Actress Francine Locke: Finding "Justice" On Her God-Directed Journey

by Cyrus Webb

Some things just seem to happen, but do they really? I know for me there have been instances where it seems as though things were working out so well that it was just meant to me. I've since come to realize that this is what happens when you are able to realize your own limitations and give yourself over to something larger than yourself.

Actress Francine Locke has also found this to be true. As someone who had over a decade of experience in the entertainment industry she has been involved in commercials, industrial films and modeling. When I caught up with her as she was promoting the film Stand Your Ground (formerly Georgia Justice) that will be released in January 2014. Her own personal journey has been one of soul searching and reflection, and now she is using her gift in a way that is sure to inspire others.

"I've taken a different step forward in this industry," she told me. "I want to use what I have been given to bring light to a dark environment. I had been modeling and acting for many years, but it was really just to pay the bills." After taking a ten-year break from the business she has returned with a new outlook on her life, her gift and what she can do with it. "Today I want to use what God gave me to show something more positive."

The change that Francine has experience has a lot to do with the person she's become. "When I first started I was in a different place in my life," she explains. "Right now I am at a different place spiritually. This has led me to accept who I am and what God wanted me to be." When referring to the entertainment world she points out the difference in the perception versus the reality. "It's not the glamour lifestyle that is depicted. It's just work. It's a job." What makes it different for her this time around, though, is her own motive towards that job. "Today the way I feel is that I am finally where I belong."

Francine role in the upcoming film Stand Your Ground is that of Jackie Carpenter, someone who is no stranger to Conversations Magazine or Conversations LIVE radio show. The project is based on Jackie's own journey of faith as outlined in her books THE BRIDGE and GEORGIA JUSTICE. "It has been such a God-directed journey," Francine told me. In fact when Jackie saw Francine her words to her "We've been praying for Jackie to show up, and it's you."

Stand Your Ground was exactly the kind of project that fit where Francine is in her life now. "It's something that I feel like I am completely suited for," she says. "When I read the script I could say that I know the feelings of frustrations of wanting to be in control and having to give it all up to God."

That is what both Francine and I believe viewers of the film will be able to take away from it: how much Jackie's journey of faith is really all of our journey.

With Francine's experiences in the industry has come invaluable advice that she is more than willing to share with others. "I feel so empowered to tell people to do what is good in your heart. You don't have to say yes to everything. It's up to you to  make the right choices. There is a reason why you are put where you are at."

For actors and actresses she share this nugget: "Do all the work you can as long as it is up to your moral standards. The right projects will 'suddenly' show up. You can continue to work in this environment to grow your craft and to grow yourself spiritually."

For more information about Francine visit http://www.francinelocke.com/ . To stay abreast of everything dealing with with Stand Your Ground visit http://www.standyourgroundmovie.com/.

Actress Sandra Elise Williams: Teaching So Others Can Learn

by Cyrus Webb

For actress Sandra Elise Williams her journey in the entertainment industry has been about more than just the glitz and glamour and the privileges from being seen. With roles in movies like Untouched and The Notebook, it is her love for the craft that has really made her someone to watch.

"I feel very blessed," she told me during a visit to Conversations LIVE. "To have these opportunities I feel very fortunate to be able to pursue a career. In a lot of ways I feel as though I am just beginning, because I've just inched along slowly in moderation with family as a priority. I feel really fortunate and thankful."

It was interesting with Sandra to talk about how she got to where she is today. At the time when we talked she had just wrapped on a film project called Stand Your Ground  (formerly called Georgia Justice) and was preparing for upcoming productions. "For myself being an actress is similar to being a teacher," she explained. "As a little girl I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I worked as a teacher for 10 years and love it tremendously. I see similarities because you help people make new discoveries and provoke change. The realization came to me when I booked my first Screen Acting Guild commercial. I have always been very sensory-driven. That connection is just an innate part of who I am. I have just continued to pursue it from there."

Education has come not just in what Sandra has learned about the craft but what she can impart to others as well. "I still define myself as an educator," she told me, "because I want to have that equal impact. I want to be very much connected in young people's lives and be an encourager." Sandra has come to realize that you don't have to be in a classroom to accomplish this feat. "You can do that through film as well," she says.

