Hello Del Shores' Mailing List!

Over the years of Del Shores projects, I have met many of you, but for those I have not - HI! I'm Emerson Collins. I am the "Collins" in our new company, Beard Collins Shores Productions. I am producing our new film Southern Baptist Sissies and playing the lead sissy, "Mark".    

THANK YOU!  Your phenomenal response has been overwhelming and humbling. We raised $104,670 in donations for our first fundraising campaign. Over half of the $200,000 we need to complete the film.

Today is my birthday. They say your birthday is supposed to be all about you, so I am ignoring the voice of the terrified fourteen year old inside me that still says to not draw attention to myself, to share with all of you why we still need your help.

We are nearing the end of the third week of rehearsals for Sissies, and as an actor, I will tell you that I am inspired by the genius of the actors working around me on this hilarious and heart-breaking and powerful story. It is humbling to watch such great talent work and breathe life again into Del's inspired words, though I'll admit I'm mildly terrified of getting this role right to do my best work in telling the story. From the actors to the amazing stage and film crew everyone is working at rates far below normal to ensure that we are good stewards of the financing and faith that you have placed in us.

As a person, I will tell you once again that this story is still so vitally important. I was born in Texas. I grew up in the Southern Baptist Church, I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior at age 7 and rededicated my life at age 14, just to be sure. My father is a Southern Baptist music minister. I sang in more choirs, attended more church camps and mission trips and Bible studies than you can imagine. Then I attended Baylor University, the world's largest Baptist Institution where I decided I wanted to be an actor, and realized definitively and undeniably that I am gay. Even now, my upbringing makes it difficult to type that, to see it on the screen. The actor in me worries it will diminish your impression of my performance to share this. The producer in me just wants to sell tickets to complete our budget, but first and foremost, this is a story about the damage the church has done and still does, and that far outweighs my own ego and the budget. Like T.J., I tried to make my father happy and deny it, like Andrew I asked for God to take it away and when no amount of prayer or tears or repentance made it go away, I considered how much easier it would be if I just ended this earthly horror and got to Heaven faster so the pain would stop and I could ask God why he made me this way to his face. I spent many years angry like Mark - angry at God, angry at the church I loved for rejecting me and angry at my dogmatic friends who said they were "praying for me" or that they "loved the sinner, but hated the sin." And yes, like Benny, I have queeny (okay, fine, snarky and cynical) moments. So I know all of these boys, because they are all parts of me. And there are still boys out there just like them still being told they are "less than" who need protection, or healing or simply the acknowledgement that they are not alone in their experience and journey out of judgment and into love and acceptance.

Every year on my birthday I take a moment to consider what I have done with my life. Some years it was painful, some years it was exciting, but this year, because of this piece, I believe I will be doing the most important work of my life so far. THAT is why I am sharing my story.  THAT is why we are telling this story. THAT is why we are asking for your financial assistance in completing this project.

We have to raise another $100,000. And I believe we will. Our new campaign is focused on exciting ways for people to donate to be a part of the filming process. To spend a day on set, to be interviewed for the DVD extra features, and yes, we would still be thrilled to have Associate and Executive Producers!!

But most of all, we have four, yes, ONLY FOUR, performances that will be filmed to be part of the movie. This play ran many, many sold-out months!  We've made tickets $100 so that your ticket to attend one of these performances will continue to help us raise the budget, and we hope that the unique experience of knowing you were actually in the theatre as the film was created is something exciting to be a part of! To see any Broadway show in a decent seat is far more than that, and here, there will be 100 people in the house, an intimate night with you and us as we make this film.

I know it's the holiday season and everything is hectic. These four performances are Saturday, January 19 and Sunday, January 20. I hope, and we all hope, that you will consider contributing and supporting the project, and buy a ticket for you, for a friend, for a group of friends to come and experience the play live!!

And regardless, thank you for your support. For Del, for his work, for Sissies, for this message. As artists we often get to entertain, occasionally we get to make people think, and on the rarest of occasions we get to be a part of something that actually changes people's lives. We are humbly striving with this important piece to do all three.

If you made it all the way through this epic message, I thank you for your time. The link to share with others or to buy tickets for one of the four live shows is here:

If you have questions or comments - you can reach me directly at  

emersoncollins@hotmail.com 

And we will continue sharing as we go on this journey. Thank you for joining us.

Emerson Collins

Actor/Producer

SBS Rehearsal Peek with Emerson Collins (playing Mark at age 12) and Bobbie Eakes (playing Marks' Mother)