Middleburg-Based Producer Champions “Soul on Fire” Film 

Written by Laticia Headings

When Linda Huntington started reading the memoir “On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life” in 2016, she had no idea how profoundly it would change her own life — or that she would go on to champion the story’s feature film, which would overcome numerous challenges including a global pandemic, 148-day writers’ strike, and raging Los Angeles wildfires.

The book chronicles the life of John O’Leary, who at just 9 years old survived a harrowing accident that left him with severe burns covering his entire body. Given only a 1% chance of survival, O’Leary defied the odds with the help of a team of devoted caretakers and chose to turn his tragedy into a life of positivity and purpose. 

“The whole story was steeped in miracles, bravery, and friendship,” Huntington says. “At 60 years old, it sparked several epiphanies for me, one being that people move through life sometimes unaware of the extraordinary impact they have on others. What often feels ordinary can leave an indelible mark on someone’s life.” 

In 2017, Huntington met O’Leary when he spoke in front of her company’s leadership team. Their enthusiastic response sparked the idea to invite him to headline the company’s 20,000-person global convention. 

Huntington approached O’Leary about acquiring the rights to his book. She recalls his initial reaction as modest, questioning why anyone would be interested, but that he ultimately replied, “I haven’t found the right people yet.” 

After securing the rights, Huntington assembled a small team of three other producers and raised seed money for a screenwriter who would be able to capture the right faith-adjacent tone of the story. Gregory Poirier (“National Treasure: Book of Secrets”) joined the team and delivered a script in less than six months. 

“The whole story was steeped in miracles, bravery, and friendship.” –Huntington

When the pandemic brought the world to a halt in 2020, the team realized that if the film was ever going to be made, they would have to self-fund. Determined to see it through, Huntington raised more capital and began the search for a director. 

Veteran director Sean McNamara (“Soul Surfer,” “Reagan”) deeply connected with the story and signed on in 2021. Huntington explains, “We chose carefully. Sean was incredible. When you have a director who actors love to work with, it’s magic.” 

Just as momentum was building, production faced another hurdle. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike from May to September 2023, forcing productions associated with major film studios to shut down. Independent films like “Soul on Fire” were able to apply for a waiver from the WGA and Screen Actors Guild to continue. After a lengthy process, the film secured an “interim agreement” to begin filming in St. Louis, Missouri, O’Leary’s hometown. 

Cameras finally rolled in November 2023, and over five weeks of filming, Huntington watched her movie come to life. With A-listers John Corbett (“Sex and the City,” “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) and William H. Macy (“Shameless,” “Fargo”) leading the cast, she describes the experience as “unbelievable and remarkable.”

“The cast was an absolute joy. There were no egos; everyone brought a generosity and authenticity to the project,” says the executive producer. “There were so many brilliant moments on set, from John and Bill strumming ukuleles together between takes to filming at Busch Stadium with legendary Cardinal baseball player Ozzie Smith in attendance and watching our investors light up with childlike excitement.” 

A year later, Sony Pictures’ Affirm Films made an offer and determined the film’s title, “Soul on Fire.” 

The youngest of three children, Huntington grew up in New Rochelle, New York. After a stint as a headhunter in NYC, she moved to Los Angeles in 1978 and reconnected with a friend who worked in music. “I got bit by the Hollywood bug and wanted to do something in entertainment. I would go to his office every day and hang out there until they hired me,” Huntington remembers. “It was a total fluke and the greatest thing that ever happened, because it was a perfect career for me.”

Eager to learn and willing to do anything it took, the 21-year-old discovered her passion. She developed a keen ear for unique songs and had an aptitude for identifying emerging talent. In 1979 Huntington joined the flourishing Arista Records, and spent the next five years gaining more traction. “I earned a reputation for being able to pick hits that weren’t necessarily the norm and matching them to artists,” she says. Two years later, she met then-unknown songwriter Diane Warren, just as she was beginning her prolific, four-decade career.

“Linda is amazing, she’s smart, she’s funny,” says Warren, now a Grammy, Emmy, and Honorary Academy Award winner with 16 Best Song nominations. At the time, “I was a nobody,” she says, but with Huntington’s help, her song “Rhythm of the Night” climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the chart for 23 weeks. “That was my first major hit song as a songwriter and she’s the one who made it happen,” Warren affirms. “When she believes, she just goes for it. That opened giant doors for me and I’m eternally grateful.” 

Huntington also represented some of the era’s most influential songwriters, from Eddie Money and Tina Turner to Cheap Trick and Marilyn Manson. In 1988, Huntington and longtime colleague Marla McNally struck out on their own to found Emerald Forest Entertainment. The duo found instant success when they signed singer Sophie B. Hawkin, whose smash hit, “Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover,” hit No. 5 on the Hot 100, followed by “As I Lay Me Down.” 

“We were having so much fun. Marla has never ceased to surprise me,” Huntington says. “I remember one day … she was leaving the office with big, permed hair and a bottle of whiskey in her huge pink purse. I asked where she was going; she said, ‘To sign Guns N’ Roses!’”

“When I discovered Middleburg, it felt like stepping into a storybook.” –Huntington

The cofounders sold their company in 2003, which was when Huntington and her husband moved to Middleburg. “When I discovered Middleburg, it felt like stepping into a storybook,” she says. “It has a little bit of everything — community, charm, history, and beauty. For me, it’s not just a town. It’s home.”

Today, Huntington is focused on the October 10 release of her film in more than a thousand theaters nationwide. After eight challenging years of bringing this project to life, she remains undaunted and more inspired than ever. “Telling this story on the big screen was imperative, not just for me, but to impact others the way it did my life,” she says. “When you believe in something deeply and refuse to give up, anything is possible.” ML

Featured photo by Shannon Ayres.