After audiences experienced the Sarah’s Oil movie, one question kept echoing: what does legacy look like when faith is the lens? Producer Derrick Williams sat down with ELEV8 Magazine to talk about the conviction behind the film, the responsibility of representation, and the sacred discipline of telling our stories well.
“This film reclaims the untold truth of Sarah Rector with power and grace.” — Dr. Naé Thompson, ELEV8 MAGAZINE Founder & EIC
Sarah’s Oil movie & the moment it became mission
Dr. Naé Thompson: At what point did you realize this was more than a movie — that it was a mission?
Derrick Williams: Immediately. When I read the script, I was embarrassed I didn’t know her story. As a filmmaker and a person of color, I feel a duty to tell as many of these stories as possible. When you can mix faith and history in a way that speaks to multiple generations, I’m all in. The script lent itself to that — and I have a seven-year-old daughter, a wife, four sisters, and a strong mom. This story had to be told.
Sarah’s Oil movie reveals faith as heritage
Faith wasn’t added to the story — it was its foundation. Williams frames Sarah’s journey as a portrait of spiritual inheritance: belief handed down until it builds something new.
Sarah’s Oil movie and avoiding the trauma trap
Dr. Naé Thompson: So many films center on pain and survival. You chose faith and clarity. How did you guarantee Sarah was defined by vision rather than victimhood?
Derrick Williams: That’s a great question. I grew up with strong women — my mom was an entrepreneur. My wife and I own our business. It’s crucial to show hope and excellence in our community, not just gloom. We see many films about our history, and they matter, but I wanted to show accomplishment despite limitations. What you see is not how it has to end. With God’s help, you can have a happy ending.
Sarah’s Oil movie honors triumph without denying truth
Williams insists on balance — truth without trauma. It’s the difference between recounting suffering and reclaiming strength.
“It’s our responsibility to show the accomplishments of our community even when it looked impossible,” he says.
Sarah’s Oil movie – hope and history through a faith-based lens
Telling a spiritual story without stereotypes — Sarah’s Oil movie
Dr. Naé Thompson: The film speaks quietly but powerfully about faith — the kind passed through community, not just churches. How did you avoid spiritual stereotypes?
Derrick Williams: Authenticity. I’m a believer, but I don’t like when faith feels forced. We wanted it to be real — something people could recognize in their own families and neighborhoods. When faith is done honestly, it touches everyone.
Sarah’s Oil movie lets faith speak through character
That choice gave the film its texture — holiness woven into the human. Williams and his team let the sacred emerge naturally, allowing characters to breathe faith rather than perform it. The result is a story that feels less like a sermon and more like a mirror.
Derrick Williams on authentic faith and film — Sarah’s Oil movie
The work that outlives us — Sarah’s Oil movie
Dr. Naé Thompson: You called filmmaking an act of stewardship in our conversation. Has that conviction deepened since the film’s success?
Derrick Williams: Absolutely. I believe in doing good because good comes back to you. Seeing families leave the theater talking about faith and entrepreneurship — that’s the return on investment.
Sarah’s Oil movie is a blueprint for legacy
From craft to calling, Williams sees his work as a continuation of the principle the film teaches: seed, steward, sustain. And it shows.
Author’s Reflection
Derrick Williams reminds us that film can still minister without preaching. He builds legacy like Sarah Rector did. He does this through obedience and work. His unyielding belief ensures that purpose pays dividends beyond the screen. Faith was the story, but integrity was the method. And both stay his signature.
When you can mix faith and history in a way that reaches generations, I’m all in.” — Derrick Williams
How to keep the message of the Sarah’s Oil movie alive
- Host Legacy Talks.
Pair screenings with community discussions about faith and financial stewardship.
- Teach the History.
Include Sarah Rector in Black History Month curricula and church leadership programs.
- Share Authentic
Post quotes from this conversation using #SarahOilMovie and tag @ELEV8Magazine
- Support Faith Filmmakers.
Follow Kingdom Story Company and Amazon MGM Studios for updates.
- Keep Stewardship Central.
Ask yourself the same question Williams posed: What’s the oil in your life?
Sarah’s Oil movie FAQ’s
Sarah’s Oil is a faith-based film telling the true story of Sarah Rector, a Black girl in early 1900s Oklahoma who inherited 160 acres, believed it held oil, and went on to become one of America’s first African-American female millionaires — all while trusting God and resisting injustice. RNS+2JubileeCast+2
Williams says the story became a mission the moment he read the script — he was embarrassed he didn’t know Sarah’s story. As a filmmaker and person of color with a daughter and strong women in his life, he felt a duty to tell stories that mix faith, history and span generations.
Faith in this film isn’t tacked on; it is the foundation. Williams emphasizes that characters live in faith rather than perform it, and the story shows spiritual inheritance and belief as the bedrock of legacy, not just survival.
No — while it doesn’t shy away from racism, legal struggles, and peril, the film intentionally focuses on vision, accomplishment, and hope. Williams wanted Sarah defined by what she seized, not what was done to her.
The film invites viewers to see legacy as stewardship: to “seed, steward, sustain” their gifts and convictions. It challenges audiences (especially young girls and communities often overlooked) to recognize possibility, trust God, and not let limitations define their end.
Editor-in-Chief @ ELEV8 Magazine | Pastor | PR Expert | Founder of NTPR AgencyA dynamic voice in faith, media, and PR, Dr. Enaysha leads ELEV8 Magazine with a passion for Christ, culture, and community. As a pastor and seasoned PR strategist, she champions stories that inspire and empower believers worldwide.
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