Talking with the Dead: 13 Questions with Jonathan Tiersten

Talking with the Dead: 13 Questions with Jonathan Tiersten

1. You have had a very successful career as a musician (The Magic Box, Bambis Apartment, Gaphiltaphunk and TEN TIERS) and a beer bar/live music venue owner (The Mountain Tap Tavern), but it always come back to your film career, especially now that it is the 30th anniversary of Robert Hitziks cult classic horror film Sleepaway Camp. After all of these years, are you still surprised by the amount of love that the fans have had for the film and series, as well as you as the character of Ricky, cousin to one of horror’s most iconic villains of the 80’s, Angela (played by Felissa Rose)?

Of course I am surprised. Who wouldn’t be? It is amazing to be remembered for something you were a part of. It doesn’t matter when you did it. I have spent my life figuring that out. I have continued to seek out new challenges and new ventures, but Sleepaway Camp will probably be my legacy. I am OK with that.

2. Sleepaway Camp is both a controversial and groundbreaking film in the horror genre. Before Sleepaway Camp, the only films that I can think of that showed a transgendered killer were Psycho (Norman Bates) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Leatherface). Sleepaway Camp shattered that taboo even further with the “big reveal” at the end of the film. Looking back over the last thirty years, what social impact (if any) do you feel that the film has had on the genre and culture, and at the time, do you remember any negative publicity that film may have received because of that shocking moment?

There have been many articles written about this. It is very tricky. Mostly, I think it is a movie about ‘bullying’. The bullies all pay a terrible price. As far as negativity, I never received or heard of any. I think, if anything, people may have been more tolerant back then. I know the film means a lot to gay and transgender people, but you would have to ask them why.

3. At the time the film was being made, you were turning 18 years old. What were the responses by your family and close friends about the film and its content, and what were the reactions of you and Felissa Rose (at the time, she would have been 14) when you found out the ending of the film? Where you surprised by it in the script and did it have anything to do with you being out of the film industry for so long afterward?

It had nothing to do with me leaving the film industry. I left the film industry because my whole sense of self was starting to be defined by my success in the industry and I wanted (and have been lucky enough to achieve) so much more than that. Nobody in my family said a word about the subject matter. They were (and are) not too involved or interested in my acting or music careers. We are very close it just isn’t something they ever showed much interest in.

4. Being made in the early 80’s, Sleepaway Camp is loaded with plenty of blood and grue that is the trademark of that era. William Bilowit was the FX supervisor and Ed Fountain handled the mechanical FX. Other than the graphic quality of their work, what do you remember about them on set, and do you remember any murder sequences that were shot but did not show up in the final cut or that were shot differently for the film?

I remember them being very cool guys. I got along with everyone on the crew. I was so interested in what they did. The stunt guys even gave me an honorary stuntman’s badge. I did all my own stunts and I was the hands of Angela and I had to hold my breath in a tub in brutally cold water for the canoe scene, so I earned it. I think everything that was shot ended up in the film.

5. You mention in another interview that “I went in for an audition that my agent got me… and I knew after reading for it I got the part! I never felt so right about a part before.” What was it about the film and the audition that made you feel that way and in what ways did the director allow you to make the character of Ricky your own?

I had an immediate connection to Robert Hiltzig. I can’t explain it. It is weird because he and I have always had a complicated relationship. I just remember walking out of the audition and knowing that I was Ricky.

6. Many actors and directors often talk about films in their past and marvel at how some of them have gone on to be cult classics. At the time of filming, most state that they had no idea that later on down the line, that their one film shaped and influenced future generations of fans and film makers alike. Did you have any idea 30 years ago that Sleepaway Camp was going to be one of those films, and what did you think this film would be and mean in terms of your career?

We didn’t know it would turn into what it has but we knew something special was going on. We were all like a family from the moment we hit the set. We are all still friendly. It was a very big deal when it came out so we knew it was well received, but thirty years later, c’mon.

