BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — When filmmakers Jon and Andrew Erwin tackled October Baby, they knew that their movie was imitating life. The film is loosely based on the life of abortion survivor Gianna Jessen.
What they didn’t know is that their art was imitating life in more ways than one, through the story of one of the film’s actresses.
The part road-trip, part-romance drama follows the journey of Hannah, a college freshman who learns that she was adopted and the survivor of a failed abortion attempt. She sets out to find her birth mother and ends up learning a lesson about forgiveness. The film is being distributed by Sony’s Provident Films and opens in theaters nationwide March 23. Among its stars, it features actors Jon Schneider and Jasmine Guy.
After being asked to consider the role of Hannah’s birth mother and reading the script, actress Shari Rigby called co-director Jon Erwin, and asked, “How did you know?”
“I said, ‘What are you talking about?’” said Jon.
Rigby went on to tell him that 20 years earlier, while working for a law firm, she became pregnant and had an abortion.
“It was easier to get rid of the child, to not be questioned again, rather than to have the child and be looked upon, at that time, like another failure,” said Rigby.
“For a lot of us post-abortive women and men, we try to stuff it so far down that we pile other things from our past over the top of it,” said Rigby. “This was my first real look at dealing with my past abortion.”
Rigby said that her role in the film brought out what she describes as a “miraculous healing.”
“Christ met me at the well and forgave me,” said Rigby. “Since then, it’s been healing to see why some of these things go on and being able to speak about it.”
Rachel Hendrix, who stars in the lead role, said that the film has encouraged people to talk about a topic few dare to talk about.
“This is something that people don’t talk about,” said Hendrix. “People will respond to it emotionally. It’s touching.”
“It’s opening dialogue,” added Hendrix. “People are sharing with us. That’s something we didn’t expect.”
World Would Have Lost
While the story is fictional, it was inspired by the real-life story of Gianna Jessen, who survived a saline abortion. “We were so moved by her story,” said co-director Andrew Erwin.
“Her life is beautiful and a testament to the beauty of life in general — and a testament to what the world would have lost if she had never been given the right to exist,” said Jon Erwin, the other director.
Unlike other films released by Provident Films, October Baby lacks the strong evangelical Christian sermonizing, yet it has the potential to be used as a helpful tool to evangelize on the topics of adoption, abortion, redemption and forgiveness.
The film had a limited release in approximately 15 theaters in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee in late October of last year. The film’s performance demonstrated its appeal.
“The film shattered all our expectations,” said Jon Erwin. “It earned $8,000 per screen.”
Asked about her hopes for the film and those who see it, Hendrix said, “First, I hope audiences will be entertained. Secondly, I definitely hope that there will be an element of healing for women. Many women have felt condemned by a difficult decision they’ve made concerning pregnancy. I hope the film is a cathartic experience for them.”
The filmmakers are donating 10% of the film’s profits to the Every Life Is Beautiful Fund, which will distribute funds to organizations that assist women facing crisis pregnancies, life-affirming adoption agencies, and those caring for orphans.
“We feel like it’s very important to use October Baby as an opportunity to serve, give back and save lives,” said Jon Erwin. “That’s what we want the fund to be about.”
The film has already received praise from many pro-life leaders who saw the film during its limited release.
“October Baby is the most gripping drama ever produced about the central civil-rights issue of our time — the right to life,” said Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. “Young people, in particular, will find it intensely moving. This is a must-see movie for all Americans.”
“One of the most powerful scenes in the movie, for me, was when Hannah tracks down the nurse from the abortion clinic, played by Jasmine Guy,” wrote Kelly Clinger, a spokeswoman for the Silent No More Awareness Campaign. “I was stunned at the honesty of what the nurse shared. The makers of October Baby were not afraid to tell it.”
Register senior writer Tim Drake writes from St. Joseph, Minnesota.
Edward Pentin: Images of Rome's 2013 March for Life
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Praise God, praise God, praise God!
I can’t wait to see this movie. These are the kinds of movies we need.
I had the opportunity to see a screening of this movie….IT IS AMAZING We need to promote this beautiful film in every way possible. Hearts will be changed….Those who work in the pro-life movement need to be prepared to help all those women who are post abortive and in need of forgiveness and healing. This movie can be seen by anoyone….of any age or faith or race or conviction. I cannot begin to say enough good things about it. Maybe you can get your church to buy out an entire performance and/or beg your local theater to show it. The key thing right now is to jam the theaters who will show it on opening weekend. Those number os attendees determine where and for how long it will be shown. Pray, Pray Pray for it’s success !!!!
I also saw a pre-release screening and hope that families will fill the theaters the weekend of its release (March 23-24). Please be aware that another film opens the same weekend - The Hunger Games. As popular as the books have become, we have an increased challenge ahead to fill the teaters where October Baby will be playing. Wouldn’t it be AMAZING if we could put a pro-life film ahead of a film about children killing each other for the amusement of adults?
I can hardly wait to see it.
I participated in a North Carolina screening. A movie all God’s children should see. A look at the sad truth in our current societal moral pigpen that has been created; the result of relatively free contraception and its spin-off ‘free sex’ or weekend ‘hook-up’. A look at the post abortion drama in the life of a successful lawyer even to the point of denying that it ever happened. A look at the damaging effects of failure to expose birth parents in an adoptive family environment. At first, one is disappointed with the adoptive parents until the truth unfolds. The ending is well worth sitting through the 104 minutes of loving, humorous and at times, puzzling events and dialogue. A must see. Take a crowd to opening night - that’s what counts.
I can’t wait to see this movine. I have been working in the Pro-life
arena for forty years. I was one of the founders of the Calif.Pro-life
Conference and a fellow co-founder said it woulc be fifty years for the
pro-life message to become dominant in the culture. God bless these
folks who made and starred in this film.
For those who have seen it: Is it actually a good movie, or just a good message? Fireproof had a good message, but cinematically I thought it was horrible. This looks better, but I’m not sure if that’s just the advertising or if they actually put some effort into making a quality product.
Amy ...This is truly professional quality in every respect
Wow - love this quote: “For a lot of us post-abortive women and men, we try to stuff it so far down that we pile other things from our past over the top of it,” said Rigby. “This was my first real look at dealing with my past abortion.”
Powerful stuff!
I am attending a screening next week in Des Moines - looking forward to it and hoping the film is as well-done as the message is powerful.
If you believe in God he will help you Catholic or not. He loves everyone of us and even a baby during a pregnancy. Once conception that something in your stomach is a baby and it is living, it is living inside you. My mom saw this movie for the promotion and said she absolutly loved it and said she would bring me 2 see it when it comes out but her friends did not agree. Her friends told my mother that it wasnt appropriate for me since i am also adopted but, they are not my mother. God is a great person to ask for help dont ask other people because, they might say things in political ways not the true way and its not right…
Abortion is a terrible thing to do. If you have had an abortion trust and believe in God. He WILL show you the right path. He cant show you the whole path you have to do some of it yourelf, and even though it may be hard you CAN do it, he will help you.
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<3 ya
I thank God for a movie that doesn’t come from the place of, “No, don’t, no, no, no.” Instead, October Baby unfold God’s loving heart, grace and forgiveness. This is not your typical “religious” movie. It’s a story, about lives unfolding and their quest for truth, healing and acceptance. Never have I seen a movie explain the forgiving heart of God as October Baby.
Evie….you are very blessed with a wise loving Mom…..You will both love this movie !!!
My precious friend, Evie. I will go with you both and bring a big crowd along, too. I think we should have had you along for the screening! So, do we have a date?
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