Catching up with Paula Patton is all the time a pleasure — and similar to the primary time I met her years in the past, her power continues to be as radiant and infectious as ever. However this time, our dialog took a deeper flip as we mentioned her highly effective new function in a faith-based movie that takes a uncooked have a look at adversity, therapeutic and non secular redemption.
“Discovering Religion” is an inspirational thriller from writer-director LazRael Lison that blends coronary heart, hope and suspense. Led by Paula Patton, the movie options an all-star forged together with Keith David, Loretta Devine, Stephen Bishop, Nadine Velazquez and Demetrius Grosse. With highly effective performances and a shifting message, Discovering Religion delivers a well timed reminder of resilience, therapeutic and the ability of perception.
Paula mirrored on her private journey and the way it paralleled the struggles of her character. “I didn’t undergo precisely what Religion did,” she defined, “however I’ve recognized ache. I’ve numbed it with alcohol. And after I stopped consuming seven years in the past, I started a complete new stroll. I needed to strip away every part — the profession, the buddies, the ego — and really perceive my value exterior of all that.”
It’s clear this venture tapped into one thing actual. “This movie was cathartic,” she stated. “There have been moments the place I needed to revisit elements of myself that I believed I left behind. However doing that introduced me therapeutic.”
We additionally touched on an essential dialog within the leisure world proper now — psychological well being assets for actors. I requested Paula how she felt about productions bringing in therapists on set, and he or she didn’t hesitate. “Completely. Once you’re embodying a job for 15 hours a day, it’s not simply appearing — it turns into power that lives with you. Any help that helps actors preserve their psychological and emotional steadiness is crucial.”
Past the character work, Paula hopes the film may have an enduring influence on viewers, particularly these navigating ache, guilt or non secular disconnection. “It exhibits there’s a means by way of,” she stated. “That God is all the time ready. And that prayer, religion and style can carry you to the opposite aspect.”
She additionally gave a heat shout-out to her co-stars, together with Demetrius Grosse and Stephen Bishop. “Demetrius is simply superb — so robust, so grounded, and nonetheless mild. He acts from the intestine. Our chemistry was unimaginable. And Stephen, nicely, audiences will simply have to attend and see how his function unfolds,” she teased.
The ensemble forged additionally consists of Naim Velasquez, Loretta Devine and Keith David — names that assure highly effective performances and emotional depth.
With this function, we see a special aspect of Paula — not simply the bubbly main woman, however a lady prepared to dive into deep emotional territory and convey others together with her on a journey of hope. And sure, you’ll nonetheless get that signature Paula glow, however this time, it’s shining from inside.
Catch the restricted theatrical launch of Discovering Religion in theaters June 16 and 17 solely. Let’s present up and present out — as a result of with the best turnout, who is aware of? This may simply be prolonged. And truthfully, we’d like extra movies like this on the large display.