SPRING GROVE – After flying in from Los Angeles on Nov. 13, actor Stephen Baldwin made his way to Spring Grove Bible Fellowship Church for a screening of his latest movie, “Loving the Bad Man.”
Holding a showing in a small country church in a town far outside Chicago was a natural fit, he said.
The music for “Loving the Bad Man” was written by Spring Grove native Brooke Barrettsmith, a friend of Baldwin’s whose dad is pastor of the church.
“It’s such an awesome blessing to be here today,” said Baldwin, who starred in the film as a prisoner. “This is my favorite kind of gathering.”
The movie tells the story of a young woman, played by Christine Kelly, who is raped, becomes pregnant, keeps the child, and forgives her rapist.
The film, which brought tears to many in the packed church, realistically portrays life in prison for the rapist, played by Arturo Fernandez. It depicts life for the victim after she decides to keep her rapist’s baby and helps her assailant find peace with God.
After the movie, a panel talked about the nature of the film.
“I think it’s OK to be a bit more gritty and hardcore in how you portray the message,’’ said Baldwin, saying he became a born again Christian nine years ago. “It really, truly demonstrates obviously forgiveness, but also judgment. There really, really, really are people out there who are hurting.”
The film was created through Baldwin’s Xtreme Media Company – a Christian media group.
A childhood friend of Baldwin’s, Thomas Conigliaro, a managing director with Goldman Sachs in New York, produced the film.
“We really wanted to make something that was authentic, that was realistic,” Conigliaro said. “It’s about faith and redemption at its most extreme circumstances. It really will touch people.”
It was Barrettsmith’s first time seeing the movie. While she knew her song “Father” was in the film, she was surprised to hear another one of her songs, “Paper Tigers.”
“It’s an honor,” the 28-year-old Barrettsmith said. “I’m a little bit humbled that they would pick my music for such an intense film.”
Barrettsmith, who is now creating a CD with her newly-formed band Vialyne, became friends with Baldwin while doing charity work.
“Stephen was a fan right away when he met me – he loved my CD,” said Barrettsmith, a Winthrop Harbor resident. “He bought a whole box.”
Barrettsmith gives the powerful message of forgiveness through her music in the film, she said.
“I feel like it’s a relatable message to all of us in this room,” she said.
“Loving the Bad Man” will be released in 2011.