Saved & Fly

Pierre Walters

JG. How old were you when you got started on your current path?

Pierre: question1

JG. answer1

Pierre: Yes. And eventually, once I reached junior-high, I had to undergo another open heart surgery. This again dictated the types of activities I could participate in once in high school. Consequently, I became very involved in the theater program in my school.

JG. I get it bro! All of these things that some people could view as tragic for a child's life, you consider a blessing.

Pierre: There's something about going through major life and death situations at a very young age that alters and even matures your perspective on life. It's easy to be focused when you realize just how fragile your own life is. Making the most of every second you're alive becomes far more important than waiting for society to hand you a role.

JG. Amen to that! Everything happens for a reason, right?

Pierre: Exactly. I realized that my life's events were obstacles to help me develop my faith in God, and to focus me in a direction where I may not have otherwise gone. I learned that God had given me a gift to tell stories. So I decided I wanted to be an actor; I'd take God up on his offer. I'd use the medium of drama to inspire.

JG. When you founded Blue Artists Films, you had the vision of the entertainment media being about betterment, insight, mission, and purpose. Please explain.

Pierre: If the theater doesn't educate, it can't inspire; and, if can't inspire, it can't entertain. It seems to me that our culture has most certainly lost that sentiment. In America, the perceived purpose of the theater is to entertain.

JG. Theater as in Broadway?

Pierre: By theater I refer to the dramatic medium of television, film, video, stage, radio, and music. That, by definition, is impossible if it isn't inspiring and educating as well. This is why our summer block-busters are all the same, kiss-kiss-bang-bang and gone. I can't even remember last year's summer block-buster, or the year before - they all tend to run together like one long cash-train that just keeps growing until its length is equal to the track it's on, and then cannot progress any further.

JG. Blue Artists focuses on corporate and independent media productions. Does this mean that you're against getting involved in main stream projects?

Pierre: Absolutely not. That is to say if "main stream" refers to the audience and not the product. It is essential to reach as many people as possible with the message of truth, the message of inspiration, and ultimately the message of God.

JG. I love your firm stance for God. Sound like you won't be compromising to this world's standards! That's refreshing to hear Pierre.

Pierre: I have a primary belief that if Jesus was walking the earth today, he'd produce movies, and his movies would push the envelope. After all, 2000 years ago he told stories and parables, and they pushed the envelope so much so that he drew an audience of hundreds and thousands - without using a microphone. Jesus was in a way, "main stream" at that time. It's 2000 years later, and the ultra conservative nature of our church and mentality has prevented most of us from doing what Jesus called us to do in the first place, and that's to make disciples for him. Well you can't make disciples out of disciples, you have to talk to people who are outside of that school of thought, and educate and inspire them to follow Jesus on their own terms.

JG. I must admit that I still have a serious fetish for horror movies. Do you watch movies that you have no involvement in whatsoever?

Pierre: I'll be honest, I'm a big James Bond fan - I like action movies. I like thrillers, horrors, pretty much anything that isn't directly stupid - except your occasional Ace Ventura, or Austin Powers, which I enjoy. It's not so much the individual elements of a story, it's the overall content - it's the concluding message. As a story teller, I am willing to push the envelope if that means getting an audience; if that means inspiring others in the direction of God.

JG. I am saved, sanctified, and born again in Christ!! But, at the end of the day, none of us are perfect. Do you have any vices that you battle with?

Pierre: Being saved and realizing God's call for my life, I feel secure in my doings and ambitions -- but there are times when I'd like to do more, and I hear the Lord telling me to wait and be patient. That can be hard, because I like the fast life, going from project to project, and sometimes God seems to be reminding me that patience is what he requires. There have been times when I'd go off to do my own thing, maybe audition for films that I don't necessarily resonate with, simply because it's difficult to wait for God to supply the next opportunity. But in the end, the only real joy I've experienced has been from work the Lord has handed me.

JG. How was the experience in attending the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City?

Pierre: The conservatory taught me to open myself up. To be naked mentally. Leaving high school, I was pretty confident in myself, perhaps arrogantly so, and I approached the conservatory in that manner. I was accepted through a very competitive audition process. Needless to say, I was feeling good. Even though I was performing well in my scene work, my teacher noticed that I wasn't giving my all - she noticed that I was relying on schtick and not really my talent, that I was afraid to really open myself up. She confronted me about it and told me that I wouldn't be successful as an actor and that I ought to just find another career. That was the wake-up call I needed. That was the push I needed to prove myself, and that was the real purpose for my attending the conservatory. I told her that I'd prove her wrong. And a few months later, I left the school to begin my career.

JG. If you aren't already involved in one, how do you feel about being in an exclusive relationship at this point in your life?

Pierre: My view on dating at this stage in my life is this: dating is good, dating is important, and smart dating is a commitment. The idea of dating exclusively is something I agree with, but I don't like the idea of "pretend" marriages, as I tend to call it. I think people should be careful how they view "exclusive" dating because it's often that many expect the level of commitment associated with marriage in a dating relationship that hasn't formally made those vows.

JG. Very good point.

Pierre: Before anyone begins their letters of opposition, please consider that for me, dating is a necessary step that will lead to marriage. And, even though it's important and good, it is something that should be taken relatively lightly only because there's no real commitment there. It's all the fun without the work, so to speak. I'm happily dating a beautiful girl who's about to graduate from the Art Institute of Philadelphia with a Bachelors in Computer Animation.

JG. Cool. Would you like to get married and have a family one day?

Pierre: Absolutely. I really want to get married. I love the idea of a mutually supportive relationship that is sanctified by God. I love the way God designed Adam and Eve and the relationship He gave them. I want that for myself. I think God wants that for all of us.

JG. I have a friend who found Christ on his own...his family didn't bring him up in the church. What role do you think Christianity should play in families? Did your family incorporate God as a lifestyle?

Pierre: The values of modern Christianity, I think, present an imperative moral code with which to rear children into responsible adults. I think families and parents should inspire their offspring to God; to lead by example. Forcing a child to make Jesus his savior can lead to tragic results.

JG. True...true. So what's next for you Pierre? What projects do you have in the works?

Pierre: I recently presented a directing theory seminar at the Society of Adventist Communicators 2007 Annual Convention titled, "Communication: The Notes to Perfect Harmony", in Nashville, Tennessee. Aside from my current directing jobs, I'll be presenting a video production seminar at Loma Linda University (California) in November for their "Go Fish" Convention for kids. God is good.

JG. What a great accomplishment! I'm sure there's a website that people can go to in order to stay abreast of what's going on with you. What is it?

Pierre: Absolutely, anyone can easily check out my company, Blue Artists online at www.BlueArtistsFilms.com but my personal site, which has a collection of some film clips from my acting jobs, my demo reel, and some other neat pictures, can be visited at www.PierreWalters.com.

JG. Anything you'd like to add?

Pierre: I'd like you to know that what you're doing here with Jesus Groupie is an incredible thing; an amazing thing. I'm so thankful that you've made this platform available for people like me to share our stories of God's greatness in our lives. I think that's what God wants; He wants us to share our stories of how He's impacted our lives. He wants us to be proud of Him. Reading the other interviews here at Saved & Fly, how can you not be proud of Jesus? How can you not smile?

JG. Awww . . . you're too sweet. Thank you, Pierre. To God be the glory and you keep up the awesome work.

Pierre: Thank you, Indigo.