NASHVILLE (WordNews.org) March 23, 2012 – Months before October Baby was released nationally – it is in theaters beginning today – co-director Jon Erwin saw fruit.
“The feedback has been diverse and amazing with this film,” he told WordNews.org. It was in 14 theaters last October and was also screened before 100 ministry leaders. [More on the movie here].
In that short run, Erwin said he saw results.
“It’s been quite the uphill,” Erwin said, “because a lot of studios didn’t want to have anything to do with it because of its issue.”
The issue is abortion. The main character, Hanna, played by newcomer Rachel Hendrix, finds out she was adopted after her birth mother’s abortion attempt failed. [Trailer can be viewed here].
“However,” Erwin continued, “every time we showed the film to people it was unbelievable to see the results. People just really identified with the film emotionally. It just changes people in a way. It’s been amazing to see the result—far beyond what I would have expected; whether it’s several young girls that have decided literally to keep their child. One has been to a clinic three times, came to the movie and said, ‘I’m keeping my baby because of this movie.’”
He said the film has already brought some measure of healing to post-abortive women and men.
And the theme of forgiveness even seems to resonate beyond the target audience.
“One of my favorite stories is—a 12 year old little boy came up to me and said, ‘Your movie changed my life.’”
Erwin said he was taken aback since pre-teen boys wasn’t didn’t fit the film’s demographic profile.
“He said, ‘I’ve been angry at my dad because he had an affair against my mom and I’m going home to forgive my father.’”
Those stories helped Erwin push on to get the film’s broader release.
“That’s what kept up motivated,” he said. “Every time we hear the word ‘no’ or ‘your film’s too polarizing’ or ‘it’s too controversial,’ whatever—every time we showed it to people we just knew it had to be in theaters because of the tremendous response from the people.”