A Feature Film
Based on a True Story
Based on a True Story
Follow. Share. Watch.
ABOUT
Logline
A talented musician and rising vocalist leads her “underdog” High School Marching Band to the Grand National Championships, facing fierce competition while dealing with her deteriorating home life.
Tagline
The gravity of one’s voice can lead others to believe.
Synopsis
In a long hallway near the entrance to a Stadium field is the Castle High Marching Band anxiously awaiting their turn. SOPHIE RINEHART, 17, the lead soloist moves toward the front of the tunnel. As they hear their name announced, everyone runs onto the field and takes their place...Later that night, on a long dark stretch of highway, Sophie wraps herself up in a blanket in the back seat of the car as her dad drives the family home. Outside in the shadowy forest, one of God’s beautiful creatures awaits, about to alter these lives forever. Somehow in the gravity of time and space, a strange sequence of events clash together, impacting not only the Rinehart's, but the lives of so many others. In the darkness, a call startles LUCINDA RINEHART, 40, awake. “Mom, there's been an accident...”
ONE YEAR EARLIER. It’s Sophie’s 16th birthday, as the Castle High Marching Band begins its musical journey. The band has never gone to the National Championships but believes this will be the year. Sophie is chosen as the lead soloist. As they compete their way to the top, Sophie helps shepherd her fellow band members, despite her personal trials going on behind closed doors. Sophie remains hopeful and the band’s biggest cheerleader as they face a challenging yet exciting journey to make history and go all the way.
TEAM
Shari Rigby - Director
Actress, writer, director, speaker
Actress, writer, director, and inspirational speaker, Shari Rigby is outspoken and passionate about her faith and family. Shari began her acting career as a lead in the Dove award winning music video, “Slow Fade,” by Casting Crowns. She also appeared in The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful.
Her feature films include Not Today which received seven awards including an IFFF Spirit Award and Best Justice Film; October Baby named one of the “Top 15 Impressive Box Office Performances of 2012” by CNN; and leading roles in Boonville Redemption (starring Diane Ladd, Ed Asner), Wildflower (starring Cody Longo
and Nathalia Ramos), The Least of These (starring Sharman Joshi
and Stephen Baldwin), Extraordinary (starring Karen Abercrombie, Leland Klassen
and Lindsley Register), and recently Overcomer (starring Alex Kendrick, Priscilla Shirer
and Cameron Arnett)
Shari co-wrote her biography, Beautifully Flawed, with Claire Yorita Lee, which was published in March 2015, was recently shot as a TV Pilot. Shari was the Executive Producer and co-director of the show, Dream Center, completing 20 episodes for the Daystar Network. She has directed and co-written several short films including Birdie's Song, nominated for 8 awards, The Church That Never Sleeps for Dream Center, Pursue The Passion devotional for the re-release of The Passion of The Christ, and Lassies for the Salvation Army.
Shari is the founder of “The Women In My World,” a women's group focusing on identity, purpose, ministry, serving others, mentoring, and living life in Hollywood. Shari’s greatest gift of all is her family. Shari and her husband Matt have been married for twenty years and have been blessed to raise two boys together.
Joe Battaglia
Executive Producer
Founder and president of Renaissance Communications, a media company whose current clients include Prison Fellowship, Dr. Steve Brown and the Key Lgife Radio Network, Affirm Films/Sony Pictures Entertainment, Provident Films, PureFlix Entertainment, actress Shari Rigby, and Jeanne Nigro Ministries.
Joe is an executive producer and General Manager of the nationally syndicated radio program “Keep the Faith,” the #1 faith-based music radio show in the country, heard nationally in over 300 markets and numerous countries overseas with a weekly audience of 2 million.
Renaissance has been involved in the promotion of successful hit movies to the faith-based marketplace, such as The Passion, The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, The Polar Express, Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Courageous, Soul Surfer, Son of God, God’s Not Dead, Heaven Is For Real, When the Game Stands Tall, Left Behind, Do You Believe, War Room, Risen, Miracles from Heaven, The Star, and I Can Only Imagine.
Joe is the author of A New Suit for Lazarus, published by Thomas Nelson; The Politically Incorrect Jesus: Living Boldly in a Culture of Unbelief; That’s My Dad! and Fathers Say, published by BroadStreet Publishing.
IMDb
Renaissance has been involved in the promotion of successful hit movies to the faith-based marketplace, such as The Passion, The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, The Polar Express, Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Courageous, Soul Surfer, Son of God, God’s Not Dead, Heaven Is For Real, When the Game Stands Tall, Left Behind, Do You Believe, War Room, Risen, Miracles from Heaven, The Star, and I Can Only Imagine.
