Samantha Crawford (Lynn Collins), an acclaimed storybook artist, seemingly had it all until losing the love she cherished most. Now fighting despair, she is obsessed with tracking down the murderer of her husband. With no leads and no hope, Sam prepares to take her life until providence intervenes and she is reunited with her childhood friend, Joe Bradford (Michael Ealy).
Dying of kidney disease, Joe spends his last days serving fatherless children in an under resourced community. Observing Papa Joe's tireless love for "his kids", Sam begins to find new purpose until she comes face to face with her heart’s desire. The innocence and hope of a child competes with the lure of revenge in an effort to show Sam… Even in life's darkest of circumstances, Love is above all.
Unconditional was developed and produced by Harbinger Media Partners LLC, based in Nashville, Tennessee. The company was founded in 2009, to produce high quality entertainment that demonstrates the gospel, inspiring audiences to pursue God and serve others.
The film’s intent is not merely to entertain, but also to raise awareness of people (like "Papa Joe") and organizations committed to making a difference to those in desperate need. Cinematic storytelling is among today's most endemic and potent means of spreading ideas. As such, the producers hope Unconditional will encourage viewers to make a difference in their own community. (Go to the ACT page to see how you can get involved in your area)
Born and raised in Texas, Lynn attended the Juilliard School and has had experience on both stage and screen in Shakespearean roles. Her film credits include X-Men Origins: Wolverine, 50 First Dates, The Lake House, The Number 23, Bug and The Merchant of Venice.
This summer, Lynn can be seen as the female lead in the Walt Disney film John Carter, directed by Pixar's Andrew Stanton. She resides in Los Angeles and is married to actor Steven Strait.
Cedric Pendleton
(Anthony Jones)
Having performed in such features as Runaway Jury, Summer Catch, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, and Madea's Family Reunion, Cedric landed a recurring role on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne. Additional guest roles include CSI:NY, NYPD Blue, The Shield, One Tree Hill, True Blood and Dawson’s Creek, among others. In the years leading to his acting success, he served as a Resident Drama Instructor for Young Audiences, Inc., which operated in low-income housing developments in metro Atlanta, and as Artistic Director for the SIMBA Program, an initiative that uses the arts as a therapeutic means of rehabilitation in the Juvenile Justice System.
Gabriella Phillips
(Keisha)
Discovered during an open casting call, seven-year-old Gabriella Phillips was chosen among hundreds of kids to play a pivotal part in Unconditional. Despite it being her first acting role, she performed like a seasoned professional. Gabriella is a native of Nashville, Tennessee where the movie was filmed.
Diego Klattenhoff
(Billy Crawford)
Diego is no stranger to the screen, having scored his first big break in 2004’s Mean Girls. He has since appeared in numerous films (such as Lucky Number Slevin and Cube Zero); TV movies, and series including Stargate SG-1, Psych, ER, Smallville, as well as recurring roles in Men in Trees and 24. He is presently a cast regular in Showtime’s Homeland.
In addition to Unconditional, you'll see Diego in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises in 2012.
Bruce McGill
(Detective Miller)
Veteran character actor and familiar face on the big screen, Bruce’s feature films include Animal House, The Last Boy Scout, My Cousin Vinny, Cliffhanger, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Ali, Legally Blonde 2, Runaway Jury, Collateral, Cinderella Man, Vantage Point and the upcoming Steven Spielberg film Lincoln.
His numerous television guest appearances include Quantum Leap, Walker Texas Ranger, CSI, Miami Vice, The Practice, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Star Trek: Voyager, Babylon 5, and MacGyver. He is currently a regular cast member of the TNT original series Rizzoli & Isles.
Kwesi Boakye
(Macon)
Kwesi is an up-and-coming young actor whose most notable role-to-date was "Manny" in Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself. You may have also seen Kwesi on TNT’s Men of a Certain Age or CBS’s Hawaii Five-O where he guest starred alongside P. Diddy. He also serves as voice for the character of "Darwin" on The Amazing World of Gumball and "Gossamer" on The Looney Tunes Show. Kwesi lives with his family in Los Angeles, California.
