A Film Inspired By An Uplifting True Story That Happened In Shelby County Texas Has Become A Surprise Hit At The Box Office This Summer.

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 impossible–adopting 77 children–this East Texas community proved that, with real, determined love, the battle for America’s most vulnerable can be won.

Directed, written, and produced by East Texan Joshua Weigel (THE BUTTERFLY CIRCUS) for Peacetree Productions.

The film tells the true story of Bishop W.C. and First Lady Donna Martin, and their tiny Bennett Chapel church, in the town of Possum Trot in the woods of East Texas. Twenty two families linked arms and courageously adopted seventy seven of the most difficult-to-place children in the local foster care system.

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. This act ignited a national movement for vulnerable children that continues today.

Released on the Fourth of July, the film debuted to a fourth-place spot in the box office.

Sound Of Hope topped several films from larger studios in its first week of release. As of Monday, “Possum Trot” remains in seventh-place, with a Gross To Date of $6,811,094 from 2,200 theaters nationwide.

“Possum Trot” was created on a budget of $8.5 million, an amount sourced entirely from donations and the filmmakers said that this support will allow the entirety of the profits from the film to go directly back to the cause: ending the foster crisis in America.

Melz On The MIC Spoke With Actor/Producer Demetrius Grosse Who Plays Bishop Martin About The Film.

Demetrius Gross is an award-winning actor and producer who has appeared in several TV shows and movies including "Fear Of The Walking Dead", Straight Outta Compton", and "WestWorld".

Grosse portrays Bishop Martin and spent some time with him personally to prepare for the role. Check out my conversation with him below and go see the movie this weekend playing at movie theaters all across East Texas.