Joe is the author of A New Suit for Lazarus, published by Thomas Nelson; The Politically Incorrect Jesus: Living Boldly in a Culture of Unbelief; That’s My Dad! and Fathers Say, published by BroadStreet Publishing.
M.T. Arnold
Producer / Writer / Story Consultant
M.T. Arnold (aka, Michael Arnold) is a multimedia veteran
who is passionate about his faith and family values. With over 30 years in Television Programing and Marketing
(ESPN/VH1/Time Warner) and Agency (TBSN) work, Michael has created and produced a number of award winning programs, including sports, educational and musical pieces
- ESPN2 LSB, 28 episodes - Forty Weeks of Thunder, 40 episodes - VHI Save the Music
Michael has also written and/or produced over 300 Client Television Commercials and is a 3x Telly Award Winner and former recipient of the ESPN Winner’s Circle Award for innovation marketing. In 1995, Michael created and produced the show “Cornerstone Sports” - a weekly program for FCA shown nationally on Pax TV. In 1999, Michael was instrumental in promoting VH1’s Save The Music program. In 2012, he wrote his autobiography, The Fire Catcher: A Declaration of Grace (Lifeway/Amazon/Ingram 2013).
In 2014, Michael wrote and produced the film ‘The Colors of Emily’ (COE - on iTunes, Amazon Prime). Shortly after, he wrote College Bound (2016) then Certificate of Completion (2017) - both are currently being shopped. Michael, an overcomer, is a Vietnam Special Forces Veteran, and single dad of three wonderful daughters and six beautiful grandchildren.
IMDb
In 2014, Michael wrote and produced the film ‘The Colors of Emily’ (COE - on iTunes, Amazon Prime). Shortly after, he wrote College Bound (2016) then Certificate of Completion (2017) - both are currently being shopped. Michael, an overcomer, is a Vietnam Special Forces Veteran, and single dad of three wonderful daughters and six beautiful grandchildren.
Claire Yorita Lee
Writer
A former recipient of the ABC/Disney Writing Fellowship and the FOX Diversity Writers’ Initiative,Claire has worked on a number of TV shows and pilots, including ABC's Thieves, FOX's Skin, and NBC’s Medium. She wrote and produced a pilot, My Life Disoriented, funded by an ITVS grant, which premiered on PBS’ Independent Lens. She wrote and produced a film, Engaged, which premiered at festivals and aired on television; and won a CAPE New Writers’ Award for her comedy pilot entitled, South Coast Shuffle. Claire wrote for two seasons on Discovery Family's Transformers: Rescue Bots, wrote an episode of Disney's Miles From Tomorrowland, and had a development deal with Sesame Workshop, the makers of Sesame Street.
Claire co-wrote the award-winning short film Birdie's Song, Lassies for the Salvation Army, and The Church That Never Sleeps for the Dream Center with Shari Rigby. Beautifully Flawed, which the two also co-wrote, was published in March of 2015 and they recently finished shooting the pilot version. Claire co-executive produced and wrote 20 episodes for the television series Dream Center, and together with Shari co-wrote the online devotional for the re-release of FOX's The Passion of the Christ. Claire currently is writing her second feature film script for Hallmark and a faith-based feature entitled, “Sophie’s Song.” Claire lives in LA with her husband and three children.
Suzanne Niles
Producer
Suzanne Niles began her career acting in film, television, and commercials, including shows Charlie’s Angels, Dukes of Hazzard, Fantasy Island, films Home of the Brave, Mozart and the Whale, Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling and commercials for Kellogg's and Carl’s Jr. to name a few. Suzanne worked in the music industry opening for acts such as Juice Newton, Charlie Daniels, and the Allman Brothers and shared the stage with country greats Marty Robbins and Ferlin Husky.
Suzanne co-authored the book “Fast Friends, the Amazing Power of Friendship, Fasting and Prayer.” Suzanne is known as a networker and connector and has garnered vast relationships in the faith-based entertainment community.
Suzanne is on the executive board of Courage for Life, a ministry founded by Ann White, serving at-risk women and prison inmates. She volunteers with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and worked as an executive board member for Franklin Graham’s 2002 crusade, overseeing communications and media.
Suzanne was a core member in the creation of The Salvation Army Vision Network producing several shows and a documentary. She is an Executive Producer on a children’s film and the romantic comedy Home Sweet Home that released in 2020.
