Jason and deMarco
7 p.m. Oct. 6
Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit, Ferndale
7 p.m. Oct. 7
Woodside Church, Flint
http://www.jasonanddemarco.com
Maybe this thought crossed Jason Warner and deMarco DeCiccio's minds when denying several reality show pitches: "Uh, cameramen could creep into our bedroom – while we're doing the dirty." It's true, even good Christian gays do that.
And then, there's a chance that the filmmaker could choose to highlight the duo's drama, turning it into something fans of "Hey Paula" would eat up. Quicker than Thanksgiving dinner.
Though "We're All Angels," a telling documentary about the gay and Christian pop music twosome, isn't the film version of, say, "Being Bobby Brown," it's still oozing with silly moments. And a few naughty words.
"People were laughing at these parts (during the screening)," DeCiccio says, "and we were like, 'Wow! We didn't really know we're this funny' – but I guess life happening is just funny."
Just don't expect DeCiccio to pull a Brown, telling Warner: "Bring that ass in quick, I'm going to show you what I'm going to do with it."
"We had a lot of, I guess, concern," DeCiccio says, "that these directors or producers that we didn't know would just take the footage and make a mess of our life."
Like Paula Abdul demanding a pair of jeans because sweat pants are just not comfy enough? Or the Brown-Houston fam's argument at a London department store, where Bobby begged for attention like a toddler and Whitney said shit in front of her li'l daughter?
"America just wants to see drama, and that's not necessarily something we wanted to show," DeCiccio says from Tennessee, where he and Warner are recharging at Warner's family's log cabin. "The gay community needs to have a more honest view than what most people see. And that's a couple that's really working the best they can at their relationship."
Romantically tied since 2001, the doll-faced duo spent the last year-and-a-half in front of cameras, being filmed on the road while they wow crowds at churches and, well, wow them again – but at White Parties, surrounded by nearly-naked men.
"The finished product told a very honest story," DeCiccio says. "I think that's all we ever really wanted. He (Robert Nunez, the film's director) doesn't really make any apologies for who we are – but he also shows all side of who we are."
Just not the dramatic one.
Sure, in between candid footage, Warner and DeCiccio gave camera testimonials, but that doesn't mean "We're All Angels," which has been screened at LGBT film festivals, is the equivalent of MTV's "The Real World." And though their personal life might mimic some aspects of that show, most of the squabbles happen in the studio, where they tend to butt heads. Which makes it awkward when they go back to being lovers.
"It's hard after we disagree on something to then say, 'OK, well, let's sit on the couch and hold each other and watch a movie,'" DeCiccio laughs.
The guys don't want the look into their life to glorify the piddly feuds; they want it to be something they can share with people who aren't familiar with their story. Ya know, as the poster boys for the gay Christian community, Warner says.
"We've been working hard the last three years," he continues, "establishing ourselves as artists, saying, 'Yes, we're spiritual. Yes, we're gay.' But we really feel like our music goes beyond those labels and those boundaries."
After the twosome wraps up their tour, with stops on Oct. 6 in Ferndale and Oct. 7 in Flint, they'll work on their video for "It's OK," a song used during the closing credits of "We're All Angels." Whether it'll be a single, or on a re-pressed version of their 2006 disc "Till the End of Time," or on the film's soundtrack – that's as easy as predicting whether Jason and deMarco are on Jesus' iPod.
Right now, they're just focused on the tour and organizing a band to perform with them. But their work extends beyond gigs, showing up for video shoots and starring in a film. What they do isn't something the likes of Whitney Houston or Paula Abdul will ever try. They respond to fans' e-mails – some praising them, some looking for help and some who are more inquisitive.
While Warner, who has a counseling background, handles that aspect of the job, DeCiccio stays focused on the production side – from the graphic design of album covers to the studio work – of their career.
"He's really good with the outreach we're doing," DeCiccio praises, "and dealing with the young people that call that are struggling with dealing with their sexuality."
Living week-to-week out of suitcases, driving from state-to-state and not being able to develop stable friendships definitely are cons to the job, he says. But letters from help-seeking youth turns those negatives into a positive. "It makes it worthwhile when you're changing people's lives," DeCiccio says, "and, hopefully, saving kids from body bags."
Their nomadic lifestyle makes it hard to add a third to the mix, too. And not musically speaking. Not that Warner, a self-proclaimed flirt, is particularly interested. He does recall, however, a recent e-mail from someone wanting to know if they were in an open relationship. Only imagine how the guy must've reacted when Warner's reply came through: "One of us for each other is definitely enough to handle. In every way."
