Southern Baptist Sissies: An Interview with Del Shores
Interview by Briege McGarrity
Southern Baptist Sissies (SBS) is written and directed by multi-talented playwright Del Shores (Queer as Folk, Sordid Lives) and is a faithful film version of his award-winning play of the same name. It tells the inspirational story of four gay boys growing up in the Southern Baptist church. To quote the official film synopsis SBS “explores conflict between the caustic rhetoric of dogmatic religion and the fragile development of adolescent homosexuality while challenging hypocrisy, exposing damage and offering hope.”
SBS stars Emerson Collins (Sordid Lives: The Series), award-winning actor Dale Dickey (True Blood), Leslie Jordan (Emmy Winner for Will & Grace), Bobbie Eakes (All My Children), Willam Belli (Nip/Tuck, RuPaul’s Drag Race) and Ann Walker, Rosemary Alexander and Newell Alexander from Sordid Lives. The cast members represent the confused child, the struggling adolescent and the angry and damaged adult.
IFQ enjoyed catching up with the Shores as he prepares, along with an excited cast and crew, to travel to various film festivals throughout the US including the Sidewalk Film Festival held annually in Downtown Birmingham, Alabama. Southern Baptist Sissies is a beautiful story on film that showcases a unique range of talent telling their personal stories. Growing up gay in a strict homophobic church environment is not easy yet brilliant acting, a killer script and hilarious one-liners such as “I’m so fuckin’ co-dependent, when I die someone else’s life is gonna flash before my eyes,” makes for very enjoyable viewing. IFQ predicts packed movie theatres during its run.
Independent Film Quarterly (IFQ): Tell me how the movie based on the play became possible?
Del Shores (DS): Once we designed and mapped out how to rehearse and shoot, we got busy with our Indiegogo campaign. This was one of those perfect projects that just keeps coming together the right way.
IFQ: Tell me a bit about your background. Did you enjoy the directing experience?
DS: I always say that my favorite thing to do is direct my own work in the theatre. I also love directing in the mediums of film and television. This was the perfect combination to give me one of the thrills of my career.
IFQ: What prompted your decision to shoot the play as a film and are you finding that this format is as well-received?
DS: We are finding that audiences love it. Frankly, it was the only way to get it made. We had tried to do Sissies as a film, in the vein of Sordid Lives, but the financing just wouldn’t come together. We took a risk and formed a new company to tell my stories in a less conventional way. I thought about the old Playhouse 90’s I watched as a kid and how exciting watching filmed theatre was for me then. Emerson Collins, the star and my producing partner, completely understood my vision and together, we just rolled the dice and created what we believe is something very unique, special and important.
IFQ: How was the live audience organized?
DS: Not unlike how I produced sitcom. You stage the play, figure out your shots, get the audience in those seats and hope for a great show!
IFQ: What is your intended message in your film and what do you hope for audiences watching?
DS: I hope that they laugh, cry and think. The message of love, acceptance and understanding is a powerful theme. I hope Sissies opens some hearts and heals some that have been hurt and damaged by religious bigotry.
IFQ: Can you elaborate a bit on your own experience of coming out?
DS: I was pathetically late. Married to a woman with two children, still struggling because of the church in my mid-30s. I had learned to hate and fear that part of myself. It took therapy, courage, anger and learning to love myself.
IFQ: Have there been any improvements in how Conservative Southern Religious leaders and their congregation view homosexuality in young people?
DS: Some, but not nearly enough. Lots of hate still being spewed from those pulpits, traveling right to young minds sitting in those pews. There is still that “love the sin, not the sinner” rhetoric which is so damaging to young gays raised in the church.
IFQ: Are suicide rates lowering among these young men?
DS: I don’t have statistics but everything I read, no. Still three times higher in the gay community. And statistically, most gay suicides are from conservative religious families. And many, many in Southern states.
IFQ: The acting was really strong; I can see why you stuck with most of the cast members from the original script. Emerson Collins, Dale Dickey and William Belli in particular were outstanding.
DS: Thank you. I love the entire cast. Each one just nailed their character through brilliant performances and they all are so special as people. It is an amazing “Sissies” family.
IFQ: There were plenty of tender moments as the four cast members reveal their personal stories. But did you mean for this dramedy to be so amusing? I know you are a funny guy so you probably couldn’t help yourself!
DS: When I first wrote Sissies, I actually punched down the comedy some. I didn’t want the comedy to lessen the message. I now think it’s the perfect blend, so yes, it was intentional. I honestly don’t know how to not mix tones. It’s the way life is, it’s the way my work has always been.
IFQ: Funding any film is always a challenge so congrats on your achievements! How did you make out with the financing?
DS: We still have a ways to go, but this is totally crowdfunded. We are so grateful to each Sissies angel who helped make this possible. It truly took a village and I love that this has a collective feeling of “this is OUR film”. We have just created a finishing funds indiegogo campaign. Please feel free to share it with your viewers. They can pre-order the DVD and many cool prizes. We are getting there!
http://igg.me/at/SissiesFinishingFunds/x/1624319
IFQ: What is your favorite creative endeavor: writing, acting, standup or directing?
DS: I do them all because I love them all. It doesn’t get better than directing my own writing. But I must admit, the thrill of performing standup, making people laugh and being adored is an amazing drug!
IFQ: On the subject of writing, I loved Queer as Folk and Sordid Lives – brilliant writing! How is it writing for TV?
DS: Every project is different. You must always remember that TV is a medium of re-writing, so attachment to your words if it is not your own show is not smart. The money is great and I’m always grateful for the opportunity. Queer as Folk was an amazing three years for me. I loved working on the show. The creative process of Sordid Lives: The Series was perfect. The demise of the show and legal battles, ultimately losing the show was heartbreaking.
IFQ: Any distribution deal in the works?
DS: We are talking to a few people, yes. We will have choices.
IFQ: What’s next?
DS: Many, many film festivals and I’m performing on a 10-day Atlantis cruise, going to Venice, Rome, Croatia, Mykonos and more in late August, early September. Then some more film, TV and stage to develop. I stay busy and love it.