Local premiere of ‘Victory by Submission’ is Saturday

Actor/director Alan Autry’s film, “Victory by Submission,” will have its local premiere in Ringgold, Georgia, to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Catoosa County, Boynton Lions Club of Ringgold and the Share America Foundation, Inc.

The movie will be shown Saturday, Sept. 15, at 5 p.m. in Ringgold High School’s auditorium, 29 Tiger Trail.

“We are extremely excited to partner with producers to help provide funds for our next Habitat house,” says Penny Mahon, Habitat for Humanity of Catoosa County executive director.

“Partnership is the key to this event, all of us working together to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. For the Lions, we will be able to help Catoosans see better,” says president Tom Rector.

Autry is known for his role as Bubba Skinner on TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” and most recently, on “Hart of Dixie.”

Autry’s former co-star on “In the Heat of the Night,” Randall Franks, who played Officer Randy Goode, will emcee the film premiere. He is president of the Share America Foundation.

“The event will help Share America encourage youth in Appalachian music through scholarships,” Franks says.

Autry says the film is about love, mercy, redemption and restoration of relationships. He says it touches on life struggles from PTSD to alcoholism.

“There is pain and brokenness in this story, but ultimately it’s the story of triumph through faith,” Autry says. “It’s about a young f ighter who has a burning desire to be a champion but before he can become a true champion — God’s champion — he has to defeat the toughest opponent of his life, which is himself. I can relate to that and I know a lot of other folks can, too.”

Brett Prieto is cast in the role of the aspiring fighter. Autry plays his estranged father.

“Blood, sweat and tears went into this thing,” Prieto said.

Rounding out the allstar cast are legendary actors Lee Majors, Fred Williamson and Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts.

“The world today is in a bad place,” Majors said in a news release. “There is a lot of darkness out there and a lot of hate. These kinds of pictures need to get out, especially one like this. It involves a sport that a lot of people like and yet to see a faithbased movie set in that genre is really good. If you are longing for something in life, check it out.”

Though the story fol- lows family relationships between father and son, brothers, a love story between a husband and wife, Autry says it’s the backdrop that is unusual.

“It is based in t he world of mixed martial arts, a metaphor for the dark, violent, seductive world that we live in. There is a term in that world where you get an opponent in a leg hold or an arm bar and they tap out,” he said. “Basically, they give up. Therefore, they win a victory by submission. However, we know as Christians, that has a whole different meaning when we submit ourselves to God’s will.

Tickets are $ 10. They may be purchased in advance at Catoosa Habitat ( Community Bank), 4914 Battlefield Parkway in Ringgold. No concessions will be available at the event.

For more information: 706- 861-5858.

“[This film is] about a young fighter who has a burning desire to be a champion but before he can become a true champion — God’s champion — he has to defeat the toughest opponent of his life, which is himself. ” ALAN AUTRY, ACTOR/ DIRECTOR

VBS PHOTO Eric Roberts, standing at podium, is among stars in “Victory by Submission,” which will be shown Saturday as a fundraiser for three North Georgia nonprofits.