Local residents Jason and Shannon Atkins, through their production company Harbinger Media Partners, have produced the movie “Unconditional,”  which is now playing at the Carmike Highland 12 theater in Cookeville.
The movie is based on the true story of a woman whose husband has been senselessly murdered, and the childhood friend who helped her find reasons to persevere.
Samantha Crawford is living a storybook life: she’s happily married, she lives on a ranch where she keeps her beloved horse, and the stories she’s told and illustrated since childhood have become published books.
When her husband Billy is killed in a senseless act of violence, Sam loses her faith and her will to live. But a death-defying encounter with two children leads to a reunion with Joe, her oldest friend.
As Sam watches “Papa” Joe care for and love the kids in his under-resourced neighborhood, she begins to realize that no matter life’s circumstances, the love of God is always reaching out to us.
The movie, which opened in theaters Sept. 21, is the first feature film from Harbinger Media Partners, which creates and produces high-quality theatrical films to inspire moviegoers to pursue God and serve others.
Shannon and Jason Atkins founded Harbinger Media Partners in Nashville in 2009 to produce inspirational films.
It is a second career for both of them — she majored in biology and taught after graduate school; he studied accounting and finance.
Prior to founding Harbinger Media Partners, Jason served as general partner and portfolio manager of a hedge fund, managing resources for prestigious groups.
He made his mark as an investor who identified coming waves of change.
His visionary skills led to the establishment of a foundation that impacts humanitarian organizations across continents.
Recognizing the influence of art on the ideals and pursuits of man, Jason founded The Doorpost Film Project in 2007.
This passion would lead the couple to close their investment fund and form Harbinger Media Partners.
The couple owns a local farm where some of the movie was shot, and they attend Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Smithville.
Shannon Atkins told the Review that the film is an inspirational drama which tells the tale of two childhood friends who find each other after many years and many trials.
“It is inspired by the true story of a man named Joe Bradford, who operates an organization called Elijah’s Heart in Nashville,” Atkins said. “It is a non-profit organization which helps inner-city children. He was born into poverty and had a series of unfortunate events befall him which changed the course of his life. He was about to acquire his degree and take a job with IBM when he hacked into a bank’s computer system on a dare, and he got caught.
“After his release from prison he was reacquainted with a childhood friend who is trying to find her husband’s murderer,” she continued. “It is a drama with something of a thriller aspect.”
Atkins said that she and her husband have been made to feel welcome in DeKalb County from the time they arrived nearly two years ago.
“Were grateful to have moved to such a warm community,” she said. “We moved here just a few days before we started the project, and the people have embraced us and made us feel at home. We have felt very welcome, and everyone has been very helpful. We have been in the community for about two years now, and we love it here.