THE CHOSEN Actress’ Latest Movie Arrives on GAF — You Won’t Want to Miss It
By Movieguide® Contributor
As DIVINE INFLUENCER prepares to debut on Great American Family, the movie’s cast and crew are reminiscing about what it was like to work on the project.
On an episode of “The Women in My World” podcast, star Lara Silva (THE CHOSEN) shared, “Before I audition…I just always pray that God uses me and [that] who I am and what I am is enough. I just remember God was so clear; He was like, ‘Who you are is enough,’ so that was just the confidence that I needed to bring Olivia to life.”
Silva played Olivia Golden, “a wealthy 20-something influencer [who] loses financial support from her parents and takes a job at a homeless shelter for the wrong reasons. However, she soon discovers the true meaning of influence,” per IMDb.
The actress spoke about how important it was for her to work on a movie with important themes, saying, “It’s just about how can we send a message that will touch the heart and hopefully change hearts and actually really, truly learn what it means to influence and to serve others.”
Princess Elmore, who played Chef Zara, was equally excited about taking on the project, saying, “It was amazing. I thought it was a true blessing.”
“Just to be able to portray Zara was such a blessing to me because she was just a person that was always trying to make people feel better, and the way that she did that was using the gift that God had given her to spread to others,” she continued.
Claire Yorita Lee, who served as a writer and producer on DIVINE INFLUENCER, discussed the collaborative nature of the movie.
“Every actor that comes in — I think every layer, it’s really like the body of Christ,” she explained. “Every layer, everyone brings their gifts and as you layer each person, each actor, each director…each piece really makes it something even better.”
In an interview with Crosswalk, DIVINE INFLUENCER’s director, Shari Rigby, talked about the message the movie has for younger viewers.
“How can we use social media to do things better? How can we actually show the fruits of the Spirit through social media? First, by loving God. Second, by loving others,” she shared. “It’s not that [Olivia] loses her influence. It’s not that she puts it all away. She actually realizes after being influenced by others that she can do it better. And that’s what we hope people walk away and take from.”
Rigby continued, “This movie is for everyone. So, everyone that watches this movie: Influence better, do it in your community and love others, like you want to be loved and treated. That’s the overall message.”
DIVINE INFLUENCER will premiere on Great American Family Aug. 31 at 8/7c.
DIVINE INFLUENCER won Movieguide®’s Epiphany Prize® for Most Inspiring TV or Streaming Movie or Program at this year’s Movieguide® Awards.
A portion of the Movieguide® review reads:
DIVINE INFLUENCER is a heartwarming, uplifting movie about a spoiled, selfish woman finding Jesus and learning to help others. As Olivia, the woman in question, Lara Silva does a fine job showing the growth in her character. After all, it’s hard to love a character who’s selfish and spoiled. DIVINE INFLUENCER tells a story meant for older adolescents and families, but it’s a wholesome movie that offers a good way to introduce children to the idea of helping people less fortunate than themselves.
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