10 Questions with Jonathan Tiersten

FD: Have you been involved with the Mile High Horror Festival before? What’s special about this experience for you?

JT: I have been involved every year but one.  Tim Schultz (event founder) is such a great guy.  He has turned this into a bigger thing every year.  It supports indie filmmakers while celebrating those who inspired them.  It is a wonderful, enriching and exciting four-day experience.

FD: Is horror it for you? Or would you like to spread your wings into other types of roles; comedy, drama, historical docu-fiction?

JT: I am not genre-specific.  I did an ABC after school special in 1987 that won an Emmy (Seasonal Differences).  I played a high school student who was protesting a nativity scene on public school property.  I have done Shakespeare.  I have done standup comedy — once.  Point of fact, my solo acoustic show has a little of that in it.  I might try it again one day.  I have done voice over work.  As long as it is creative, I am in. I love the idea of historical docu-fiction because I am a wonk. Comedy is a no brainer for me.  Ken Foree dubbed me “The Funniest Man in Horror.”  That is good because before that I was just the “Shortest Man in Horror.”

FD: Why do you choose to stay in Colorado as opposed to heading to a more actor/musician-focused market like L.A. or New York?

JT: The short answer is that my family is here.  Without my wife and son none of this stuff would matter.  Just last evening I was talking with a Hollywood executive.  We have entered into a partnership to produce together.  It is hard to get him to pull the trigger on something while I am out here.  We are working out some kind of arrangement where I spend about one week a month in LA.  This should be a scheduling situation akin to the flight of The Hindenburg.  I see producing as the next logical step for me.  It might be horror but it could be anything (probably not porn. I am a little prudish).  “The future’s made of Virtual Insanity.”  Why do I keep quoting other songwriters?

FD: Who’s on your iPod (or other personal music listening device) these days?

JT: 

“Movies” – Hothouse Flowers

“Old England” – The Waterboys

“Celebration Day” – Led Zeppelin

“CSN 2012” – Crosby, Stills and Nash

“The Four Seasons” – Antonio Vivaldi

“Casimir Pulaski Day”” – Sufjan Stephens

FD: What else is in the works for you?

JT: As I mentioned, I am working with a couple of producers in Hollywood.  One is Brian Witten who produced The Wedding Singer, American History X and has recently been working with Oren Peli (Paranormal Activity).  I will be reading a lot of scripts! Kris Hulbert (The Perfect House) is working on a new feature called Just Drive that I am consulting on.  He is also planning a prequel to The Perfect House that will focus on how John Doesy ended up becoming a killer.  It is to be called ‘The Perfect House: Origins (The John Doesy Story). I did a film called Redemption with George Loros (The Sopranos) and that should be out this year.  I play a pimp named Manuel Estefan. Next month I am headed to New Orleans.  I am going to play a solo acoustic show at Café Istanbul and then I am a celebrity judge at The New Orleans Horror Film Festival. Mile High is the following weekend. On November 1, I am playing a Halloween show with special guests at The Guitar Academy in Fort Collins.

Also in November Fangoria is doing a huge spread for the 30th anniversary of Sleepaway Camp. Oh and I almost forgot.  I did a remake of the Grammy Hall of Fame song “Love is Strange” for the new Plan 9 movie (based on Ed Wood’s classic).  I am hoping for a national release. For more, you can always check out Jonathantiersten.com.

Meet Jonathan Tiersten at the Mile High Horror Film Festival, Oct. 3 – 6, at the Alamo Drafthouse, 7301 S Santa Fe Dr., Unit #850, Littleton. For tickets and more information: www.milehighhorrorfestival.com.