TV Interview!
Interview with Demetrius Grosse, Nika King, and Bishop and First Lady Donna Martin of the film “Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot” by Suzanne 6/28/24
This is a very powerful and uplifting story of a couple who changed the lives of many children, as well as the other people in their town. These are religious people, but the film is not too preachy, so if you’re not that into religion, it shouldn’t bother you. Faith is definitely the motivation for these people, in everything they do.Ā Demetrius Grosse and Nika King turn in powerful performances as the real-life people Bishop and First Lady Donna Martin, who lived in a small town in Eastern Texas.Ā After a tragedy in Donna’s life, she decides to adopt children.Ā She and her husband not only adopt many children, but they get all of the people in their parish to do so as well.
It was a really interesting set of interviews. I’ve only interviewed the “real life people” in movies a few times.Ā I was a foster child myself, and my mom was adopted as a baby, so this is an issue that hits home for me. Some scenes in the movie were hard to watch because some of the troubled children reminded me of other foster kids I knew. I told the actors and their counterparts about this, and how much the movie touched me. It was interesting to see how each paired group reacted completely differently! It was very unusual, to say the least. Let’s just say that the two ladies were much more relaxed and fun, and the two men were very serious.
The movie premieres today, July 4th. I hope you can go see it. Maybe it will inspire you to adopt children or foster a child who needs you.Ā The foster care situation was bad 50 years ago when I was a child. It’s much worse today. I know that the Martins and everyone connected with this movie hope that their film gets people thinking about the foster care crisis.
This film is from Angel Studios. They produce the hit TV show “The Chosen” and many good, uplifting movies.Ā They make great films with positive messages and outstanding acting, without being preachy or boring. They tell amazing stories.
Demetrius Grosse and Bishop Martin
Nika King and First Lady Donna Martin
MORE INFO: Official Site Trailer
Synopsis:
The fight for kids begins July 4. Inspired by the powerful true story, Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot, follows Donna and Reverend Martin as they ignite a fire in the hearts of their rural church to embrace kids in the foster system that nobody else would take. By doing the impossibleāadopting 77 childrenāthis East Texas community proved that, with real, determined love, the battle for Americaās most vulnerable can be won.
Tagline:
The Fight for Kids Begins July 4
Rating:
PG-13 for thematic material involving child abuse, some violence, language and brief suggestive material
Run Time:
2 hours and 09 minutes
Fast Facts:
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Inspired by the true story of Bishop and First Lady Donna Martin, and their tiny Bennett Chapel church, in the town of Possum Trot in the woods of East Texas.
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Twenty two families linked arms and courageously adopted seventy seven of the most difficult-to-place children in the local foster care system
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76 kids were adopted between 1998-2000. Another was adopted in 2011. The Martins have 2 biological children and adopted 4 during this time period.
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This act ignited a national movement for vulnerable children that continues today.
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Executive produced by Letitia Wright (BLACK PANTHER)
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Directed, written, and produced by Joshua Weigel (THE BUTTERFLY CIRCUS) for Peacetree Productions.
Social Media Accounts:
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Instagram: @soundofhopefilm andĀ @angelstudios_inc and Angel Studios – EspaƱol
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Facebook: Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot and Angel Studios and Angel Studios – EspaƱol
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X: Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot (July 4) and Angel Studios and Angel Studios – EspaƱol
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TikTok: Sound of Hope Film andĀ Angel Studios and Angel Studios – EspaƱol
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YouTube:Ā Angel Studios and Angel Studios – EspaƱol
About the Cast
Nika King (Donna Martin)
Kingās talents as a comedian and actor are versatile and dynamic. She is best known for her comedic abilities, but in her breakout role playing Leslie on the Emmy winning HBO series Euphoria opposite Zendaya and Storm Reid, King showcases a much more dramatic side of herself. Nika also had her directorial debut in the short film, which addresses grief and mental health in the life of a Black married couple.
Kingās comedy has landed her roles on Kevin Hartās Guide to Black, the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, Canada, the Netflix Is A Joke festival, and hosting Nika King & Friends, a monthly show at the Improv Lab in Hollywood CA. She has also acted, written and produced on award winning webseries Funny Married Stuff, which is currently streaming on KweliTV.
Beyond acting, directing, and stand up, King co owns Blue Tree Cafe, a vegan soul food restaurant with her mother in Ft. Lauderdale Florida. King was also compelled to establish a non profit that helps to improve the quality of life for individuals and families from underserved communities by compassionately serving their mental health and wellness through healthy eating.
Demetrius Grosse (Reverend Martin)
Demetrius Grosse is an award-winning actor and producer. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree from its School of Drama and completed a visiting student program at the Howard University College of Fine Arts in his home city of Washington DC, Grosse took his craft to the international arena, studying and performing both classical and contemporary drama with the British American Drama Academy in Oxford, England. Grosse also performed in Cape Town, South Africa with UCT. At Portland Center Stage in Oregon, Demetrtius starred as Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee William’s American classic, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Off-Broadway, in 2010 performing Black Angels Over Tuskegee.
Grosse has appeared in the HBO series Westworld based on the 1973 film of the same name. He also appeared in Michael Bay’s feature film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016). Grosse is known for taking on many complex characters from various backgrounds and from all different genres. His range is unparalleled. He made his TV acting debut in The Wire (2001), Numbers (2005), and is well known for his film roles in, Saving Mr. Banks (2013), This Is Martin Bonner (2013). His other television credits include AMC’s Fear The Walking Dead, Criminal Minds, ER, NCIS, Bones, Dexter, CSI: Miami, Frontier (Netflix), and Swagger for Apple+. Grosse also made appearances in The Inheritance (2011), and Hollywoo (2011).
Grosse has credits for producing Last Cry for Katrina (2013), Moonshiners, and A Quiet Fire (2009), and most recently, Survival. Demetrius stars as Clark Randall in the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries romantic comedy Spring Breakthrough. The film was produced under Hallmark’s Mahogany banner and had its on-air debut in 2023. Grosse resides in the US with his wife, their children, and a bearded dragon named ‘Shang-Chi.’
Proofread and Edited by Brenda
From Alejandro Monteverde, award-winning director of šš°š¶šÆš„ š°š§ šš³š¦š¦š„š°š®, comes the powerful epic of Francesca Cabrini, an Italian immigrant who arrives in New York City in 1889 and is greeted by disease, crime, and impoverished children. Cabrini sets off on a daring mission to convince the hostile mayor to secure housing and healthcare for society’s most vulnerable. With broken English and poor health, Cabrini uses her entrepreneurial mind to build an empire of hope unlike anything the world had ever seen.