Exclusive Interview  (2011) by Geno McGahee

“Manny Pacquiao was not the same Pacquiao of three or four years ago. His management complains that Mayweather is ducking him, but I will tell you right now he does not want to get back in the ring with Marquez. He would rather fight Mayweather, whose motivation is suspect.” — Jonathan Tiersten

As a 12 year old, I discovered video stores and began raiding the horror sections. I began with FRIDAY THE 13TH, watching every entry of the series at the time, and moved on to the HALLOWEEN series. These were great times. I walked around the horror section and found a movie called “SLEEPAWAY CAMP,” and it boasted of a memorable ending. At this point, I was slasher crazy and was very eager to see one with an ending to remember, so I paid my two dollars and brought it home.

The movie took place at a camp and there was a killer going around. It was a whodunit, one of my favorite sort of films. I was tempted to fast forward to the ending, just out of curiosity, but I stayed the course and the ending of the film did not disappoint. It is still one of the most shocking endings ever in horror.

Jonathan Tiersten played young “Ricky” in the film, one of the main characters, and he has recently returned to film after a long hiatus, beginning with RETURN TO SLEEPAWAY CAMP, an official sequel to the original and a pretty good film. It’s really enjoyable considering that you get to see much of the same cast after all of these years.

Tiersten is now involved with two productions: THE PERFECT HOUSE, a horror anthology and REDEMPTION, a psychological thriller. Tiersten has proven a man of various talents, with acting and music being among them, and plans to make a run at film.

Jonathan Tiersten sat down with RSR to discuss his life, future, and love of horror, music, and boxing. We welcome back Tiersten to film and welcome him to RSR…

GM: How old were you when you first got into acting?

I was fifteen and The Pepsi Cola people came to my high school and the whole school auditioned. I ended up in a commercial with Gabriel Kaplan from Welcome Back Kotter. He was one of my heroes (especially because he kicked Robert Conrad’s ass in The Battle of The Network Stars). Now one hell of a poker player.

GM: In 1983, you were in the movie SLEEPAWAY CAMP, a horror film that is quite different then most when you consider the ending. How did you land the role of Ricky in this movie?

At that point in my life I was going to Manhattan quite frequently to audition for everything from commercials for peanut butter to Shakespeare at Playwrights Horizons. Sleepaway Camp was a rather odd audition. Robert Hiltzik was running the auditions and he was the director. That was unusual. He also didn’t have any “sides” for me to read. The whole audition was improv. I think the clincher was when he asked me to tell him off. That felt so good! I knew when I walked out that I had it.

GM: Considering your age at the time and the adult content of the movie, were you able to watch the movie when it was finally done? Was there a premiere?

There was a premier, but not in the normal sense. We had a party at a NYC club called Panache. It was a lot of fun. I went to see the movie for the first time in New Jersey with friends and family. My brother yelled out, “That’s my f–in brother!” As for the content, well, my father took me to see Death Wish when I was ten.

GM: Even though you were in the movie, were you present when the ending was filmed, or was that something that they shielded you and the other youngsters from?

I was the only actor allowed to be there for the ending. They did shield others from that. I was the only one who had a complete script as well. They shaved a local college kid from the neck down. He was drinking Jack Daniels and weeping.

GM: Why were you not involved in any of the follow ups to the original, outside of the “official” follow up?

That is a question I often wondered about. I really don’t know.

GM: What are your thoughts on the other SLEEPAWAY CAMPS that were more of a comical spoof sort of horror movie?

I have never seen them.

GM: You studied acting at Circle in the Square Theater School. In your opinion, how important is it for an aspiring actor to attend a school like this and how did it help you?

I can’t speak for other actors, but for me it was and is very important. The Method is something I use to this day. Acting school helped me deconstruct myself. That is the only way I was able to get to my true nature.

GM: You shifted over to your music and away from acting with the band “The Magic Box.” Why did you opt for music at this point?

Music has always been an enormous part of my life. I made the switch because music was something I could do often. Acting can be very sporadic. I love acting and it is very important to me and I am so grateful to be able to do it again, but I am a musician first and foremost. I love songwriting and composing and performing.

