The cast and crew spoke with The Epoch Times on the red carpet.
“Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot,” the newest film by Angel Studios, premiered on June 18 at the Linwood Dunn Theater at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study in Los Angeles.
On the red carpet, the film’s stars spoke to The Epoch Times about what drew them to their roles and the film’s important message of raising awareness about the foster care system in the United States.
Inspired by a true story, “Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot” chronicles the journey of the Rev. Wilbert Martin and his wife, Donna Martin, as they inspire their rural church to embrace children in the foster care system that nobody else would take.
By doing the seemingly impossible—adopting 77 children—this East Texas community demonstrated that with genuine and determined love, the battle for America’s most vulnerable can be won.
Twenty-two families adopted 77 of the most difficult-to-place children in the local foster care system. Seventy-six children were adopted between 1998 and 2000, with another adopted in 2011. The Martins have two biological children and adopted four more during this time period.
Actress Letitia Wright, who starred in Marvel’s “Black Panther” movies, was the executive producer for the film.
Actress Diaana Babnicova plays the character of “Terri” in the film.
She said her advice to children in the foster care system is to “keep on hoping, because it will get better.”
“We’re trying to change it so that everyone gets a home, everyone finds a loving family just like the Martins,” she said. “Even doing the smallest thing can change someone’s life and have such a big impact. So do the smallest thing.”
Honoring the Story
Mrs. Martin expressed her amazement at seeing her life portrayed on the screen.
Reflecting on adopting the children, she said there was “no way in the world I could have found any inspiration on my own—it is a God thing. The Lord spoke to us through the heavens.”