When talking about the movie Stand Your Ground, Sandra seems to have the same reaction as everyone else I have talked with who are associated in some form with it. "You're going to love this movie," she says. When talking about working with the cast and those who were bringing the film to life, she says it was an amazing experience for her in many ways. "I have never experienced anything like that before, where there is such a commitment." Sandra says everyone involved embraced her fully.

I asked her what she thought the public will be able to take away from the film, and Sandra told me that she believes that with every chapter of our lives there is a lesson there. "We all come from different perspectives, and we can be so judgmental of others," she explained. "Via the media we hear of a story and we decided where we stand with it. It really isn't until you have intimately known what has taken place that I feel you are in a position to make a decision and determine justice. It's a delicate thing and a frightening thing to go through. It requires the responsibility of everyone. It's about coming together as humans."

In keeping with her mission of imparting knowledge to others, I asked Sandra what she had to say to individuals looking to follow a dream. "Truly work begets work. When you go in and show solid commitment and professionalism, it really does lead to the next thing."

Stay in contact with Sandra on Twitter at http://twitter.com/hiresandraelise as well as on Facebook. Stay in contact with Stand Your Ground at www.standyourgroundmovie.com.

Jackie Carpenter's Faith-Filled Walk to Justice

by Cyrus Webb

Georgia native Jackie Carpenter never intended on becoming an author, however, the events that took place in her life in 2009 set in motion not one but two literary works that she believes have been divinely inspired.  THE BRIDGE (Between Cell Block A and a Miracle Is Psalm 91) & GEORGIA JUSTICE allow you to go into the events that would have destroyed many but seemed to fortify those involved. What has been great to watch is not only the response to the books but how they seem to set off a ripple effect including a movie called Stand Your Ground.

I first interviewed Jackie on Conversations LIVE radio show in 2010 and our book club had the opportunity to host her in January 2011 when she visited Mississippi. I said to her then that I could see her story unfolding on the big screen and in January 2014 that is becoming a reality with the debut of Stand Your Ground. How has Jackie grown and what does she hope readers and soon viewers take away from her story? She talks about this and more in this exclusive interview.

First of all, Jackie, congratulations on the success of your book THE BRIDGE and GEORGIA JUSTICE. How does it feel to have something that came from a tragedy inspire so many people?
It feels like for the first time my life has a "real purpose" and that purpose is to share "what God can do" with all of the hurting people who do not need help in their lives, "they need Miracles! I am learning for the first time that there is nothing in this life as satisfying as telling others what God can do!

Before the events that happened in your life that prompted this book, did you ever think of being an author before?
Before this tragedy I never even so much as entertained the thought of writing a book.

Your not intending to write before the events just a few years ago is one of the most interesting aspects of this journey. So take us into your world growing up. In reading the book, it's obvious that faith was instrumental to getting you through your trying times as an adult. When did you realize the power of faith?
I had a great childhood. God blessed me with Christian parents and also a Christian sister. My sister Susie and I were raised in the country. Playing barefoot in the dirt, running through mudpuddles, and having fun all day. My dad was a hardworking man and my mom was a homemaker. We were always involved in the church. I gave my life to the Lord when I was 13 yrs. old. I always thought that I had faith that would conquer anything, but that's easy to think when it hadn't had to conquer anything. But when my world was turned upside down, how did I build my faith strong enough to turn it "right side up"? That's a whole different ballgame!


(author Jackie Carpenter, Cyrus Webb and Kimberly of the Pearl Public Library in Pearl, MS) Jackie, for those just hearing about your books THE BRIDGE and GEORGIA JUSTICE, tell them what the books are about.
My 28 year old son, married to a beautiful wife with a 7 year old son, was a homebuilder. He was also a victim of copper theft in his under construction homes. After numerous thefts, each theft costing approximately $6,000 a deputy agreed to meet my son at the construction site to give him advice on how to handle these thefts. The bad advice that this deputy gave my son resulted in the death of a young man. Due to "false accusations" by so many people, my son was "falsely accused" of Felony Murder.

These books were totally inspired by God. I am not a writer, but God wrote a Best Seller. The first book was inspired about 2 months following my son, Jason's "high profile murder trial". This "Tragedy" is something that could happen to anyone on any given day. The early morning hours of June 28th, 2008 just happened to be my day. Never in my life did I ever think for one split second that our family would ever experience anything like this. But the call came at 2:00 a.m. on June 27th, 2008 just the same!

