Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot is a movie based mostly on the unimaginable true story of the Martin household from Possum Trot, TX. The husband and spouse workforce of Bishop W.C. Martin and Woman Donna Martin ignited a motion of their small city to undertake 77 youngsters from the foster care system and fostered over 20 themselves. We at down with Nika King who performs Woman Donna to speak concerning the movie and her personal reflections on religion and advocacy. The interview under has been edited for size and readability. Sound of Hope will launch in theaters July 4!
Allen
Alright, properly thanks a lot for the time, Nika. Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot explores the themes of religion, neighborhood, and perseverance. And also you performed First Woman Donna Martin within the movie. Are you able to speak about how she contributes to these themes of religion and neighborhood and perseverance within the movie?
Nika
Effectively, first girl, Donna Martin, she obtained what I’d wish to say the decision. You recognize, she bought the imaginative and prescient first from God to be an advocate for these weak children who, you recognize, had been struggling and going by way of horrible conditions. And based mostly on the script and based mostly on what I do know, it wasn’t a simple determination as a result of she needed to persuade her husband in addition to her church and neighborhood to go on this journey together with her. So she’s undoubtedly a pivotal character on this story as a result of with out her, there isn’t a transferring. There isn’t a sound of hope. You recognize, there isn’t a doable religion story.
Allen
Proper, which is, it simply makes a lot sense as a result of that’s how our communities work, proper? Are you able to speak about what impression or message you need audiences to get from this movie?
Nika
The principle message I feel most individuals will depart the theaters with the sense of is religion. We discuss quite a bit about religion as believers and I feel generally your religion is examined, generally you’ve gotten doubt a few state of affairs or a profession or a job. And I feel this movie actually touches the center of what religion actually is. And I feel for me, you recognize, I can solely, I can communicate from being an actor in addition to being a believer. You recognize, religion is all the pieces for me. It’s my forex. It’s my money app. It’s my Zelle, my Venmo. It’s the issues I see and the issues I don’t see, the issues I contact and the issues I can’t contact. So I’ve to actually lean on that. And within the movie, I feel a variety of the characters undergo their very own journey of what religion appears to be like like at totally different instances of their lives.
Allen
Completely. Notably your character, Donna, I imply, she stands out. You stated she’s the primary girl. Are you able to speak about what drew you to her as a personality within the movie?
Nika
Effectively, at first, the script was superb. I instantly wished to be part of it. And I let my mother learn it as a result of that is my mother’s story. Her mother’s mom was murdered when she was very younger, which continues to be a chilly case. And he or she, in addition to my three uncles ended up in foster care. And so ultimately, they had been adopted by a pastor and his spouse, and so they had been introduced up within the church. And so, what instantly grasped me was the thought of taking part in this very sturdy girl who actually modified folks’s lives and did so with such a burden within the midst of such chaos. I feel we even have to know that this isn’t a simple factor to do, but when we’re actually God’s folks, and we’re actually known as by God, we’ve got to care for the weak and within the widow. And it is a calling that, thank God, she didn’t ignore and that she principally was obedient to. And right here we’re 20 odd years later, and we’ve got a movie that the world goes to see.
Allen
And completely, you discuss a little bit bit about calling. You lately you Spoke at Higher Collectively, the psychological well being storytelling summit, you based this nonprofit group Rose of Sharon. How does your private expertise with psychological well being challenges form your work as an actor and now an activist and your sense of calling and doing each of these issues?
Nika
I grew up in a really tough a part of Miami. And my childhood by I imply, pay attention, you recognize, my childhood wasn’t the very best. Let’s simply say that my mother was additionally an addict. She additionally handled psychological well being [issues]. Rightfully so, proper, when You develop up on this world, not figuring out who your mom is, not having a relationship along with your father till later in life? So for me, it was necessary to try to interrupt generational curses. I didn’t know what was occurring because it’s occurring. However now in hindsight, trying again, I see that God positioned me and put me in a state of affairs the place I used to be in a position to make use of all of the ache and all of the harm and all the pieces that I had gone by way of as a toddler to deliver such highly effective dynamic characters to life. And I all the time say, “hey, I’m glad I labored out that means.” I used to be in a position to make use of it to indicate folks that these great characters like First Woman Donna Martin and like Leslie Bennett on Euphoria, to actually present that black girls are actually the matriarch of our households. And in the event that they’re not properly, then the household isn’t properly.
Allen
And I really like simply the way you’ve talked about your mother. And it looks as if you’ve actually gleaned quite a bit from her and actually worth that transmission from era to era. What recommendation would you give to aspiring actors or filmmakers or people who wish to inform tales even in our church buildings which might be significant and impactful like sound of hope?
Nika
I might say don’t spend an excessive amount of time attempting to be one thing that you simply suppose Hollywood desires. I spent most of my time in LA, you recognize, 20 plus years molding myself into what I assumed I wanted to be. And in actuality, I used to be all the pieces I wanted to be already as a result of I had God. You recognize, the items and the abilities that I had had been God given. No one gave me expertise. I went to class. I studied. I did the work. However in the end, the Most Excessive was my guiding mild. And so I made a decision from right here on out to solely do initiatives that glorify him. Now, that’s not going to be simple. You recognize, they might be far and few in between, however I do know that I’ve sufficient expertise and creativity and I can do something that I put my thoughts to as a result of probably the most excessive is on my aspect. So, I might inform folks to actually discover your voice, spend extra time discovering your voice than attempting to be in a field as a result of they’re going to place you in a field. So discover your voice and let God information you to initiatives as a result of I’m telling you, it is going to occur in the event you in the event you give up to that.
