The director of one of Hollywood’s most beloved family films says he wants to “revive” movies that inspire both parents and children and that everyone can watch together. Film director Sean McNamara has directed the following films: Soul Surfer (2011), Hoovie (2015), Season of miracles (2018), and Say a prayer (2023). His latest project, the Great American PureFlix series ShadrachIt tells the story of a family whose life changes when they encounter a magical horse.
“I like things that the whole family can watch together,” McNamara told Crosswalk Headlines. “The things I grew up with, e.g. The Waltons or Brady the Bunny That’s what I want to pass on to the next generation.”
Shadrach, He said the film still has “some extremes” but “it’s made in a way that the whole family can watch it,” adding that “if you’re religious or faith-based, you’ll enjoy it even more.”
McNamara has overseen over 70 projects, but is best known for Soul Surfer, Based on the true story of surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost an arm in a shark attack, the film stars AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt and Carrie Underwood.
“If I had lost my arm in a shark attack, I don’t think I would have been able to get back in the water,” McNamara said. “She decided, not only am I going to get back in the water, but I’m going to compete at the highest level, and she did. So I love telling stories about people facing incredible odds, fighting back, overcoming them and moving forward.”
“[In Shadrach,] It’s about a family that gets evicted from downtown Atlanta because of bankruptcy. The brothers were doing shady business. They end up living with their grandparents on a farm with horse stables. That can’t be boring for young kids. And they see the beauty in that, the beauty of the animals. So when I can tell a story about characters that can change and adapt, that’s what I want to tell, because I think we all have to change and adapt all the time throughout our lives. … I think it brings families closer together when they watch this movie.”
“I love inspiring stories.“ He said.
McNamara fell in love with cinematography when his father bought him a camera at age 12. He attended Catholic school and then studied film and television at Loyola Marymount University.
He said his big break came when a friend’s father gave him a chance.
“A friend of mine’s father was the director of the Oscars. I didn’t have any connections in that industry.“ “So I said, ‘Can I work for your dad?'” McNamara said.‘ And after about a year of pleading, I finally got to meet with him, and he said, “So, what do you do?”‘ I was in a rock band at the time, and I said, “I can play guitar and I can plug in a microphone.”“
He did the sound for Ronald Reagan’s inauguration in 1981. (He’s also the director of a new feature film.) Reagan(Released on August 30th)
“I’ve been trying to get into film Fully hidden video, hidden cameraI kept making films until I was old enough to make a living from it. … I loved making family programming, so I stuck with it.”
WATCH: “Shadrack” | Official Trailer
Photo credit: ©Great American PureFlix
Michael Faust He has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years, and his work has appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Chronicle, Toronto Star and Knoxville News Sentinel.
