Today's Halloween Web interviewee has the distinction of being the first that
I have actually met out in the "real world"!
Prepare yourselves for some amazing costumes...
My name is George Berce, I'm a horror nerd, 'Halloween is every day' kind of guy, and like to spend my free time dressing up as Tim Burton characters and sometimes drawing or creating digital art.
What was Halloween like in your neighborhood as a kid?
My early years were spent growing up in Allston, which is a neighborhood of Boston MA and not somewhere you should let your kids go out trick-or-treating alone. Because of this my mom would bring me to the mall every Halloween to trick-or-treat at the stores along with a ton of other kids. Eventually we moved into the suburbs and I got to experience legitimate trick-or-treating with my friends.
Do you have a particularly fond/funny/scary Halloween memory?
My favorite Halloween memory is October 31st 2000, the day my family moved into the house I currently live in. My two cousins came along to help with moving but as soon as we got to the house we began digging through boxes trying to find any sort of costume to throw on and as soon as the sun set we snuck out to trick-or-treat and explore my new neighborhood. We used pillow cases to hold our candy and by the time we headed home all three of our pillow cases were completely stuffed. There was no furniture yet so the three of sat on the floor of my new room to count and eat our precious candy. After a long day of hard work all three of us passed out on the floor next to our candy piles.
Any favorite costumes from Halloweens past?
My first 'cool' costume was Freddy Krueger, when I was in 8th grade. I was obsessed with slasher films and Freddy was (and still is) my favorite slasher. Then after many years of being a vampire I finally decided to put effort into my costume and in 2012 I spent many many countless hours creating my Edward Scissorhands costume from duct tape and foam board. It was a huge hit in Salem that year. In 2013 I was Jack Skellington and 2014 I was Beetlejuice. This year I will continue the trend and be Sweeney Todd.
What do you do to celebrate now, out in the real world?
Every year I go to Salem MA on Halloween night, this year will be my tenth year in a row going. I attend the Jack-o-lantern Spectacular in Providence every year also and try to make it to one of the haunted house attractions such as Barrett's Haunted Mansion, Spookyworld, and Fright Kingdom.
Do you have any yearly rituals?
Horror movies, apple cider, and pumpkin carving. Also this is the fourth season in a row that I've done a daily countdown to Halloween on Instagram.
Trick 'r Treat! I restrict myself to watching it once a year to keep it special, usually on October 13th. Hocus Pocus is also a classic that needs to be watched. As for music I like listening to horrorpunk type stuff around this time: The Misfits, Blitzkid, Calabrese, Wednesday 13, Creature Feature, AFI “All Hallow's EP”.
What do you think it is about Halloween that keeps it in our hearts as we get older?
For some people it's just a part of who they are. I never take down my Halloween decorations, it's always around me. For everyone else I'm sure nostalgia has alot to do with it. Also it's the one night a year that it's social acceptable for everyone to change into whoever/whatever they want to be for the evening.
Inside the Spookster's Studio
My favorite thing to get was...full size candy bars!
Where can folks find you online?
Before you run off to check out all the Cryptkeepers at Countdown to Halloween, here is today's audio Trick or Treat mix: Paranoia Got the Best of Me
Those costumes are fantastic!
ReplyDeleteYeah, he's got some serious talent there! I met up with him in Salem on Halloween and it looks just as impressive in person.
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