‘Conceivable’ Director Beth Caulfield Wants Churches Talking About Unplanned Pregnancy
Beth Caulfield hopes her new faith-forward film, “Conceivable,” will encourage churches and pastors to have difficult conversations surrounding unplanned pregnancy.
Inspired by Caulfield’s own experience, “Conceivable” follows Brielle Burns, played by Jana Lee Hamblin (“The West Wing’), a minister, wife, and mother of nearly grown children whose plans unexpectedly change when she discovers she is pregnant at 45.
The film, which also stars Eddie McClintock (“The Sweetest Thing”) and Dean Cain (“Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” “God’s Not Dead”), opens in theaters Oct. 16.
During an interview with ChurchLeaders, Caulfield, who wrote, directed, and produced the film, recalled the shock she experienced when she discovered she was pregnant in her 40s.
“It was complete shock and you know it was like this: Did I mess up? Did I do something wrong here? This wasn’t my plan,” Caulfield said.
At the time, Caulfield was attending seminary and believed she knew where God was leading her. She had received a full scholarship and was finishing her first year when the pregnancy dramatically changed her plans.
“I just thought I knew exactly where I was heading and I was following God. And then this huge shift really was a shock,” she said.
Caulfield said the different advice she received from well-meaning Christians became an important part of the story she wanted to tell.
“The movie really wants to open up that conversation,” Caulfield said. “And that’s my goal. I want people talking about this.”
Caulfield believes pastors can find it difficult to address unplanned pregnancy because the subject has become so culturally charged. However, avoiding the conversation can leave women and families unsure where to turn.
“I really felt that the ministry of the movie is, ‘Let’s just bring this conversation right up front,’” she said.
Making the film was deeply personal for Caulfield. Her daughter, the child from the pregnancy that inspired the story, appears in the film.
Caulfield encouraged those facing an unexpected pregnancy to seek God and find informed, nonjudgmental support.
“The first thing that I would say is that you know God is with you and seek God and he will make your path straight,” Caulfield said.
“And I do believe that there is blessing in this process,” she added. “And I can tell you that I have a beautiful daughter through all of this.”
“Conceivable” opens in theaters Oct. 16.
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