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Nathan Baesel has the distinction of playing the nicest serial killer you'd ever
want to meet. A veteran of television and theater, and a graduate of the
esteemed Julliard Academy, Nathan has burst onto the scene with his portrayal of
a man who wants to follow in the footsteps of Myers, Voorhees, and Krueger.
In BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON, Nathan plays the title character
with an overall sense of glee, a man hellbent on becoming a slasher legend and
is documented every step of the way. Nathan's performance has helped BEHIND THE
MASK (out on DVD June 26th from Anchor Bay Entertainment) become one of the most
talked about independent horror films in the past few years.
Recently, Nathan took time to step into the Crypt to answer questions regarding
the making of this future cult classic and other topics, including working in
theater and his theater program, and his feelings towards the horror genre and
his favorite slasher of them all.
CC: Who or what inspired you to get into acting?
NATHAN BAESEL: My older brothers lured me into acting more than
anything. We all did church plays growing up which were fun but they took
acting classes and did plays in high school and I followed in their
footsteps. I'm the the only one in a very creative family who went into
acting as a profession but I'm sort of a test case. If things go well
enough for me you might see a Baesel Explosion onto the acting scene.
CC: Who is Leslie Vernon to you?
NB: Leslie is a normal guy. He has his ups he has his downs but he
finds a great deal of solace in his work. He's one of the lucky few of us
who's realized his purpose in life and goes about his work with the
unbridled joy and enthusiasm of one who's doing what he was put on this
planet to do. We should all be so lucky! Oh, and he's a psycho-slasher.
CC: How much preparation did you do in order to play Leslie?
NB: I didn't do much prep. Didn't need to because most of the film is a
faux documentary so I just had to be real and responsive to the "documentarians".
But having watched the first three Nightmare On Elm Street movies as a
kid, and having seen bits and pieces of the Halloweens over the years, I
thought it was necessary to see Friday The 13th to get a taste of the
other main influence which Leslie emulates in his career. I wanted to bone
up on all the classic slasher films before shooting began but I didn't
have a lot of time and frankly they scare the POOP out of me.
CC: Being that BEHIND THE MASK took place in a world where slasher icons
Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, and Michael Myers exist, if you had to
choose, which one is your favorite?
NB: Freddy has so much damn charisma so I have to go with him.
CC: What was the experience working with Scott Glosserman?
NB: I had a blast with Scott. He was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable
about the genre and willing to allow me creative freedom. I couldn't have
been in better hands. I felt totally comfortable and creative and
supported. I'd work like that all the time if I could.
CC: Being that most of the film was shot documentary style, how much room
was there for improvisation? I loved the take where in the library you
grab Milton’s PARADISE LOST and say “Found it.”
NB: It was important to keep a very real feel to the documentary part
and I'm one who cringes at the idea of doing a scene the same every time
anyway, so there was a bit of improvisation but the script had that feel
already built into it and it was pretty wordy so there wasn't much need to
go veering off on improv tangents. That being said, the Paradise Lost bit
WASN'T in the script. I was partying with the cast/crew on the last week
of shooting and somebody said the line (I still can't remember who having
been under many influences at the time). I laughed my ass off and told
them I was going to steel the line for the film. They dared me to. I never
back down from a dare. The last day of shooting was at the Portland Public
Library. We were in a library for Pete's sake! If you can't reference
Paradise Lost in a library where can you do it?
CC: What would you say was the most challenging aspect of working on
BEHIND THE MASK?
NB: The cold. The damp, frigid cold. We worked the whole month of
October in Portland and I made the bonehead choice to go without shoes as
The Boy. Although it was a better look for the character it was a painful
result for the actor. I got hypothermia several times during the tail end
of the shoot when we were doing all of the film sequences with The Boy
because I would stay in character out in the frozen fields and mud patches
between takes. When we'd wrap the scene I would wipe all that shit off my
feet, wrap up in towels and a parka and shiver by the heat vent in the
trailer until I warmed up. It took me weeks before I got my body temp all
the way back up after we wrapped the film.
CC: Being that Leslie Vernon is now a cult figure, what’s the strangest
request you’ve received from a fan?
NB: Not many fortunately. People have been very excited about the film
but very respectful as well. It's been a pleasure to meet fans on
Myspace
and on my blog.
CC: You have an extensive theater background, including graduating from
Juilliard. Having worked in both film and theater, what are the
differences and challenges in working in both mediums?
NB: Theater is all inclusive. You have to be sharp and fully in
character at all times. There's an exciting live element which is
unparalleled as well. The audience is like another character in the play
and taking them along on the ride with you and feeling them there with you
every step of the way is really powerful. Film/TV is a more restrictive
medium for several reasons but every now and then you get to work on a
project like BTM where not only is it liberating but it's creatively
expansive as well. I learned tons working on the film.
CC: What are your personal feelings about the horror genre?
NB: Like I said, horror/slasher films scare me. They really do. I
generally stear away from them unless my younger sister (who lives for
them) coerces me into accompanying her.
CC: You are a founder of Theater Mitu in New York. Could you explain what
is Theater Mitu and what are the goals for the program?
NB: theater Mitu is a group of amazing artists assembled and guided by
Ruben Polendo who gets insane and beautiful work out of people. Much of
the work is original text through which the group explores the dance and
theatrical forms of other non-western cultures. It's highly physical,
totally demanding and incredibly satisfying work. The end result is
theater unlike any you'll see anywhere else.
CC: What’s next for Nathan Baesel?
NB: There's a Fangoria convention coming up mid-May in Burbank, L.A.
that I'm looking forward to. Me and some other folks from BTM will be
heading a Q&A panel to promote the DVD release on June 26th. I'd like to
see y'all there.
CC: I leave the last word for you for horror fans.
NB: I hope you enjoy the film. It was made with a lot of blood, sweat
and tears and tons of love and affection for a genre that tends to be
spoofed more than saluted. The dvd will be a great package with tons of
extra features. Get it. Buy beer. Call friends. Put on the disc. Turn up
the TV. Have fun.
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