In a candid conversation with AMFM Magazine’s Paul Salfen, veteran producer John Shepherd—whose 30-plus-year career spans independent filmmaking, studio executive roles, and award-winning features—unpacks the heart behind Sarah’s Oil, the new biographical drama hitting theaters November 7. Shepherd, an NAACP Image Award winner and former Senior VP of Original Content at DreamWorks/Imagine’s POP.com, has produced such beloved films as The Ultimate Gift, Snowmen (Tribeca Audience Award), and The Stoning of Soraya M. (NAACP Image Award). Most recently, he executive produced the critically acclaimed 2024 drama Memory starring Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard.
Now, with Sarah’s Oil—backed by Amazon MGM, Kingdom Story Company, and The Wonder Project—Shepherd brings to the screen the extraordinary true story of Sarah Rector, a young Black girl who became America’s first Black millionaire at age 11. Inspired by Tonya Bolden’s 2014 book Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America, the film captures two pivotal years in Sarah’s life, set against the turbulent backdrop of 1910 Oklahoma Indian Territory.
A Story We Need Right Now
“This is a story about somebody achieving the American dream, overcoming incredible odds,” Shepherd told Salfen, fresh from the film’s Kansas City premiere. “I thought I’d be telling a tale about building a fast-food franchise. Instead, my partner Cyrus Nowrasteh [The Young Messiah] said, ‘I’ve got a story about the first Black millionaire—and she was only 11.’”
What unfolds is more than a rags-to-riches narrative. “It’s about overcoming adversity, people coming together, having a little faith, some friends, and family,” Shepherd said. “In 1910, it was a time of division—not a happy time in our history. But Sarah lit a candle, and people got behind her. It became a bonfire.”
Writer Betsy Nowrasteh emphasizes Sarah’s childlike clarity: “She brings that child’s energy, that child’s hope, and that uncorrupted vision. She isn’t cynical. She just has a clarity adults lose.”
Magic on Set: Chemistry, Faith, and a 10-Year-Old Star
The film’s emotional core lies in the unlikely bond between Sarah (played by breakout star Nia Sioux Johnson, honored as a Rising Star at the Critics Choice Celebration of Black Cinema) and Bert (Zachary Levi), a con man turned unlikely ally. “When I saw them together, I knew we had something magic,” Shepherd recalled. “Nia was a true 10-year-old on set—she turned 11 during filming—and she gave it right back to Zach. She steals the movie and your heart.”
Sonequa Martin-Green (The Walking Dead) plays Sarah’s mother, Rose, alongside her real-life husband Kendrick Green as Sarah’s father. “Sonequa fought for Kendrick to play her husband,” Shepherd shared. “And the two of them together? There was something intangible. They provided the oil in this machine.”
Faith, Surrender, and the “Hail Mary” Moment
Shepherd’s own journey mirrors the film’s themes of resilience. When asked about his “Hail Mary” moment, he recounted a dark chapter: fired from a project, en route to shut down production, his plane suffered engine trouble. “I just wanted to see my family again,” he said. “In that moment, I felt in my spirit: Do you trust me? Three times. I resolved—this isn’t about hitting a gusher. It’s about faith, hope, and love.”
That surrender reshaped his career. After walking away from a Friday the 13th sequel, Shepherd attended seminary—only to land a role in a Billy Graham film. “God can use anybody,” he laughed. “Sometimes when you give up control, the dream lands on your shoulder.”
A Message of Purpose and Possibility
Shepherd hopes audiences leave Sarah’s Oil “covered in oil”—not literally, but anointed with purpose. “Oil represents achievement, fuel, light, and anointing for service,” he explained. “I want people to walk out thinking, I’m not taking no for an answer. I have a purpose. Sarah gave back, became a philanthropist. The sin isn’t being poor—it’s not using the gifts you’ve been given.”
What’s Next?
Shepherd is already developing In Search of Wonderful with The Wonder Project—an origin story of It’s a Wonderful Life, tracing how Frank Capra and James Stewart brought the classic to life. “I love true, heroic, timeless stories,” he said. “And usually, the lesson I need to learn by the end.”
See It Together
Sarah’s Oil is more than a film—it’s a communal experience. “There’s something special about seeing it with family, with a crowd,” Shepherd urged. “We need this message right now.”
In a divided world, Sarah’s Oil reminds us: dreams don’t die. They resurrect. And sometimes, all it takes is a child’s faith, a community’s courage, and a little oil beneath the surface.
Sarah’s Oil opens nationwide November 7. Bring your family. Bring your faith. Bring your hope.
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