By Kayla DeKraker
SARAH’S OIL producer Josh Shepherd couldn’t be more grateful to create an encouraging and uplifting movie, praising the incredible team that brought the story of Sarah Rector to the big screen.
“Being back with our cast and crew, our wonderful director, Cyrus Nowrasteh — SARAH’S OIL, it’s a film about family, and we’re gonna be with family tonight. That’s what I’m looking forward to and seeing some friends and celebrating some great work that’s been done this year,” he told Movieguide® while on the red carpet at the 33rd Annual Movieguide® Awards Gala.
“It’s all about mission,” Shepherd said about creating family-friendly content. “For me, I mean, there’s a lot of films you do to make money, and then there’s others you use to spread the word. When you can do both, that’s a win, win, win.”
He added, “Here’s a film where we got to do something I think is artistically excellent, it’s commercially responsible, and it’s just on point in terms of message. We’re so thankful to Wonder Project and Kingdom Story and Amazon for helping us get the word out, but most of all, Movieguide® for recognizing and acknowledging us tonight and the good work done.”
Related: 5 Reasons You Should See SARAH’S OIL in Theaters This Weekend!
SARAH’S OIL is based on the true story of 11-year-old Sarah Rector, “an African American girl born in Oklahoma Indian Territory in the early 1900s, who believes there is oil beneath the barren land she’s allotted and whose faith is proven right.”
Movieguide® nominated it for the Best Mature Audience Movies award, the Faith & Freedom Award Movies, the Grace Award for Movies (Actress) for Naya Desir-Johnson and the Grace Award for Movies (Actor) for Zachary Levi.
Movieguide®’s review of SARAH’S OIL reads, “Sarah is a young, smart black girl whose family had been slaves to the Creek Indian Nation. So, when the tribe moves to Oklahoma, the government gives Sarah 190 acres. Sarah’s father says they may not be able to keep the land because of the taxes. However, Sarah has faith that God will provide because He gave her the land.”
Movieguide® notes that “SARAH’S OIL has an inspiring, uplifting Christian, moral worldview. MOVIEGUIDE® applauds SARAH’S OIL. However, there’s a smattering of foul language and some scary violence, so MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for younger children.”
For Shepherd, the movie is a testimony to thanking and praising God, no matter what.
“I would say for me, I want to thank God again and again every day. We would not have gotten through this production without just worshiping and praising and praying, because there was nothing else we could do,” he told Movieguide®.
He explained, “We had ticks, we had tornadoes, we had thunderstorms, we had tribal opposition. We had just great resistance every step of the way. But God was faithful. God was there every morning. I just go, okay, new mercies, please. It was awesome.”
It sounds like Shepherd lived out 1 Thessalonians 5:18 during production. The verse reads, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
To see if SARAH’S OIL takes home any Movieguide® Awards, tune into Great American Family on March 5.
Read Next: SARAH’S OIL Writer Reveals Movie’s Themes Reflected Production Struggles
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