Jacob Tierney
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Interview With Jacob Tierney By Chris
Jacob Tierney is actor/director with talent.
He wrote and directed the brilliant film Twist.
He is a talent which is going to go far.
Interview With Jacob Tierney By Chris
1. How did you get into acting and directing?
I started acting when I was 6 (a yoghurt commercial was my
first job) and things just kind of steam rolled from there.
Directing only really started occuring to me after I had
written my first script – which was Twist,
incidentally.
2. What was the inspiration behind Twist?
I got the idea for the film while watching a production of
the musical in London. The idea for the film was to take a
bunch of iconic characters and situations and refocus them
on implied cyclical nature of violence and abuse already
present in the original book, “Oliver Twist”.
3. Has your film been sold overseas for release in the
cinemas?
We got very lucky and have distribution deals in Canada,
the US, France and England – hopefully with others to
follow.
4. How did you get Nick Stahl involved with the
film?
Nick is actually one of my closest friends and I wrote the
part for him. Thankfully, he’s such a good guy that roping
him into doing the movie after finishing T3 was easy as
pie.
5. Was it hard to get your film up and
running?
Yes. Very.
6. How did you get your film in the melbourne film
festival?
I’m not sure, to be honest. I gather one of the programmers
must has seen the film at another festival and wanted it to
be included in Melbourne’s line-up. Regardless, I’m very
grateful that the film was asked to participate.
7. When the movie gets released on dvd will there be
commentary and heaps of extras?
When you make a movie for the tiny amount of money we made
Twist for, heaps of extras are not exactly an option. There
will be a making-of movie (I think) and a commentary (for
sure – Nick and I have already done it).
8. Have you had much comment from people about the
film?
The movie seems to affect people quite strongly one way or
the other. They either are very moved by it or are
absolutely livid with it.
9. How did you get involved with the film Poor White
Trash?
I took a meeting with Michael Addis (the film’s
writer/director), read for him and got the gig.
10. Was it fun playing a character like Lennie
Lake?
Yes, it was. I hadn’t made a comedy in a while and I had a
terrific time doing that film.
11. Was the film fun to work on?
It was a super-hot summer in Southern Illinois and we were
in a pretty small town with not a lot to do – so, needless
to say, it was like being at camp and was very fun.
12. Who would you most like to work with?
As an actor: Ken Loach, as a director: Aaron
Eckhardt.
13. What are some of your favourite movies?
Land and Freedom (Loach), Eternity and a Day, In the Mood
For Love, Rebecca.
14. What movies have you seen lately you really
enjoyed?
Irreversible, Morvern Caller, The Piano Teacher.
15. What are some of your favourite musical
artists?
Wilco, Johnny Cash, PJ Harvey, Leonard Cohen.
16. What would we find on Jacob Tierney stereo at the
moment?
Wilco’s “A Ghost is Born”, The Constantines’ “Shine A
Light” (the Constantines are a brilliant Canadian band that
should be sought out).
17. What are your thoughts on studio doing remakes of
old movies?
What would you remake?
My only thought is that they should do them well. The only
movie I would probably be too tempted not to remake would
be Sydney Pollack’s “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” – but
then I would have to answer the question why would I want
to remake a film that I think is perfect?
18. What are your thoughts on the realty tv
format?
I love it. Actors can learn a lot from people.
19. What is next in the pipeline for you?
Hopefully I’ll start shooting my next film this fall.
Thanks for your time Jacob any last words?
Thanks again for your support man – good luck with the
zine.
Special thanks for Gary Goddard Agency for hooking this up
and of course Jacob for doing it