Anna Redmon
Costume Designer
Anna has worked as the costume designer for many feature films – here are just a few:
WAR ROOM, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, OCTOBER BABY, WOODLAWN, INDIVISIBLE, MOM’S NIGHT OUT, UNPLANNED, OVERCOMER, EXTRAORIDINARY.
WAR ROOM, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, OCTOBER BABY, WOODLAWN, INDIVISIBLE, MOM’S NIGHT OUT, UNPLANNED, OVERCOMER, EXTRAORIDINARY.
Lukas Colombo
Director of Photography
Lukas Colombo is a multi-award winning bilingual Director of Photography hailing from Santiago, Chile. Getting his start over a decade ago filming music videos and commercials, Lukas is known for his strong narrative sensibility and unique ability to create authentic and visceral imagery which can be appreciated in his feature film and TV work. As a highly-respected visual storyteller, Lukas often speaks internationally at industry events and panels, such as NAB Show, about the importance of creative storytelling techniques and cinematography.
He is the founder of Kondor Blue, a camera accessories manufacturer, as well as Moai Films, a production company that has seen the successful completion of over 300 client projects. His excellence in the field has attracted collaborations and sponsorships from many industry giants such Dolby, Fuji Film, Blackmagic Design, Angenieux and Sigma among others. Lukas is a widely traveled individual with a strong passion for his craft and fervently committed to excellence, innovation, and integrity. He resides in the Greater Los Angeles Area with his loving wife and four beautiful kids.
Lukas is represented by ACA and Bauman Management.New Paragraph
Lukas is represented by ACA and Bauman Management.New Paragraph
Ryan Maglinger
Art Director & Multimedia Designer
Ryan has 20 years experience working in graphic design. During that time Ryan has worked as an architect, printer, teacher, marketing coordinator, facilities coordinator and has served as an ordained Baptist minister. Currently Ryan works as an architect in his local community, and runs rM Designs. Ryan lives in Indiana with his wife Christine, and their son Landon. They also have a daughter (Sadie), who resides with the Lord in heaven.
GALLERY
CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR UPDATES TO THE GALLERY
VIDEO TESTIMONIALS
Click on the Video that you would like to watch
Click here to listen to the audio that Sophie recorded at home of her performing Gravity (by Sara Bareilles), at her piano. She recorded this on her phone to send to Tom Dean (Castle H.S. Band Director), in preparation of their 2016 show.
PARTNERSHIPS
Bands of America
Necklace “Love is Louder” to help raise funds for non-profit
Devotional for Youth Groups, Worship Leaders, Band Members
Music Album - worship songs, band songs, etc.
There are more High School Marching Band and Band Choir Members than all High School Football Players combined. Band Members are very well supported with financial commitments from families and grants. This means the existing audience for this story is huge. After Sophie’s death, BOA set up a Sing for Sophie fundraiser. The national organization remains in support of Sophie’s legacy.
The Foundry Center for the Arts
A place where unique perspective is welcomed, nurtured and given the opportunity to flourish. Started by David Rinehart, and ran by Sara McAtee, (Sophie’s aunt), the Foundry has created a movement within a community of artists.
Accessory Products
Necklace “Love is Louder” to help raise funds for non-profit
Devotional for Youth Groups, Worship Leaders, Band Members
Music Album - worship songs, band songs, etc.
NEWS & MEDIA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xe-mO3oHEk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7IjPBK-2qI
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/bands-across-country-remember-sophie-rinehart
https://www.musicforall.org/ways-to-give/the-sophie-rinehart-fund
***In addition to the Sophie Rinehart Fund, the last link includes the BOA mission statement, history, board members, staff and much more about one of America’s best and largest organizations - this is a huge market for this film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7IjPBK-2qI
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/bands-across-country-remember-sophie-rinehart
https://www.musicforall.org/ways-to-give/the-sophie-rinehart-fund
***In addition to the Sophie Rinehart Fund, the last link includes the BOA mission statement, history, board members, staff and much more about one of America’s best and largest organizations - this is a huge market for this film.
DON'T MISS A THING
We promise to only send you the good stuff. No spam. Updates and info on the production.
If you are a serious actor, and/or musician/singer, please leave your IMDb page link, or a profile sheet, as we'd love to hear from you. Most of the roles are 16-21 males and females.
All inquiries will be answered personally or in blanket form.
Thank You,
If you are a serious actor, and/or musician/singer, please leave your IMDb page link, or a profile sheet, as we'd love to hear from you. Most of the roles are 16-21 males and females.
All inquiries will be answered personally or in blanket form.
Thank You,
Sophie's Song Movie Team
