Covering Media

Unconditional (2012)

Opened: 09/21/2012 Limited

Trailer: Click for trailer

Websites: Home, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube

Genre: Christian Drama

Rated: PG-13 for some violent content and mature thematic elements.

It's not a dead end if it takes you somewhere you needed to go.

Synopsis

Samantha Crawford's life is like a storybook: she's happily married, living on a beautiful ranch where she keeps her beloved horse, and the stories she's told and illustrated since childhood have become published books. She senses God's love all around her-just like the little bird in the next book she's working on.

In an instant, however, everything changes when her husband Billy is killed in a senseless act of violence. With the police writing off the case, Sam can't come to grips with Billy's murderer roaming the streets as a free man. Her faith-and her will to live-is quickly fading.

As she prepares to take matters into her own hands, a death-defying encounter with two children changes everything. Coming to their rescue not only begins a new friendship, it also leads to an unexpected reunion with Joe, her oldest friend from childhood.

Once a vibrant dreamer, Joe is now plagued by extreme health issues that have forced him to live on disability in a low-income neighborhood. Despite his difficult circumstances, Joe puts his heart and (dwindling) energy into caring for and loving the fatherless kids on his street. He has become their "Papa" Joe.

Seeing the impact Joe has on so many people begins to open Sam's heart to the possibility that she can rebuild her life. But when evidence indicates Billy's killer is too close for comfort, Sam's fragile newfound hope is severely tested.

Inspired by true events, UNCONDITIONAL stars Michael Ealy (Think Like A Man, Barbershop) and Lynn Collins (John Carter, X-Men Origins: Wolverine). It is the first feature film from Harbinger Media Partners, which creates and produces high-quality theatrical films to inspire moviegoers to pursue God and serve others.

Partnering with scores of ministries and non-profit organizations around the country like the one run by the real-life Papa Joe Bradford, UNCONDITIONAL is encouraging people to ACT on the needs in their communities. Details are available at UnconditionaltheMovie.com.

When Sam comes face-to-face with a decision that will shape the rest of her life, she begins to realize that no matter the circumstances, God's love is always reaching out to us.

About the Cast

Lynn Collins (Samantha Crawford)

Born and raised in Texas, Lynn attended the Juilliard School and has had experience on both stage and screen in Shakespearean roles. Her film credits include the lead female character in Disney's John Carter, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, 50 First Dates, The Lake House, The Number 23, Bug, and The Merchant of Venice. Lynn resides in Los Angeles and is married to actor Steven Strait.

Michael Ealy ("Papa Joe" Bradford)

Michael gained huge notoriety for his role as Ricky Nash in Barbershop and its sequel. Most recently, he starred in Think Like a Man. His other feature films include Seven Pounds, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Never Die Alone, For Colored Girls, Miracle at St. Anna, Takers, and Underworld: Awakening. In 2007, he received a Golden Globe Award nomination for his role in Showtime's Sleeper Cell. He's also appeared in ABC's Flashforward and CBS's The Good Wife.

Bruce McGill (Detective Miller)

Veteran character actor Bruce McGill is a familiar face on the big screen. His feature films include Animal House, The Last Boy Scout, My Cousin Vinny, Cliffhanger, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Ali, Legally Blonde 2, Runaway Jury, Collateral, Cinderella Man, Vantage Point, and the upcoming Steven Spielberg film Lincoln.

His numerous television guest appearances include Quantum Leap, Walker Texas Ranger, CSI, Miami Vice, The Practice, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Star Trek: Voyager, Babylon 5, and MacGyver. He is currently a regular cast member of the TNT series Rizzoli & Isles.

Kwesi Boakye (Macon)

Kwesi is an up-and-coming young actor whose most notable role thus far was playing Manny in Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself. Kwesi has also been seen on TNT's Men of a Certain Age and CBS's Hawaii Five-O, where he guest starred alongside P. Diddy. He also serves as the voice for the character of Darwin on The Amazing World of Gumball and Gossamer on The Looney Tunes Show. Kwesi lives with his family in Los Angeles.

