As we begin the Voices of SOUL ON FIRE series, it only makes sense to start with the man who’s been with this story from the very beginning: Sean McNamara.

Sean McNamara is the director behind beloved films like Soul Surfer, Spare Parts, The Miracle Season, Reagan, and many more. Known in Hollywood as an “actor’s director,” he’s celebrated not only for the powerful performances he brings to the screen, but also for the humility, kindness, and joy he brings behind the camera.

More than seven years ago, Sean first read the script that would become SOUL ON FIRE, and he never let it go. From the earliest drafts to its upcoming nationwide release, his vision, passion, and persistence have been at the heart of bringing this story to life.

Today, Sean shares about childhood in a big Irish family, how his parents challenged him to dream big and do mighty things, his journey from delivering scripts as a production assistant to directing box-office hits, and what it meant to shepherd SOUL ON FIRE from page to screen.

My friends, if you’ve ever wondered what it takes to hold onto a dream, to pursue it with persistence, and to create with both excellence and heart, this conversation is for you. You’ll walk away reminded that great stories aren’t just told on screen... they’re lived out by those who refuse to let them go.