Interview: Kerri Pomarolli

Sunday March 1, 2009

Categories: Interview

Kerri Pomarolli is a talented, funny, creative, enthusiastic actress/comedian who describes herself as an "out of the closet Christian." She is a regular on Jay Leno's Tonight Show and she is featured in the documentary Hollywood on Fire, about the the successes and failures of faith-driven actors, directors, producers, music artists, and executives. It presents "a different view on how Christians in the entertainment industry encounter secularist and Hollywood skeptics, yet do not compromise their faith." It was a great pleasure to get a chance to talk to her.

What were some of the movies that influenced you when you were growing up?

I was one of those kids roller skating in the basement to "Grease" and "Annie." At age 3 or 4 I told everyone I was going to Hollywood. I grew up on the classics, Cary Grant, William Holden -- I loved his movie "Picnic," and when I got older I got to be in the play. I had a wealth of knowledge of classics like "All about Eve" and stars like Angela Lansbury. The classics were not just kids movies but good family movies and that's sort of been lost now. Everything is either a kids movie or an adult movie. And TV too -- when I was growing up the sitcoms were for families, but now there are kid-specific channels and programs and the other sit-coms are more for adults and not for children or for families to share.

What do you look for in a project or part?

I came out here and had certain rules for myself as an actress and a Christian. At first, I thought of it in terms of "as long as my character isn't doing anything bad," it was all right but that evolved as my faith has evolved. A project can look clean but then you look behind it and it is not. There can be integrity issues behind the scenes. If integrity isn't there on screen and behind it, it isn't the right project. It has to be something that as a person of faith I feel like God says, "This is you, this is your task."

I love working on the Leno show. He is great. It is pretty PG rated. They treat you with such respect there, too. The crew has been with him for 20 years, which really says something. I have never compromised my faith in my work on the show. The casting director is a Christian. I hear the new show will be more like the Ed Sullivan show, and I think it will be great.

What is your dream project?

My book Guys Like Girls Named Jennie is being turned into a screenplay. It is a Christian romantic comedy, a really real romantic comedy, the kind of project a 14 year old girl or a 35 year old woman can watch. I'd love to play myself!

What are some of the obstacles to getting material produced that reflects your values?

I don't want to see things like sleeping around with no repercussions. But when you submit material that is consistent with my values you hear "there's no vavoom to it" without sex and violence. And the audience responds. Look at the success of horror films. They think only that will sell tickets. So they say, "You need more sex," "You need something to raise eyebrows." But "The Passion of the Christ" raised eyebrows. You don't have to do it their way to get an audience.

The Christian community has not really supported value-based entertainment. Christians are going to movies that Hollywood is turning out. 80% of the population purports to have some Christian faith but they buy tickets to movies that are not consistent with Christian values. It's not about a boycott, it's about providing alternatives. I'm getting calls I would not have gotten because of who I am -- an out of the closet Christian.

It would be so powerful if other people would come out of the closet, too. Look how far the homosexual community has come. If the Christian community was unified and if we used our voices, we could make the change ourselves.

What do you like to see?

I like Jerry Bruckheimer movies; they're entertaining. I loved "Remember the Titans. "Facing the Giants," if you take away the not too professional cast, is pretty good. I'm a sucker for sports movies. And there are movies I love that except for one scene. "The Great Debaters" -- why have the sex scene, why? "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," my jaw was on the floor and I'm pretty edgy, talk about glorifying bad choices, that was horrifying to me. I have a one-year-old now and I think about what she will be seeing. I grew up with "16 Candles." That was kid's play compared to what is going on now.

It has to be good, though, not just not bad. Some projects are quote unquote Christian but I fall asleep halfway though. I have to be positive, though. Christians are so judgmental. I get angry, when they are not positive about what is good and patient about what it can be. If we keep doing it and doing it it will get better.

I loved Kirk Cameron's movie Fireproof. He took a risk, he didn't get paid, he believed in it. I'd like to see more comedic films in the Christian genre, and I am hoping to come to the table with that.

Drama or comedy, you want to see a character that is worthy and that evolves. Christian movies sometimes want to erase all the bad, but that is not an interesting journey for the audience. I love to see people get changed. I am changed in a movie when I sit in the theater and don't want it to end. I want to be better at my craft so I can create and be cast in projects that will be a change experience, whether it makes them laugh or cry. If you're really good you can make people do both.

What is next for you?

A made-for-tv movie called "Engaged," airing on the Sky Angel Network in March or April. It was made by a Christian director and writer and I am hoping that people out there will continue to support these kinds of movies.

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