Our latest interview features author, actress, screenwriter, producer, and director, SaTonya Ford. Ms. Ford’s soon to be released movie entitled “Pregnant By the Pastor”, is sure to ruffle a few feathers as it entertains, educates and tackles an important social ill plaguing our society. It is sure to be a solid hit.
Ms. Ford is a native of Crossett, Arkansas. Raised with the help of her great grandparents, Ms. Ford was reared in the church.
With a career background in legal and finance, Ms. Ford became a successful entrepreneur who worked her way up the corporate ladder. After winding down a career in the finance industry, she wrote her first book, “A Player In the Pulpit.” She also embarked upon a new career in ghostwriting, before beginning work on “Pregnant By the Pastor”.
Check out Ms. Ford at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1, 2011 on the Britdow Inspirational Radio Blog Talk Show. She’ll be discussing the movie premiere of “Pregnant By the Pastor” with show host, Brittney Dowdy.
We had the honor of catching up with Ms. Ford recently. Here’s what she had to say:
THE HEAT MAGAZINE: Tell us about yourself?
SATONYA FORD: I am an Author, Actress, Screenwriter, Director, and Movie Producer.
THE HEAT MAGAZINE: Tell us about your book, “A Player In the Pulpit.”
SATONYA FORD: “A Player In The Pulpit” is based on a true story. It is a true example of what happens when the leaders of the church bring the ways of the street into the church. I didn’t write the book to deter anyone’s faith in God. First, I must say that, but most women fall victim when they are in a vulnerable stage in life and it has become known that the leaders of the church target most women that are dealing with a personal crisis.
THE HEAT MAGAZINE: Tell us about the movie, “Pregnant By the Pastor.”
SATONYA FORD: The movie “Pregnant by the Pastor” will be Premiering in Little Rock, Arkansas at the Riverdale 10 Cinema on November 19, 2011. It is not a true story, but it is indeed someone’s story. It is a movie that has been told, that it is written on the level of Tyler Perry. It is a story that is going on in most churches in this era. People have accepted error in the house of the Lord, when in another time the elders and deacons would vote a pastor out of their position at the particular church and begin looking for someone that was more serious with teaching the word of God and living by example.
THE HEAT MAGAZINE: How did the movie come about?
SATONYA FORD: I went through the process of shopping my manuscript with publishing companies and after reading and experimenting, I decided to publish it myself. Then, going through the process, it was time for me to begin hiring models for the front cover and back cover. I wanted to have a front and back cover that would draw the audience because I knew that the title would indeed do that, so I scheduled a photo shoot and hired a couple of photographers. We were role playing and once the pictures came in, I laid them out across my desk and began reciting a storyline that the book didn’t have. Afterwards, I brought everyone together and added to the meeting a music producer, Thomas “Big Keys” Booth Jr. He has worked with Gerald LeVert, Johnny Gill and Keith Sweat. Through a friend in the film industry, I was referred to my cameraman, Roger Robinson. We all agreed that it was a great storyline and we went to work.
THE HEAT MAGAZINE: Who all is appearing in the movie?
SATONYA FORD: I have the luxury of saying that I took a Tyler Perry approach and utilized the people that were around me. I have been in corporate America for ten years in the mortgage business and before that, I worked in the field of law, so I utilized people that could utilize their own terminology of work in the movie and at the same time, market them inside the movie. I have never seen that approach, but I like to be creative and do things outside of the box and normally, it always works.
THE HEAT MAGAZINE: When is the Red Carpet event?
SATONYA FORD: The Red Carpet event is on November 19, 2011 at the Riverdale 10 Cinema in Little Rock, Arkansas. It begins at 7 p.m. and it will be filmed and televised. We also will have edited clippings inside of our website, www.boardwalktalk.net, where people may view the movie preview and video commercials.
THE HEAT MAGAZINE: What can we expect from the Red Carpet?
SATONYA FORD: The Red Carpet is allowing people to be interviewed by the host with questions and answers, wanting to know what the audience thinks about the movie, who’s their favorite character, what was their favorite scene in the movie, what did they like most about the movie, etc. and we are offering business owners to give us a briefing on who they are, the name of their business and where their business is located. We are expecting a great response. We already have people planning to come from Iowa, Atlanta, Arizona, Milwaukee, Louisiana, Texas, Philadelphia, and all parts of Arkansas, etc.
THE HEAT MAGAZINE: So what can we expect to see next from SaTonya Ford?
SATONYA FORD: I am Founder of Black Filmmakers of Arkansas and we are searching for talent to shape and mold in order to assist people of interest to get the career breaks that they need to build their portfolios and bios. We will be allowing all of our supporters to register on the day of the Movie Premiere, November 19th, for auditions for the next productions. You will see more movies, stage plays, soundtracks, books, etc. Currently, I am also doing some volunteer work with some very talented students at Little Rock Job Corps. We are working on a project that will help shape and polish their skills that will prepare them for the big scene.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Heat Magazine wishes Ms. Ford and her cast and crew the best in all of their endeavors. Hopefully, through entertainment, her productions will help to open the eyes of many, while thoroughly entertaining them.
