Movieguide® Award Winner Heads ‘Redemptive’ Movie Based on True Story

Published: October 30, 2023

Movieguide® Award Winner Heads ‘Redemptive’ Movie Based on True Story

By Movieguide® Contributor

Movieguide® award-winning director Sean McNamara will head a new movie based on the true story of burn survivor John O’Leary called ON FIRE.

“The film picks up with a nine-year-old O’Leary as he’s given virtually no chance of survival, after being burned in a harrowing accident over 100% of his body. In his fight to live and show us what’s possible, he winds up leaning on his family, faith, and the entire city of St. Louis, including legendary St. Louis Cardinals announcer Jack Buck,” Deadline reported.

O’Leary, an executive producer on the movie, said, “ON FIRE weaves together tragedy, redemption, baseball and a love story. At a time of so much divisiveness, cynicism, and negativity, ON FIRE celebrates what happens when a community comes together, when personal imperfections are embraced and when we allow the fear of who we wish we were to finally give way to the gift of all we already are.”

McNamara added that O’Leary is “the kind of person that makes us remember how lucky we are to be alive, and that all that happens to us can be a blessing. In these troubled times we need to live an ‘inspired life.’ I can’t wait for the world to join us and discover who John O’Leary is and how we can all live ON FIRE.”

The movie will be shot in St. Louis, Missouri. Deadline notes that the movie is the first to take advantage of the state’s new production tax credit.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed a bill that gave “production companies a 20 percent tax rebate when filming in the state, including 5 to 10 percent additional rebates if specific filming criteria are met.”

Linda Huntington of Radically Inspired Films said, “We are thrilled that the governor has signed the bill into law, and we will be able to film the entire project in St. Louis.”

“ON FIRE is the fifth project we’ve sponsored this year through our new fiscal sponsorship program. We will be launching a grant program this fall and a writer’s competition in the spring, so the timing of this new tax incentive couldn’t be better,” said Mary Kay Sheets, co-founder of St. Louis Film Works.

Huntington heard O’Leary talk about his accident at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It was there that she asked if he would be interested in turning his story into a film.

“Audiences might think, as a burn survivor, that I’d only talk about my journey. After hearing my message, they discover that the story is really about gratitude for the gift of life and harnessing our potential to elevate others,” O’Leary said.

McNamara previously directed Movieguide® Award winner SOUL SURFER, which is based on the true story of pro surfer Bethany Hamilton.