NEW YORK, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Super 8, The Kissing Booth and Jesus Revolution actor Joel Courtney says he wants his new film Soul on Fire to remind young people to seek light outside themselves and never to give up hope.
"This generational despair that's happening right now? There's a choice," Courtney, 29, told UPI in a recent Zoom interview.
"What's the saying? Whatever you give attention to, whatever you water, that's what will grow," he said. "If you focus on negativity, if you really are self-inward, looking at yourself, talking about yourself, you have the inward dilemma of thinking about yourself. It's very depressing. Love comes from pouring yourself out."
Inspired by On Fire, the bestselling 2016 memoir by John O'Leary, the film was directed by Sean McNamara, whose credits include Kids Incorporated, Reagan and Soul Surfer.
It follows O'Leary's grueling recovery from a near-death accident that left him covered in burns as a 9-year-old boy.
