Candace Cameron Bure says there's a 'massive audience' for faith-based films: People 'feel like their voice isn't heard'

Candace Cameron Bure believes "there's a massive audience" for faith-based projects and she hopes to help fill that void with her new movie Unsung Hero. The film is based on the true story of the Smallbone family, who are two of the biggest acts in Christian rock.

"There's a lot of people in the country that we call 'the flyover states,' [so] not on the coast, and they feel like their voice isn't heard. And yet, these are the movies that they wanna see," Bure tells Yahoo Entertainment. "Listen, I live in [California], I'm on one of the coasts and I want to see these movies; there's a massive audience for them. And I think that networks and studios have recognized it over the years because these movies do very, very well. They do. And people come out and they support them. So I think it's only gaining traction [and] getting better, whether it's on television or in the theaters."

Unsung Hero tells the true story of David and Helen Smallbone, who emigrated from Australia to the U.S. with their seven children after his music company collapsed. With nothing more than some suitcases and their faith, the family rebuilt their lives through the kids' musical gifts. Three of the seven children went on to become the inspirational music act For King and Country, made up of brother duo Joel and Luke Smallbone, and Rebecca St. James. Bure met Grammy winners Joel and Luke Smallbone eight years ago when she co-hosted The View — more on her return to the ABC daytime talk show in a bit — and knew the family was special.

"I've been a longtime fan of their music and having known them for so long, I didn't actually know their origin story," recalls the Full House star, whose Candy Rock Entertainment produced the film. "I read the script and I was blown away and I was like, I absolutely wanna be a part of this project. Not only because they are friends, but it is such an uplifting and encouraging movie and these are the types of projects that Candy Rock is doing: providing really good family entertainment."

Bure, who also has a supporting role in the movie, says the film's family-first message "resonates with me in every aspect."

"As much as I've got going on within my career and as much as I work, you know, my family's always No. 1 and that's my first priority," she shares. "Just as a mom, when you think the world is chaotic or you just are too busy and you're overwhelmed, it's like the big pause is — it's just about my family. Is my family safe? Is my family healthy? Do I love my husband and love my children? Do they know that I love them? It's what it all boils down to."

Bure says she's always putting her family first, which included a recent move out of Los Angeles.

"The internet can be a crazy place," she explains when asked about reports as to why she left the city. "So we did move, but we didn't move out of state."

Bure continues, "I still work in L.A., my office is in L.A., but it's not my home anymore. ... Where we've moved, I'm now closer to my boys, so I get to spend so much more time with them in person. And my son who got married lives right down the road with his wife, so I'm like, it just couldn't be better."

The 48-year-old actress hopes people who see the movie "are inspired or encouraged to go home and love their families better, love their families more or friends more."

Part of Bure's promotional tour for Unsung Hero included a pit stop at The View, a show she has a complicated relationship with. The Fuller House alum co-hosted the program for two seasons (2015-2016) and has spoken about how working on the daytime talk show left her with PTSD and was "very, very hard." She returned to her "old stomping grounds" on April 12 and sat alongside former co-host Joy Behar.

"It was great, actually," she explains of the full-circle moment. "I was genuinely excited. The producer actually had called me beforehand and he was like, 'I just wanna make sure you really wanna come back to the show, or is this just your PR pushing it?' And I go, 'No, I would love to come back. I really would.' And I had a great time and everyone was lovely. I was happy I got to promote my film and see them and give them all hugs. It was great."

Bure hopes Unsung Hero leaves the audience with an equally warm feeling.

"The film makes me want to be a better person, makes me wanna be a better mom, a better friend, a better daughter, all the things," she states. "That's what I love about this film. I just feel like there's so many characters in there and wherever you're at in life, there's someone you're gonna relate to and you're gonna be encouraged by it."

Unsung Hero is available in theaters nationwide on Friday, April 26.