How did this happen? Why did this happen? Upstanding citizens of the community, Christians, always trying to give back , always trying to do what's right. How in the world could something like this be happening? What do we do now? We have never dealt with anything like what we were dealing with now.

God was my only hope. Things were dire. Money was of no value. All news was bad news. Without God's renewed strength in my body I would not have been able to take another breath or walk another step. I moved my life into the Book of Psalms. I read Psalms day and night!

"The Bridge" and "Georgia Justice" take you on the journey of "utter helplessness" that our family endured, and the strong Faith that brought us to the place of Victory. Ten long months we lived in the very pit of hell where Satan viciously attacked our family continuously.

Looking back on it now, do you think the trials that your son and your entire family went through were in some ways a larger testimony of what God is able to do in all of our lives?
YES! God doesn't make mistakes. He could have stopped this tragedy at any time. What if Jason had not gone down there that night? What if I had not bought that "Psalm 91" Book? What if the "deceased" had just cooperated until the police arrived? What if the police had not got lost? What if the gun had not misfired? What if I had gone down there with him? What if a "bad cop" had not given Jason "bad advice"?

For 10 months I wrestled with the "what if" factor. What if God doesn't help us? What if God let's Jason go to jail even though he's innocent? It was all those "what if" questions that weakened my Faith. It was only when I stopped doubting and started trusting that I received "Peace" and now God is showing me the next piece of the puzzle. He is allowing me to share "what He did for our family" with countless others who need for Him to do the same thing in their lives. He is affording me the opportunity to tell them "He is there for them"!

Not only do you have the two books that chronicle the experience, but now there is the movie Georgia Justice that is sure to inspire others as well. Jackie, there are people reading this interview who might not be going through a situation like you experienced, but they are dealing with their own difficulties. What advice would you give them?
The books and the movie are totally based on what I experienced "start to finish" from a great life, to a tormented life, from the arrest of my son until the last day of his "Murder Trial, and everything that I experienced along the way. I experienced humility. I experienced what it means to be "Scared to Death" I experienced embarrassment. The Newspapers were Relentless. I experienced the maximum in the "frustration arena". I experienced what it's like to "Bottom Out' as a Mama.

Even if the reader has not experienced this tragedy, they may have experienced the same feelings in dealing with their own hurt that they are facing. If they haven't experienced these feelings "Hold On My Friend" before June 27th 2008 neither had I. But God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He can do the "supernatural". He can take the devices of the wicked and make them to non-effect. God can take the crooked road and make it straight. God is the Only One that can do this. God is the Only one that can "heal a broken heart". There is nothing too big for our God!


As an author that is getting the recognition that so many aspiring writers want, what would you say to them about following their dream when it comes to writing?
This is a difficult question to answer because I never dreamed of becoming an aspiring writer, but God is an "Inspiring Writer". He wrote a bestseller you know! If you believe in Him I know that he will help you with whatever you are doing as long as you keep Him first. He can't fail.

Just when everyone in the family had started moving on from this tragedy approximately 2 months after the verdict , as I was sitting at my desk working , God asked me this question: "Jackie, what was the worst part of this ordeal for you? I answered: Oh God, that was when my son was in Cell Block A. God then asked me, "Jackie, what was the best part of this ordeal for you? I answered: Oh, God that was our Miracle Verdict. He then asked me" Jackie, what was that "Bridge" that joined the worst to the best? I replied: Oh God, that was Psalm 91 that I claimed for my son all of those tormenting months. God said: "Very Good, now let's start writing!" You have to share it with others, you cannot hide it! Miracles are meant to be "shared"!

Jackie again it has been great watching all of this unfold. Congratulations to you and the cast and crew associated with the movie Stand Your Ground. For our readers they can get their copies of the books by visiting www.bridgetoamiracle.com and updates about the movie can be found at www.standyourgroundmovie.com. I also invite them to follow you all on Facebook and Twitter. The links are all available on the movie website.

Actor Drew Matthews: Following the Road Leading to His Destiny

by Cyrus Webb

Our path to our own personal passion or purpose is not always a straight one. Sometimes it includes some twists and turns, bumps and valleys---but if we are truly committed to it the destination we are intended for is the one we will reach.