Michael Ealy
(”Papa Joe” Bradford)
Michael gained huge notoriety for his role as "Ricky Nash" in 2002’s Barbershop and its sequel, yet he’s gone on to do so much more. His feature films include Seven Pounds, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Never Die Alone, For Colored Girls, Miracle at St. Anna, Takers and Underworld: Awakening. In 2007, he received a Golden Globe Award Nomination for his role in the hit Showtime series Sleeper Cell. Audiences may recognize him from such television shows as ABC’s Flashforward or CBS’s The Good Wife.
You’ve seen Michael and you know his talent, but you haven’t seen him in a role like this.
Jason Atkins
(Producer)
Before Unconditional, Jason served as General Partner and Portfolio Manager of a hedge fund managing resources for some of the most prestigious groups in the nation. He made his mark as an investor who can identify coming waves of change. This vision led he and his wife Shannon to establish a foundation that has positively impacted humanitarian organizations on multiple continents. Recognizing that art influences the ideals and pursuits of man, Jason founded The Doorpost Film Project in 2007. This passion to give hope to the world led Jason to close the investment fund and start Harbinger Media Partners LLC in 2009 with Unconditional serving as its first production.
J. Wesley Legg
(Producer)
Wesley, an attorney, started his career as a prosecutor for the United States Navy. After his service in the Navy, Wesley worked as a senior investment analyst for Ergon Capital from 2004 to 2009. Eager to use his talents to encourage and inspire others, Wesley co-founded Harbinger Media Partners in 2009, intent on producing entertainment true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable. Wesley resides in Franklin, TN with his wife Amy and their four children Max, Ava, Sam and John Wesley.
Brent McCorkle
(Writer/Director)
Unconditional is Brent’s feature film directorial debut, but he is no stranger to filmmaking. Brent has written, directed, scored and produced numerous award-winning short films. A father of five, many of Brent's films address the plight of abandoned or suffering children. His most recent film, The Rift, a metaphoric story about adoption, was one of the winners in The Doorpost Film Project 2009. Brent’s creativity, heart for children, and love of redemptive storytelling made him an ideal choice to write and direct Unconditional.
Darren Moorman
(Co-Producer)
Darren has produced more than a dozen feature length films and documentaries. He has worked for industry leaders such as MGM and DirectTV, and served as consultant for dozens of companies, including Lionsgate and Windancer, as well as for independent production companies, churches and non-profit organizations. Darren was mentored by the acclaimed Producer Howard Kazanjian, and has worked with top actors such as Denzel Washington, Danny Devito, John Goodman, Julia Stiles, and David Strathairn. Darren currently lives in Chattanooga, TN with his wife and two children.
Joe Bradford
(Co-Producer)
Unconditional was inspired by true events in the life of “Papa Joe” Bradford. As a child, Joe was no stranger to adversity; growing up without a father, living in poverty and one of a few black students at an all-white school. After serving a sentence at a maximum security prison for hacking into a bank, Joe was diagnosed with severe kidney disease, rendering him permanently disabled. Unable to make a living, he moved to the projects. There, the fatherless and oppressed children in the neighborhood won his heart. Today, “Papa Joe” leads a diverse team of volunteers, carrying aid and the message of hope to inner city children and families.
John Gray
(Co-Producer)
John is an accomplished inspirational speaker, preacher, comedian, actor and recording artist, having entertained and ministered on three continents to millions of people. Having started his career as member of the Grammy Award winning gospel group Kirk Franklin and “The Family,” John has continued to use his creative talents to inspire audiences and deliver a message of hope. As a creative and senior executive at Harbinger Media Partners, He was instrumental in helping the Unconditional story take shape. John lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife, Aventer.
ACT is an interactive site created to connect you with
organizations helping under-resourced neighborhoods
and at-risk children in your community!
If you're a non-profit organization interested in partnering
with Unconditional, click here for more information.
