Henry Daily Herald

Actress Queen Latifah, and Sara Davis, of Rehobeth Christian Center International in McDonough, took a break from filming the “Joyful Noise” movie, that will hit theaters this weekend.

Ceasar Davis and his wife, Sara Vonzine, called landing roles in a major motion picture “an act of God.”

The Davises serve as worship leaders of a 150-member congregation at Rehobeth Christian Center International, located at 450 Racetrack Road, in McDonough.

“It all started when we went to go see a friend’s [Sheri Mann Stewart’s] son perform in a play,” said Ceasar Davis. “I felt like something big was going to happen that night.”

Upon arrival, they noticed their friend speaking with a man. That man turned out to be Mark Fincannon. Unknown to the Davises, Fincannon is a renowned casting director for such movies as “Ray,” “The Blind Side,” “Patriot,” and “Cold Mountain.” The encounter led to the worship leaders getting involved in casting calls for vocalists and dancers.

“He needed help casting four choirs and bands,” said Davis. The couple posted the auditions online, and they were held at the Dance 411studio, in Atlanta.

“We had over 500 adults and 150 children to show up,” said Davis.

The couple assisted with registering the talent for the auditions, Davis said, as the number of performers was reduced to 32 adults and 15 children, in two days. They also taught the auditioning children the song, “That’s the way God Planned it,” by Billy Preston, along with a dance routine.

“The choreographer for the movie, Michelle Lynch, Mark and the director, Todd Graff, made the final selections of who would be in the movie,” said Sara Vonzine Davis. “Everybody wanted to be chosen to sing in the Pacashau choir, because that is the main choir of the film, but there were only eight slots available.”

For their efforts, the Davises will be on the big screen as choir members in the weekend release of the movie, “Joyful Noise.” They will join movie stars, Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah, Keke Palmer, Jeremy Jordan, and Courtney B. Vance. There are also cameo appearances by recording artists, Karen Peck and Kirk Franklin, and many others.

“Joyful Noise” is scheduled to open nationwide in movie theaters, today.

It is billed as a funny and inspirational story of music, hope, love and renewal. It centers around events in the fictitious, small town of Pacashau, Ga. The town has fallen on hard times, but the people are counting on the Divinity Church Choir to lift their spirits by winning the National Joyful Noise Competition.

“It was truly amazing,” said Sara Vonzine Davis. “It was like living a dream, all the early mornings and late night dance rehearsals, in heels, was worth every bit of it!”

The couple rehearsed for a month, and filmed for two months with the cast and crew. “We built relationships with some of the cast members and the crew,” said Ceasar Davis. They said they took Queen Latifah, who insisted the couple call her Dana, to All Nations of Praise Church, in Stockbridge, where Sara Vonzine Davis’ parents, Evangelist Vonzine and Lawrence Davenport attend church.

“They are absolutely awesome, Minister Davis and Sister Sarah are what I consider a power couple,” said Bishop Ronnie Jackson, of Rehobeth Christian Center International. “God is not only using them in the arena of the sacred, but He has also given them a voice of credibility among the secular.”