like, balancing those to hats?

KA: Very easy! I’ve had the opportunity to work with the amazing writer who created this TV series, Stephan Schultze, on several occasions. He too – like my family – fostered for many years. So, we come together with that in common, as well as being believers and other things that we have in common. It’s a wonderful journey and honor to be able to present this story in such a way that I believe it will attract people to it just because of the human-ness of the stories.

JWK: What is there about your character that you personally relate to?

KA: I love children. It took me a long time to have a child. She doesn’t have a child. She’d love to have been a mother but she didn’t make time for it – (or) a serious relationship. Also, I do a lot of outreach with children. I had a children’s theater company for many years. I’m not going to be opening up a theater again but I am going to be teaching some classes again to children. It’s just a wonderful way to engage them and help them to use their creativity in a very positive way to (and) to help them communicate in a positive way.

JWK: You’re also a writer. You co-wrote the film Discarded Things which you also starred in.

KA: Yes.

JWK: Do you foresee yourself as this show goes along as, perhaps, writing any of the episodes?

KA: Very possible, very possible.

JWK: How about directing?

KA: Down the road. I’ve never had the opportunity to direct a film but, as of late, I have had some interest in doing just that. I have directed quite a bit of theater. The last film that I did, Heaven Sent – I think it still might remain on Pure Flix – the gentleman that starred opposite me, Leon Pridgen, an incredible actor, has a one-man show that I’m going go be directing. I’m really looking forward to that. We’ll be touring and may come to New York and Chicago.

JWK: You’re also singer.

KA: Yes.

JWK: Any chance we’ll hear the judge sing in an episode?

KA: It’s possible, very possible.

JWK: What do you hope people take from Eleanor’s Bench?

KA: That, no matter where you come from or what you’ve been through, there is a positive way out, that there is hope for any situation you will ever encounter – and I believe that people will see we are so much alike, more than we ever, every imagine!

JWK: The show deals so much with how the system treats kids. Do you have any thoughts on that – on how society treats kids, particularly those in underprivileged circumstances?

KA: I do. I’ve got a lot to say about it. It’s one of the reasons that I wanted to be a part of this project. The way that Stephan, the writer, has opened it up (so that) people who had been only looking from the outside – maybe (because of) some headlines in the news or something like that – they will get a look inside to see these individuals (and) how they got to where they are…So, yeah, I believe that it will change people’s minds and open them up to see “Oh, wow!” – as I said earlier – “We are so alike – more than we ever, ever could have imagined!”

John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.