Rebecca St. James is best known as an award-winning musician, but her stage presence made her want to try acting some day. Now, in her first lead role in a feature film, St. James portrays a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy in Sarah's Choice (Pure Flix), recently released on DVD.
In the film, Sarah—unmarried, pregnant, disdainful of her religious upbringing, and seeking a job promotion—struggles whether or not to have an abortion. Her family, friend, and co-workers voice different opinions, but Sarah is most strongly affected by a mysterious woman and three visions of Sarah's life with a child.
In addition to Sarah's Choice, Pure Flix also recently releases In the Blink of An Eye and Birdie and Bogey. The Christian film company aims to provide "high quality redeeming movie entertainment … with a unified vision of being purpose and profit driven to change culture for good and for God."
St. James recently talked to CT about her career in the entertainment industry as well as the importance of films like Sarah's Choice.
What are some of the joys and challenges in acting?
I knew there were certain elements to music that would translate over into film, but I also knew it was a very, very different medium. So I went to an acting class for about six months before I filmed Sarah's Choice. The main things that translated over for me from music was what a friend said: "You've got to bring your own life experiences, your own heart to that set of circumstances playing another character."
The crying scene in the film was kind of challenging. But God really allowed me to bring my own pain from my life to the situation. When I watch that scene now, I cry because it's real. It's very fulfilling when you emotionally go there and feel it and then you can watch it on screen.
The Mission: Pre-Born website says you are transitioning from music to films. What does that mean for your future?
I'm very much doing both. My ministry has been very multi-faceted. When I've done a book, focusing on that for a while will help me appreciate music or recording or doing live shows in a different way. It's like that change is as good as a holiday. I come back from a film and I'm like, "Oh, songwriting, that feels fresh" because I have a different perspective on it. I was just with a writer yesterday, and we're about probably half way on writing songs for the new album. We're looking at recording it probably early next year.
You talked about it as a ministry. Does that mean you would ever do a mainstream movie?
The last one I shot was a mainstream film (Rising Stars, releasing late 2010). But it was written by a Christian writer and director. So the film is just very God-honoring even though it's not a Christian film. I enjoyed that experience too, but mostly my focus is on faith and family films. That's largely my passion because from day one, my reason for doing music has been because of my relationship with God. I don't want to just entertain people, I want to lead people with his hope and truth that are going to impact their lives positively. So whether it's directly a Christian film or a film that's got God-honoring values in it, I believe both are important.
St. James in a scene with Logan White
There are often low expectations for Christian movies because they may feel too preachy or cheesy. But Sarah's Choice didn't fall into that stereotype. What made it different?
One of the things I loved about the script was there was a lot of humanity. My character is struggling with the biggest decision of her life. She's not a Christian for a majority of the film; she's antagonistic toward Christianity because she's been hurt. I think the humanity, the pain of my character's situation, makes it feel very real.
One of the other things I liked about the script was that it's very heart-warming. It's kind of like Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol in that my character has these three visions of what it will be like if she chooses life.
Also, the film had more humorous moments in it than what I initially thought. I think it could be a really heavy movie if it didn't have some of that humor, so I was really happy with that.
Were you able to relate to some of the stories and messages in Sarah's Choice on a personal level or through the advocacy work you've done with abstinence and pro-life?
Absolutely, and it's pretty cool seeing how God ignited my heart for this film. Through a couple of friends, I got involved with this pregnancy center and found out there was a massive need for music and films that supported the pro-life message. These pregnancy centers are doing amazing work supporting girls in this incredibly stressful situation and just loving them with Jesus' love. Yet so often, it's a struggle to keep these pregnancy centers afloat.
A couple of months after getting involved with this pregnancy center, I was asked to audition for the film, got the role, knew exactly who to go to for all the study materials, and it was just literally like God was grooming me.
I also have two friends that have had abortions. Hearing their agony has also impassioned me to help do what I can to keep other people from being in my friends' situation. They've accepted God's forgiveness, but they also really hurt over the fact that the child was lost.
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The use of the mysterious older woman and visions in the movie might be seen as cheesy or unreal. Do you think people will be able to deal with that sub-plot?
I think people like fantasy. There's all those movies, like Freaky Friday, where something happens and all of a sudden, this magical thing has changed in this person's life. People like to believe that something magical or mysterious could happen to them. I don't think it suspends reality. I think people can still believe it and relate to it.
What type of audience are you hoping to reach with this movie?
I would say predominantly 14 to 40. I think it's good for teens to watch. We already know of one child that has been saved through the film through a screening in Boston. A 17-year-old girl watched the film and she wasn't a Christian, and she decided to keep her baby because of the film.
I think teens need to see it, girls in their twenties because a lot of them are dealing with it, and those who have had abortions. The character of Megan, who has had an abortion, her dealing with that and finding redemption and forgiveness, really helps bring that to people who have been in that situation.
It was interesting that the film included the man's perspective.
A lot of people have been saying that! In media today, it's always focused on the woman's choice and her body, and that the guy should have nothing to do with it. But two thoughts from me on that: One is the woman, through having an abortion, is making probably the most costly decision she will ever make on a negative level. The agony—emotionally, physically, spiritually—is just so huge. Two, it is also a part of the man as well. I think men in that situation need to step up and go, "What can I do to be supportive of you, to help you choose to life, because I have contributed to this, too?"
One of my friends that had an abortion, the main reason that she did it was because her boyfriend was saying, "I don't want it, we're not ready, you need to have an abortion." It's just appalling to me. I think guys who find themselves in that situation need to step into it and go, "I will do what I need to do to help you make the right decision."
Anything else?
I would ask people to pray for this film, that the Holy Spirit would be on it and protect the people that see it, especially young people, from having an abortion, and that it will bring healing and forgiveness to those that have.
Elissa Cooper is an editorial intern at Christianity Today.
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