'Bruno' Pastor Runs for Mayor in Alabama
Jay Reeves - Associated Press
Dec 08, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Moviegoers know Jody Trautwein as the smiling Alabama pastor who tries to talk Sacha Baron Cohen's character out of being gay in the hit movie "Bruno." Trautwein is now auditioning for another role: Mayor of Birmingham.
Trautwein is among 14 candidates in next Tuesday's election to replace Larry Langford, who was booted from office in October after being convicted on 60 felony counts in a bribery scheme.
But political discussions inevitably begin with Trautwein's part in "Bruno," a spoof released this summer in which Cohen portrayed a gay Austrian fashion journalist traveling the United States.
"I haven't seen the movie," Trautwein, 39, said in an interview. "From what I understand it's about an hour and a half of darkness and perversion with about three minutes of light."
Trautwein said he was duped into appearing in the movie through phone calls from a producer and fake Internet sites set up by Cohen's cohorts. Trautwein believed he was helping a German TV crew telling the story of a man who wanted to give up homosexuality.
In the movie, Trautwein counsels "Bruno" to convert to heterosexuality by believing in Jesus.
"He wants to come into your heart right now," Trautwein says.
"Are you hitting on me?" Cohen deadpans.
No, Trautwein wasn't. But the segment helped the administrator and youth pastor at Point of Grace Church build a campaign profile.
Trautwein caught the attention of movie producers because of his former position as director of the Alabama Coalition Against Same-Sex Marriage.
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On the Net: http://jodyformayor.org
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