spotlight
Chad
allen
ImprovIng EntErtaInmEnt…and LIfE…as WE KnoW It
by david vera
It’s a warzone out there. Between cliché plotlines in tired gay cinema and unsympathetic anti-gay campaigns littered throughout
the government landscape, the outlook on the LGBT horizon sometimes seems so grim. But once in a great while, a rare type of
individual will saddle up and remind us that all we need to take back control is our latent drive—and a little well-channeled ire! Having
played a sheriff of a wild-west town, an openly gay detective and a martyred missionary, Chad Allen is well-versed in the art of rescue.
The Rage Monthly recently spoke with the level-headed actor about his refreshing ventures in filmmaking, a few personal morsels of
morality and his latest starring role in the universally enjoyable Hollywood, Je T’aime—which releases on DVD December 8.
The Rage Monthly: Hi Chad! Thanks for taking this time to fill us in. I’m very glad you were Rage: It looks like you’ve been busy making films as well as starring in them. What can we
part of Hollywood, Je T’aime. What initially attracted you to it? look forward to seeing from you?
Chad Allen: It’s a fun film. I play a weed-dealer from the west side of Los Angeles CA: I function as producer of a new film called Spork that I’m really thrilled with.
who meets Jerome, the main character. There’s a hint of a romance that never It’s an extremely offbeat comedy—in the vein of Napoleon Dynamite or Welcome
really goes anywhere. I love the film because it’s got a Euro-sensibility that I like. I to the Doll House—about a 14-year-old intersex girl and her band of misfit friends
respect the film’s simplicity a great deal. It’s primarily about finding love, healing as they attempt to find their place in the world. She comes to love herself as she is.
on the inside and what happens to all those tiny dreams inside all of us as Jerome I really love the project. I’ve loved it since I first read the script a few years ago. It’s
moves about Los Angeles—thinking about what comes next and so forth. It’s a got a lot of music and dance. It’s a blast. I won’t say I’m “in” it. It’s a very small part
very L.A.-centric film. There are a lot of jokes that you really only get if you live in but the director begged me to do it, so I did it! We’ve just put the finishing touches
Los Angeles. I was interested to see how it would play outside of L.A. and people on our first cut and submitted it to Sundance and a couple other festivals.
still seem to get it. Also, I’m looking to direct a project about two elderly gay men who fall in love
Rage: Your character, Ross, is a very real guy—laid-back but vulnerable. What’s your take with each other in a seniors’ home. It’s called The Way Out and we’re co-producing
on him? it with David Duchovny. It’s very near and dear to my heart so hopefully we’ll get
CA: I find him very sweet. Some people find him dark, I don’t know why. I think that shot in spring of 2010 and we’ll start talking about it in summer.
he’s very real. There’s a point in the film where you get to see some of his preju- Rage: I’ve read that there’s also a project coming up called For Better or For Worse.
dices and fears. Even if we hide them deeply, we all have fears and judgments that CA: It’s a very funny look at gay marriage with a fantastic cast. We’ve had that in
come out—it’s very human and I appreciate that this movie was able to explore all development for a while and we’re looking to put that together in the near future.
sides. That’s what makes it different from a lot of American movies. It speaks to its But again, we can’t let the cat out of the bag too early!
heritage as an independent queer film. I think that’s something that we don’t get Rage: Speaking of gay marriage, I remember watching your debate on Larry King Live with
enough of anymore. Minister John MacArthur and thinking you were so eloquent in your talks. It would be hard
Rage: The scene where Ross came out to Jerome—and to the viewers, basically—was sober- for me to maintain the composure that you had.
ing and authentic. CA: (laughter) You know, it’s interesting. We spent about two hours just talking
CA: Well that was the main reason I wanted to do the part. Many of my friends before the show—he didn’t know who I was! There were separate green rooms
are poz and I haven’t had a chance in my work to explore that. I watch them some- for us, but I didn’t want to sit in the opposite green room; I wanted to sit with THIS
times struggle either with their own fears or society’s fears about their status. guy if we were going to have a real conversation. We had sort of become very
Though it isn’t a major theme of the film, it’s a very important part of who Ross is. friendly backstage. So when we went on-air he couldn’t really go too far, you
He loves himself and therefore he loves that aspect of himself. He’s conscious that know? I’ve heard he can be very mean. By that time, he’d already invited me to
other people might have an issue with it, but it’s primarily their issue. I like that spend Christmas with his family! At any rate, it was a nice interview.
about him. In my opinion, this conversation about Christianity and homosexuality is one
36 RAGE monthly | December 2009
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96