The movie is based on Tim Ballard’s life story of starting Operation Underground Railroad, an international organization dedicated to helping save children in sex slavery across the world.
The Sound of Freedom movie, which tells the true story of what child sex slavery is like in the modern world, launched a red carpet premiere in Washington, DC on June 20. One resounding message stood out from it all: God's children are not for sale.
The movie is based on Tim Ballard's life story of starting Operation Underground Railroad (OUR). OUR is an international organization dedicated to helping save children in sex slavery across the world. The Post Millennial spoke to Ballard on the red carpet at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC.
We asked what it meant to Ballard to see the movement against child sex-trafficking come this far. He responded, "We can rescue the one we can rescue the hundreds, even the thousands. But there's millions. How do you end this?"
OUR was named after the original Underground Railroad which helped enslaved black people in the US escape to the northern states in the 1800s. Ballard has said that OUR has even learned tactics by reading about the underground railroad to rescue children from sex slavery in the modern day.
He went on, explaining more of the connection to the liberation of enslaved people in America.
"A lesson from history. When Abraham Lincoln met Harriet Beecher Stowe - one of the great voices of the abolitionist movement of the 19th century - when he met her for the first time he said to her, 'So, you're the little lady that wrote the big book, that started this war?'" he continued.
"The storytellers are who end slavery... That's why I'm excited. This is the most important tool that I've ever seen to fight human trafficking, because it creates the movement," Ballard concluded.
Eduardo Verastegui, the producer of the film, also answered a few questions.
The Post Millennial asked about Eduardo's first interactions with Tim Ballard that he addressed in a recent social media post promoting Sound of Freedom. He responded, "When you meet a hero in real life, it's like when you watch a movie about heroes... they inspire you to do great things."
"When you meet a real hero, it's impossible not to imitate him," Verastegui said, referring to Ballard. Once Eduardo learned the details of the child sex trafficking industry, he said that he could not ignore it and had to act.
"Well, I'm a film maker, I have a weapon of mass destruction and inspiration. Movies can move people. They have the potential to raise awareness and change how people think. They have the potential to detonate a movement," he continued.
"What if this is my daughter?" Verastegui added as what his main motivation was while making the film.
Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in the Passion of Christ, plays the role of Tim Ballard in the Sound of Freedom.
Prior to the showing of the film, a panel was held with Ballard, Caviezel, and Verastegui.
During the panel when answering questions, he paused and made a statement that brought resounding applause from the audience, "I don't care about my career, I don't even care about my life. I care about God's Children, and they are not for sale."
The Sound of Freedom is set to release nationwide on July 4 in theatres.
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