“Counter-programming” is how actor Ryan O’Quinn describes the holiday movie, “Believe,” that opens in select theaters on Dec. 2.
In his opinion, the film offers an uplifting response to the myriad of negative, violence-filled fare found on the big screen today by emphasizing family and faith.
The film’s storyline focuses on a small town that has relied on Matthew Peyton’s (O’Quinn) family business to sponsor the annual Christmas pageant. When economic hardships, Matthew’s business profits plummet and his workers begin to strike, forcing him to decide between selling the family business and cancelling the beloved pageant or sticking out the difficulties in the midst of declining popularity in the community.
By chance, Matthew meets Clarence (Isaac Ryan Brown), a boy who believes in miracles, and his mother, Sharon, (Danielle Nicolet). His newfound friends strongly impact Matthew’s life and teach him to believe and give faith a chance.
Explaining his attraction to “Believe,” O’Quinn said, “I really wanted to do a project where I could sit down with my 5-year-old son on one side of me and my 91-year-old grandmother on the other and not have to explain anything away, not have to worry about the language, about any compromising situation, not have to explain what they saw daddy do on the screen.
“This film is, in many ways, counter-programming to what you see on the screen and give entire families the option to see during this holiday season,” he insisted.
Brown shared that “Believe” sends a message about the behavior people engage in as they prepare for the Christmas holiday.
“At this time of year, we go out buying gifts and we really don’t have that much money to spend. People go into debt. When they go through that time, they realize that God always has their back,” said the 10-year-old.
“Everyone goes through hard times and trials. All the time we can rely on Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior as kind of our crutch as we go through that journey.”
While the film is expected to appeal to the faith-based audience, both O’Quinn and Brown agreed that non-believes would enjoy “Believe.” O’Quinn noted that while “you can’t get away from Jesus in a Christmas movie,” the film doesn’t forcefully advocate that message.
“We stop just short of a faith appeal. You see Matthew go on this journey and you see the change in him. I think both the faith and family audiences will get just what they need from this film,” said O’Quinn.
Giving his perspective, Brown added, “I think people will really walk away from this movie knowing that no matter how much money you have or don’t have, God will always be there for you.”
To learn more about the movie, visit believe.film.