Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

For King & Country


With their film Priceless, the members of For King and Country expand their reach and their ministry to continue to address an issue of vital importance: human trafficking. The film, which opened October 14th and is still in select theaters, personalizes an issue that remains abstract to many, and it gives it a name and a place that hit close to home.

Joel Smallbone answered our questions about the film, the family business, and the nature of chivalry...
This interview took place on: October 2016.

Click here for For King & Country's Artist Profile page.





  • Jesus Freak Hideout (Mark Geil): Your brother Ben directed the film. Since he's in the film industry, have you had the idea of doing a movie together for some time? Seems like a natural pairing.

    Joel Smallbone: When Luke and I weren't making music, Ben and I were making short films or miniseries together. When the band began, Ben would shoot our music videos. It's always been a dream for Ben and I to be involved together in a feature film. When we looked at the landscape of the Priceless message resonating we realized there was something really important that needs to be told here. Our whole team, our family, helped us to bring this message to light.

  • JFH (Mark): I'm wondering what your childhood was like in the Smallbone household, with all these talented kids. How was creativity fostered in your family?

    Joel: I'm a big advocate for the family business. Our dad was always involved in music, but never pushed us into music - he encouraged us in seeking who we are creatively. In turn, if you look at the family they fell into variations of the music business. Between the band and the film with the family working together, collectively it's an extension of what we learned as children and the beauty of being in and around the family business. I feel like we stand on the shoulders of giants with what's taken place in our family, and what was built before I had a say in the direction of my vocation.

  • JFH (Mark): Your acting is quite good! Do you have specific training, or is this natural ability?

    Joel: A few years ago I had the opportunity to dabble in a few feature length films - a period piece called The Book of Esther, as well as a country film playing opposite of Billy Ray Cyrus called Like A Country Song. For my role of James in this film I had a dialect coach to make sure my American accent was done well!

  • JFH (Mark): Are there more movies in your future?

    Joel: There are a few concepts that we have been discussing. At the end of the day, we are very focused on Priceless. If this film works, we believe we will have more opportunities. We also believe that if we are in touch with the Creator, who is the Creator of art and all creativity, then our hope is with that inspiration to tell stories that are culturally relevant and creatively inspiring.

  • JFH (Mark): Talk about the origins of the band's passion for healthy relationships and respect for women.

    Joel: One of the things that we have felt very moved to share about as a group is celebrating a woman's worth, and also charging us as men to love extraordinarily and that chivalry is alive and well. On occasion we are asked what does that really mean, when you put flesh to that statement in a modern context? Chivalry to us, in a romantic way to really respect, honor and love a woman well, but even beyond that with family, with our mums, our sisters to really celebrate the beauty, the strength and the dignity of a woman.

    Album Cover
  • JFH (Mark): The film is inspired by true stories. I feel like some people who will watch will really have had no idea these sorts of things are really happening, almost under our noses. Is part of your mission to simply make people aware of the real problem of human trafficking, to make it less abstract?

    Joel: Going forward, you naturally want people to be inspired by the art you portray, but there are two great themes happening. For about 30 minutess of the movie, it dives into the world of slavery, prostitution and trafficking. I hope as an external outlook the viewer is able to be challenged to do something about this issue, to learn and seek more information. But if you look at the wider scope of the film, I hope men are challenged to really fight for those that they love, to step up and step out to love well. For women, I hope they see that their definition is not found in their sexuality or appearance, or in their connection with a man. That they are in fact, image bearers of God.


    Priceless is now showing in select theaters!




    Leave a Comment

     

    go to main Interview page

     

  •                  
    Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

    Search JFH



    This Friday, July 25, 2025
    ALBUMS
    Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
    B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
    Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
    KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
    Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
    Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
    Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
    Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
    Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
    Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
    Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

    SINGLES
    Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
    Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
    Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
    C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
    Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
    EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
    J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
    Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
    Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
    Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
    Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
    QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
    Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
    Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
    Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
    John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
    Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
    Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
    Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

    VINYL
    Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

    DVD
    Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

    This Saturday, July 26, 2025
    SINGLES
    Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

    Next Friday, August 1, 2025
    ALBUMS
    Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
    McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
    Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
    V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

    SINGLES
    Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
    Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
    Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

    VINYL
    Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



    For all release dates, click here!
     

    Join honey and save on online purchases!
    Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
    Check out depositphotos for royalty free images