7. You came back in 2008 to reprise your of Ricky for Return to Sleepaway Camp, but in 1998 and 1999, we has Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers and Sleepaway Camp III: Teenage Wasteland. The story of Angela was continued, but we heard nothing of Ricky in those films. Were you upset at all about not being in those sequels, were you even approached to be in those films, and were you happy with how things went down with Return to Sleepaway Camp? How did it feel to revisit that character after all of that time?

I was furious that I wasn’t asked to be in 2 or 3. I thought that was ridiculous. I have never seen either film. As far as Return, that was a very difficult time for me. I am not proud of my performance. I haven’t seen that one either.

8. Filming took place at a actual summer camp. Did you guys actually stay at the camp while shooting the film, and if you did, do you feel like that helped convey the camping experience and looseness that cast conveyed to the camera?

No, we actually stayed at a motel. We were at the camp so much (and we ate in the mess hall) that it did feel like I was back at camp. Except when shooting was over I didn’t have to sleep in a cabin.

9. Since you are a musician as well, I am sure you know that Sleepaway Camp has inspired several bands to do songs based off of Angela and the film itself. Punk band The Blood Brothers titled a song Me meet at the waterfront after the social”, metal band Fright had a song called “Angela”, Senses Fail had one entitled “Angela Baker and my obsession with fire”, post hardcore band These Arms Are Snakes had two songs entitled “Shit Sisters” and “Angela’s Secret”. Have you heard any of these songs and are you surprised that the film inspired artists outside of film to continue its legacy?

I have not heard any of these songs, but I do know of several punk bands called ‘Eat Shit and Live’.

10. In 2003, Anchor Bay released an absolutely beautiful 4 disc box set for the Sleepaway Camp series. The US DVD box set issued in 2003 was originally made to look like a 1st aid kit, but had to be changed following complaints from the US Red Cross. What did you think of the box set and what did you think of the Red Cross’ complaints about it?

Any publicity is good publicity. I have never watched the box set and I do not own it. I certainly have signed a lot of them.

11. The horror convention circuit certainly has gotten behind the reunion tours for these classic horror films. What was it like back in 2001 for the Sleepaway Camp Reunion? Were you surprised by what the fans remembered from the films, and what were some of the more unique items from the film did you see/get asked to sign?

I was extremely surprised. Bruce Campbell was at the same convention and our lines were bigger than his. People had made dolls and other strange things to sign, but mostly posters and VHS (at that time). I have signed a few boobs (which is weird because as soon as they take a shower…)

12. What do you think the ultimate legacy of this film is and its impact on the genre and general culture?

I think the impact is the impact of all memorable films. If you have a great story that is ‘CHARACTER DRIVEN’ than you have a chance of making something that lasts.

13. Thank you for your time and thank you for playing Ricky! What else can you tell us about how it has popped up in your life and is there anything you would like to say to your fans?

My newest film is ‘The Perfect House’. It is the first film outside of The SC franchise that stars both me and Felissa Rose. I have won best actor awards at ‘The Macabre Faire Film Festival’ in New York and ‘The Underdogs Film Festival’ in Texas. Since its release it has stayed atop iTunes ‘TOP 200 HORROR MOVIES LIST’ for three weeks. Last I checked it was 38th. I am working with Brian Witten, producer of ‘The Wedding Singer’, ‘Final Destination’, The Chernobyl Diaries’, ‘American History X’, and the upcoming Stephen King story (starring John Cusack) ‘The Cell’ to produce films together. I am going to do some acting in pictures with the production team of Andrea Albin and Scott Spiege (Evil Dead, Spider Man), ‘Fatality Films’ I am looking a doing a TV movie thriller this fall. I am making my next EP with Paul Phillips (Puddle of Mudd) as producer in June. I am still writing and still touring and I have a track on national radio called ‘I’m Alone (The Single). I have another film coming out this year a psychological thriller called ‘Redemption’. Nothing much really…