Angels We Have Heard on High: Jason and deMarco come to DVD

Jason and deMarco fans are excited about the DVD release of We’re All Angels, the documentary about the gay Christian pop duo who are a couple in real life. The DVD hit stores on January 20 and a special DVD release party is scheduled for Tuesday, January 27 at East/West Lounge in West Hollywood.

We’re All Angels offers a behind the scenes look at their pair – the blond, boyish looking Jason Warner and the curly brunette haired deMarco DeCiccio – as they make their “Till the End of Time” CD. It follows them to concert appearances, talks with their fans and even goes on a cruise with the couple’s families. And along the way, the two talk about how their love fits in with their deeply held religious beliefs – deMarco was raised Roman Catholic while Jason was raised Pentecostal.

Robert Nunez, the film's director, became intrigued after seeing a cover story on the pair in The Advocate, the nation’s leading gay newsmagazine.

“Their story was so different,” recalled Nunez during a recent phone interview. “They were gay. They were completely unapologetic about being gay. I thought it was very interesting that they were religious without having the inner conflict that you often hear about with people who are gay and religious. It just seemed they found the secret to making everything work.”

Passing the secret along

Quickly the idea for doing a documentary began brewing in his head. “I wanted to find their secret so that I could pass it on to all those young gay people who are suffering so much because of religion,” said Nunez, who grew up in California’s conservative Orange County.

“I don’t have any religion; I’m an atheist," he continued. "So, I’m on the outside looking in. It’s always broken my heart that religion has caused so much damage to people in our community. It was great to read about someone who embraced their religion but weren’t hurting and weren’t on the verge of suicide or weren’t tortured. That was the key that I wanted to find out and pass along.”

Nunez sent them an email explaining what he wanted to do and received a reply the very next afternoon. The three hit it off over dinner and soon plans for the documentary were underway. “They seemed to think that I got them, that I really understood them,” the 40-year-old Nunez recalled. “They’d had offers to do reality programs before, but always turned them down. But I clicked with them.”

Lights, camera . . . charge it

Nunez shadowed them for 18 months, although when filming started in June 2005, he never expected to be with them for so long. Numerous delays in finishing the CD extended the shooting, but also gave him more opportunities to talk to their fans and family. When Jason and deMarco traveled, Nunez was right there with them, picking up cameramen in various locales via Craigslist.

“A lot of times, I would just grab the camera and follow them or just hang out with them. They had gotten really comfortable with me, they didn’t even think about the camera,” he said. “Jason particularly mentioned that the camera melted into the background for him. He grew up on stage. He's been singing in churches since he was a little boy, so he’s very comfortable being watched.”

Director Robert Nunez in center, with Jason (left) and deMarco (right); photo by James F. Mills

The money to cover filming costs came from Nunez's credit cards. "I believed in this project and that was the easiest way to pay for it," said Nunez who covers entertainment news for numerous international television outlets and also produces behind-the-scenes features for DVD releases.

Crisis of faith

Editing hundreds of hours of footage down to a manageable length consumed his life, during which time self doubts plagued him. “There were times when I would lose faith,” Nunez recalled, fully aware of the irony of using the word “faith.” He then quick added, “lose faith in myself and where my career was going. It was toward the end, money was running out and time was running out.”

Luckily former California Congressman Michael Huffington, now a filmmaker, was impressed with a cut of the film and made a “generous donation” to see the film completed.

Film festival circuit

While editing, he also started applying to gay film festivals nationwide. Two of the most prestigious – New York’s NewFest and LA’s Outfest – were the first to pick it up, based on a “rough, early edit.” Their acceptance provided Nunez with “a huge ego boost” to get it finished in time for its debut in June 2007 at NewFest.

In the end, We’re All Angels played two dozen film festivals nationwide, picking up a Best Documentary Award at OutFlix, the Memphis gay and lesbian film festival. And it was while in Memphis that Nunez got a call from Showtime wanting to pick up the film. “I was at the airport coming home after winning Best Documentary when Showtime called. I couldn't believe it! I was going to be on the same station that Queer As Folk was on!”

What’s next?

These days, Jason and deMarco are busy working on a new CD and promoting the DVD release while also enjoying married life – the duo officially tied the knot during the 5 months when same-sex marriages were legal in California (a ballot initiative passed in November 2008 banned such marriages).

Nunez is busy working on his next documentary, one sure to be provocative – Naked Men, Naked Stories, which interviews people who work in the nude. “It’s really about people’s body issues and how they grew comfortable with their bodies,” he said.

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The We’re All Angels DVD is available at Filmbaby as well as retail stores. The DVD includes a making-of feature and outtakes from the film, as well as a special feature examining religion and homosexuality further. Nunez reports that the commentary accompanying the film is substantial. “It’s not a fluffy commentary,” he said. “I’ve made plenty of DVD commentaries in my career and I’m really proud of the commentary we have on our DVD.”

Visit the film’s website: www.wereallangels.com

Visit Jason and deMarco’s website: www.jasonanddemarco.com