For actor Drew Matthews where he is today is due to nothing else but his faith and perseverance. I got to know him as one of the leading cast members in the movie Stand Your Ground.  He plays Jason Veitch, the man at the center of the storm that takes place through the film and as it was in real life for his family. Talking with Drew, however, I can't help but see how he would resonate with the story-line. "My journey has morphed over the years," he told me. He credits much of his success from learning something that actors are suppose to develop in their craft: creating conversation, making the dialogue about the other person and not yourself.

Drew started acting when he was young. When did he know it was something he wanted to do? "In our kindergarden play when I played the gingerbread man," he told me. It was a big thing for his family at the time, and for him too. After that he wanted to be a part of every production---that is at least until middle school.

"I stopped performing in middle school and high school," he explained. The reason being caving into peer pressure. Drew says his classmates weren't friendly about him being a part of productions. He was tired of being bullied and did something that actually got him praise in another area: tennis.

As I said earlier, though, it doesn't matter what happens along the road to purpose. If we are truly passionate about something it always comes back around. This proved true for Drew as well. He told me that after college he had to be true to himself about what he really loved. "I decided I couldn't escape how much I enjoyed acting and went back to studying the craft and was going to do what was making me happy."

Acting for Drew is about more than just about getting attention. It's about bringing attention to something larger than you. "Everybody at some point in time want to feel like they are contributing and want to do their part in life," he said to me. "I don't claim to be a great actor. I claim to love acting. I hope that one day I can be great at it. I'll keep working hard for it. No matter what I'm going to encourage others, bringing others up and go for my dreams." He then added: "That is the scariest thing I could have said out loud," but for him it is the truth.

When discussing getting into character for Stand Your Ground Drew says "It's not as easy as it looks." Known mostly for light-hearted performances, this role required he go into another place. "I can't tell you how hard it is. This is the first time I've had to do a film where I had to constantly make myself vulnerable and open to the audience." A great deal of what made it possible to bring Jason Veitch to life was the director. "Every actor that was there would walk on glass" for him, Drew explained. When he discussed the finished product and what he hopes others would see in it he says "We kept the story pure and honest and full of integrity."

When Stand Your Ground opens in select theaters in January 2014 viewers will be able to see how faith and reliance in God helps you to withstand any challenge you face.

For Drew the path now is clear and though it has its obstacles he is sure that where he is today is exactly where he is supposed to be.  His message from what he has learned? "You've got to be exactly what you've been called to be." Only then can you say that you are truly living.

Stay in touch with Drew Matthews online at www.facebook.com/drewmatthewsactor and www.twitter.com/drewlmatthews. Discover more about the movie Stand Your Ground at www.standyourgroundmovie.com.

*  Top photo from www.facebook.com/drewmatthewsactor. Bottom photo from www.standyourgroundmovie.com.

Actor Ronny Mathew: Answering the Call to Bring His Best to God

by Cyrus Webb

I truly believe that all of us have a calling on our lives. It's up to us to be able to recognize what it is and walk in it. For actor Ronny Mathew it is no question that his calling is to bring characters to life.

He plays Ernesto Morales in the upcoming film Stand Your Grounds, and when he stopped by Conversations LIVE to discuss his journey in the entertainment issue he calls it "A God call".

Spending most of his life as a mechanic, some might see a career as an actor something that was unlikely for Ronny. He says it was during a retreat that he realized the gift of bringing words to life. After that with the coaching and support of Michael McClendon he knew that he could actually be successful in the craft.

When talking about the call to acting Ronny says that it fulfills for him what all of us have a desire for. "There are sides to us that we need to let out and help find ourselves," he told me. Michael McClendon told Ronny that he had something different. That validation told him this: "This is absolutely something I want to do."

Part of what brings joy to Ronny along his journey as an actor is the way his thoughts about the craft have changed. "It's about understanding that what we do is not for the sake of ourselves but for the glory of God," he says. "The weight of being a famous actor is tremendous. By giving God glory and putting all that fame and fortune in Him all that pressure is released." Ronny says you can then "be the kind of performer" he was meant to be. He also says you have to "let go and have faith."

Look for Ronny in Stand Your Ground and other projects in 2014. Stay in contact with him online at www.facebook.com/ronnymathew and www.twitter.com/ronny_mathew.

Top photo credit: Jordan Wright of Wright Expressions Photography
Bottom photo credit: Stand Your Ground the movie