Jon Fleming: Living Fearlessly with Frat House Massacre’s Top Dog. By Brian Kirst
www.myspace.com/jonfleming3
Actor Jon Fleming is the man! Funny, talented (and okay, okay – not that bad looking), Fleming has given his many evil characters layers, personality and punch (literally and figuratively). Stealing the show in such productions as Frat House Massacre, Dante’s Cove and Camp Slaughter, Fleming recently took some time out from charming the ladies and manipulating the cowardly to awesomely answer some exclusive questions for Horror Society.
Brian: Who were your first performing influences – Al Pacino’s heavily accented gangster antics – Johnny Depp cutting a crescent path with his scissor hands – A vodka swilling, tap dancing monologist uncle?
Jon: Growing up it was all about Sly Stallone! Rambo, Rocky, Over the Top, The Cobra. But Nightmare on Elm street left me afraid to go in the basement, take a bath and talk on the phone!
Brian: But you’ve gotten over that, right? – Right? – Anyhow, you have graciously and effectively essayed several villainous roles. Are they your favorite kind of characters to play or do you dream of doing more comedy or playing the world’s most famous underwater spy?
Jon: I have always felt more comfortable playing the villainous roles. Although in real life I am a pretty big goof ball and was the class clown. I often had my teachers laughing while writing me detention slips. I am not against doing comedy or playing the good guy once and awhile but it just does not feel as organic as doing a line of coke or headbutting someone.
Brian: Well, naturally. – In Camp Daze (Camp Slaughter) and Frat House Massacre you’ve traveled back to the late 70’s and early 80’s, what other era would you personally like to spend some time in?
Jon: I am a big fan of 70’s music, cars and style. I had so much fun shooting both Frat House and Camp Slaughter. I think I would like to do something from the 1920’s. I would like to play a mobster.
Brian: Cool. Is there a most memorable story or interesting experience that you had on the set of Camp Daze/Camp Slaughter?
Jon: There was a place in Maine that we went to that was a billiards/used car lot. You could hustle the locals in a few games of pool and then drive off in a El Camino. Also the beer was cheaper then soda and the hookers cheaper than the beer.
Brian: I love it when that happens! – How did you work yourself up for the many scenes of savagery in Fright House Massacre?
Jon: I would do nude pushups in front of the mirror while listening to the soundtrack from Wicked, the musical.
Brian: Dude, that’s my mom’s favorite work-out, too! – How does one recover from being ‘Suspect 3’ on Medium – by begging Patricia Arquette’s forgiveness – heading on shame-faced to the next audition?
Jon: Lol! Well, my basketball number was 3 so at least I had that going for me.
Brian: Good! – What has been the most positive aspect about your involvement in the supernaturally tinged Dante’s Cove?
Jon: I have met so many great fans of the show from all over the world. I am very very blessed to have so many positive letters and emails from people. Without these people I would be stuck selling drugs to kids out of an ice cream truck.
Brian: Like there’s anything wrong with that! – Do you have a favorite onset incident or story about your Dante’s Cove experiences?
Jon: We shoot in Hawaii, we stay at a resort hotel on the ocean, we have a friendly cast and crew and we get paid to do it. We do work very hard but everything about it is great. My first job I ever had growing up in Wisconsin was waking up at five in the morning to shovel snow for 5 dollars an hour so I am all smiles.
Brian: You were a Mystery Man on DOOL. H-m-m…Sounds very Watchmen to me. If you could be a true superhero for one day, what would your powers be and what would you name yourself?
Jon: I would be able to fly around the world and magicaly appear at peoples campfires playing the guitar and singing Johnny Cash songs. I would shoot some whiskey, challenge someone to a game of connect four and then vanish in the night. My name would be Chief Runs Like Deer.
Brian: That’s some ‘Ring of Fire’, my friend! – Lastly, any words of advice (IE: Never pledge into a coke snorting, knife wielding frat house) or future projects that you’d like to tell us about? And thanks – this has been better than going back in time to relive nightly slaughter any time of the year!
Jon: Wisconsin cheese tastes better. If it is funny do it and if you live in fear you are already dead.
I can't wait to see Frat House! Jon is so hot and funny! is he single? Great interview!