Diego Klattenhoff (Billy Crawford)

No stranger to the screen, Diego is in Christopher Nolan's summer blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises. His career began in Mean Girls and includes Lucky Number Slevin and Cube Zero. He has appeared in numerous TV movies and in series including: Stargate SG-1, Psych, ER, Smallville, as well as recurring roles in Men in Trees and 24. He is currently a cast regular in Showtime's Homeland series.

Cedric Pendleton (Anthony Jones)

Having performed in such features as Runaway Jury, Summer Catch, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, and Madea's Family Reunion, Cedric landed a recurring role on Tyler Perry's House of Payne TV series. Other TV work includes CSI: NY, NYPD Blue, The Shield, One Tree Hill, True Blood, and Dawson's Creek. In the years leading to his acting success, he served as a resident drama instructor for Young Audiences, Inc., which operated in low-income housing developments in metro Atlanta; and as artistic director for the SIMBA Program, an initiative that uses the arts as a therapeutic means of rehabilitation in the Juvenile Justice System.

Gabriella Phillips (Keisha)

Discovered during an open casting call for UNCONDITIONAL, seven-year-old Gabriella Phillips was selected over hundreds of girls to play the role of Keisha, a pivotal character in the movie. While it was her first acting role, Gabriella performed like a seasoned professional. She is a native of Nashville, where the movie was filmed.

About the Crew

Jason Atkins (Producer)

Prior to founding Harbinger Media Partners, Jason served as general partner and portfolio manager of a hedge fund, managing resources for prestigious groups. He made his mark as an investor who identified coming waves of change. His visionary skills led to the establishment of a foundation that impacts humanitarian organizations across continents. Recognizing the influence of art on the ideals and pursuits of man, Jason founded The Doorpost Film Project in 2007. This passion would lead Jason to closing his investment fund and forming Harbinger Media Partners LLC in 2009. UNCONDITIONAL is Harbinger's first film.

Wesley Legg (Producer)

An attorney by trade, Wesley began his career as a prosecutor for the United States Navy. After his service in the Navy, he worked as a senior investment analyst for Ergon Capital from 2004 to 2009. Eager to use his talents to encourage and inspire others, Wesley co-founded Harbinger Media Partners in 2009. His vision is to produce entertainment that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Wesley resides in Franklin, Tenn. with his wife Amy and their four children: Max, Ava, Sam, and John Wesley.

Brent McCorkle (Writer/Director)

A veteran filmmaker, Brent McCorkle makes his feature film directorial debut with UNCONDITIONAL, which he also wrote. Brent has written, directed, scored, and produced numerous award-winning short films. A father of five, many of Brent's films address the plight of abandoned or suffering children. The Rift, a metaphorical short film about adoption, was one of the winners in The Doorpost Film Project 2009. Brent's creativity, heart for children, and love for redemptive storytelling are brought to the big screen with UNCONDITIONAL.

Darren Moorman (Co-Producer)

Darren has produced more than a dozen feature length films and documentaries. He has worked for industry leaders such as MGM and DirectTV, and served as consultant for dozens of companies, including Lionsgate and Windancer. He has also assisted independent production companies, churches, and non-profit organizations. Mentored by acclaimed producer Howard Kazanjian, Darren has worked with top actors, including Denzel Washington, Danny Devito, John Goodman, Julia Stiles, and David Strathairn. Darren lives in Chattanooga, Tenn. with his wife and two children.

Joe Bradford (Co-Producer)

Unconditional was inspired by true events in the life of co-producer Joe Bradford, better known as Papa Joe. Joe grew up without a father, lived in poverty, and was one of a few black students at a nearly all-white school. After serving a sentence at a maximum-security prison for hacking into a bank, Joe was diagnosed with severe kidney disease, which rendered him permanently disabled. Unable to make a living, he moved into public housing, where the fatherless and oppressed neighborhood children won his heart. Today, Papa Joe leads a diverse team of volunteers, offering aid and the message of hope to inner-city children and families.

John Gray (Co-Producer)

An accomplished inspirational speaker, preacher, comedian, actor, and recording artist, John has entertained and ministered to millions of people on three continents. John began his career as member of the Grammy Award-winning gospel group Kirk Franklin and The Family. He has continued to use his creative talents to inspire audiences and deliver a message of hope. As a senior creative executive at Harbinger Media Partners, John was instrumental in helping UNCONDITIONAL take shape. John lives in Atlanta with his wife, Aventer