GM: You gave up the music and started your own bar by the name of “The Mountain Tap Tavern” in Colorado. What prompted the move and the decision to start a bar?

Stupidity. I have spent years trying to please others by getting a real job. Being responsible. I hated it. That being said, The Mountain Tap was a really cool bar. It was the first bar to ever serve Fat Tire on tap.

GM: In 2008, RETURN TO SLEEPAWAY CAMP was released and it got mixed reviews. What are your thoughts on the film and how strange was it to reconnect with so many of the actors involved in the first after 25 years?

I was not in a very good place emotionally during that shoot. It was great to see Felissa and Paul. Felissa and I are very close to this day. We are like family. Here is a scoop for you. I have not seen the film.

GM: Was it your return in that film that brought you back into the acting mix?

No, actually that came much later. I got back in because I got an email in my spam box asking me to go to Chiller Theater in Jersey with all expenses paid. I played a duet with Mark Slaughter (Fly Me To The Angels). I felt that buzz and I started to network. I really got back in when Felissa recommended me for ‘The Perfect House’.

GM: You are involved in two new movies. Can you talk about them a little?

The Perfect House is a horror anthology. It all takes place in one house, but in three different time periods. I play a psychopathic serial killer named John Doesy. Doesy keeps his victims locked in cages in the basement. One girl has been there five years and she is his muse. It will be facebook’s first VOD release on October 1st. It also stars Felissa Rose, Chris Raab (Raab Himself) and Monique Parent.

GM: When you look at today’s horror movie world, what do you see that’s right with it and what do you see that’s wrong with it?

I think it is movies in general. There are both positive and negative aspects of the monopoly of the big studios with regards to advertising budgets. I can’t think of a big studio horror film of late that didn’t outright suck. That being said, because of the internet and social media, there is an underground film movement that is thriving. That is where the great films will come from. The Perfect House is one of them.

The other film I did is a psychological thriller called Redemption. It is nice to do something outside of the horror genre. I play a pimp named Manuel Estefan.
It also stars George Loros (Buffalo Ray Curto from The Sopranos), Meredith Ostrum and Barry Primus. Everyone involved was a method actor. It was really intense. I think it will debut at Tribeca next year.

GM: What is your favorite horror film and why?

The Exorcist. Nothing else is even close. Great cinematography. Great script. Great direction. Great story line. Great acting. Absolutely terrifying.

GM: There aren’t many fresh ideas with horror nowadays with all of the remakes, reboots, and foreign transfers, horror seems rather stagnant. What do you think of the remakes and reboots and are they hurting the business?

Remakes are so horrible it is hard to even talk about. A remake of Psycho? Are you freaking kidding me? The Omen? Huh? Nothing is sacred in that town.

GM: You said you were a boxing fan. Who would you favor in the following fights, and we’ll start with the big one: Manny Pacquiao Vs Floyd Mayweather Jr should it happen.

I hope the fight does happen. I don’t know. They are going to bill it as two great fighters in their prime. I am not so sure. Neither one of these guys has fought a can of beans in years. I watched Pacquiao vs. Mosley. Pacquiao was not the same Pacquiao of three or four years ago. His management complains that Mayweather is ducking him, but I will tell you right now he does not want to get back in the ring with Marquez. He would rather fight Mayweather, whose motivation is suspect.

GM: Amir Khan Vs Zab Judah

Judah looks good early and fades blah, blah, blah…

GM: Vitali Klitschko vs. Tomasz Adamek

Wake me up when they are done hugging. Snorefest.

GM: Boxing is considered a dying sport. Why do you think that is and what can be done to bring it back?

I think there are great fights out there, but until they stop gauging the public for money they will not recover. Top fighters need to fight a half dozen times a year. Not once. MMA is going to be number one for quite some time.

GM: Anything to say in closing?

I am headed to LA tomorrow for The Viscera Film Festival. First stop Las Vegas baby! Oh and my son is the cutest boy ever!!! And my wife is a princess.