Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
PROVO — Jaisa Bishop always hoped her stories would one day make the big screen, and this weekend, her dreams are coming true.
A real estate agent for the past 26 years, Bishop started writing screenplays on the side a little over a decade ago. Bishop has always loved writing but didn't think she would make it in an industry that people so rarely find success in.
"It's such a blessing because I know the odds are so against you in this industry. It's a massive blessing that it got bought and got made by really, really amazing people," she said, adding that the film team became family to her.
Bishop and her husband got a cat several years ago after their next-door neighbors abandoned him. They named him Pedro, and he got along really well with their pet Cavalier King Charles spaniel named Gracie.
Soon after, Bishop and her family moved to Provo, and she was inspired to write a story about what would have happened if Gracie and Pedro had gotten lost.
And thus, "Gracie and Pedro: Pets to the Rescue!" was born.
The movie is a heartwarming story following a cat and dog who get lost as their owners move to Utah. The two pets become unlikely friends on their perilous journey trying to find their family.
"We all have differences, we all have things we don't agree on, but if you really take the time to get to know somebody, you learn that there is so much to love," she said. "That was a big message for us. Loving each other and having a fun time on that journey."
In the end, they get reunited with their family who had been looking for them the whole time.
"When you are lost, if you keep putting one foot in front of the other, you're going to end up back home," she said. "If you have love in your heart and a positive outlook, you're going to get there and be happier for it."
Bishop and her husband wrote the story six years ago, and three years later, the story got bought by Second Chance Productions. After two months of rewriting with the producers, the film went into production and was finished earlier this year.
With a star-studded cast including Danny Trejo, Bill Nighy, Brooke Shields, Alicia Silverstone and more, Bishop said she is grateful for the "incredible cast," and she is so excited for the world to see it.
The movie's main message focuses on family, love and togetherness, Bishop said. With so much division and hate in the world, she wanted a film that is "just pure fun, children's entertainment" and is uplifting and entertaining for the whole family.
The movie is "so quintessential Utah," Bishop said.
"I'm really hoping we have a grassroots effort and a show of support from the Utah community," she said. "I love Utah so much, and I feel like it's such an uplifting family film, and we have such a great atmosphere for that in Utah. It aligns with our values so much."
The film will be in theaters across the country and in three Utah theaters starting Thursday. Showings in Utah will be at the Jordan Landing Cinemark, Provo AMC and Taylorsville Regal Crossroads, but if the movie does well, it could expand to others.
As a big animal lover, Bishop wanted to highlight the importance of animal rescues in the movie. The lead producer has been partnering with animal rescues to encourage more pet adoptions.
Bishop said it has been a great journey watching the film come together and she is excited to continue writing uplifting stories the whole family can "love and be inspired by." She has a few other film and TV stories in the works.
"I love writing stories. It's something I love so much and something I wanted to incorporate into my life because it brings me such joy and I wanted to bring that joy to others," she said.
Writing stories for TV and film takes dedication and patience, she said, but she is so grateful for the experience as "it so rarely happens." Even though it took several years, she is so happy her dream is coming true.
"All of the things I write have that shared message of inspiring kids to believe in themselves and to love one another and to keep going even though things get tough," she said. "I'm really grateful I am able to create and get that kind of content out there because I think there needs to be much more of it. "
