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(Question from Chelsea Hamilton): When I was really angry and cynical a few years ago, I'd be in chapel and I could see through some of my friends. I was like, "What are you doing?"

Dannelly: Sure. I got "saved" a couple of times in my Christian high school just to be popular. It's a very slippery slope, especially when you have all these other things to contend with in high school, and this is your soul.

Was it your choice to go to the Christian school?

Dannelly: No. My parents were friends with the principal. I was more excited that it was a private school. But it was really fascinating. I was constantly getting spanked—in 10th grade! There was no dancing. For our prom, the entertainment was a puppet show. But in this movie, there's no difference really between the Christian world and the secular world. I would think it would be confusing as a young Christian to go to a Christian concert and you're not supposed to idolize, but you're screaming for the band. I just found that stuff confusing. But that's human nature I guess.

What do you wish people would ask you in these interviews that they don't ask?

Dannelly: These kinds of questions. I hate some of the questions I get like, "What was it like to work with Mandy Moore?" "This is your first film. Was it hard?" I want to say, "Hey, did you watch the film?" There's so many questions you could ask. I've never seen a film like this …

Neither have we. We have all these Left Behind kind of movies …

Dannelly: The Christian movies are so dorky. They're just so bad. I talked to one religious writer who said he hoped that Saved! would open the door to more of this kind of religious movie.

Did you expect this level of dialogue about the movie?

Dannelly: Not at all. I just saw a segment on CNN: Shrek 2 and Saved! That's just weird.

Do you wonder if all the buzz might boost ticket sales, like it did for Mel Gibson's The Passion?

Dannelly: Well, you wonder, but then again maybe they'll all protest it and nobody will go. Thinking about it will make you crazy. I'm just glad I made the movie and I'm glad that people are all talking about it.

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