On the main page of this site, I put up a picture of myself with the man himself, Clive Barker, from the Fangoria Weekend of Horrors convention. OK, I look 12 in the picture and I may be looked at as a groupie, but I don't give a shit. This is the man whose work more directly has driven me to do what I love to do, and I don't mean just his films. I went on Sunday to meet my idol. I wasn't expecting to have my most fulfilling moment as a filmmaker.
I remember the first time I saw both "Hellraiser" and it's sequel "Hellbound: Hellraiser 2" back to back. My brother Chris introduced me to Clive and these films, and I haven't looked back since. There was just such a beauty behind the story and it was something completely fresh and unique, something horror desperately needed at time away from "slasher haven." In my opinion, I think "Hellraiser" was the best horror film of the 1980s, bar none. I make an effort to watch it every Halloween, but for some odd reason it's my Easter film as well (don't ask).
I think what I've most admired and most appreciated from Clive was that he pretty much showed me the freedom to explore sides of my personality that I never knew I had, and even took it to some dark areas. Looking at it now as I am approaching 30, I am glad that I did some things that a lot may cringe at, because it allowed me to grow as an individual. If we go through the same routine day in and day out, you just end up closing yourself further and further away from society.
During his talk with Fangoria editor Tony Timpone to start off his presentation, Clive had mentioned that he loves the fact that his work has allowed other people to open up the door to their imaginations. In saying that, he also mentioned the endless amount of projects he has in the horizon, and I can't fucking wait. After a half hour on stage, the second part of the day began, in which Clive stayed to sign all autographs and talk with the fans. I was with my brother Chris, to whom Clive is a god. To say that we were nervous was a huge understatement. I asked Chris to go first as I tried to get the nerve to plug myself. There's so many like me trying to make it in films, and I can only imagine how it can be for someone like Clive to take any one of us seriously. I had a copy of "Unadulterated" on me, and after I thanked him for helping to open the door for me, I asked for his permission to give him my film before he kindly accepted it. I had mentioned about myself and he was asking about what I want to do as a career. As I'm answering his question, I noticed that he took the DVD cover out of its sleeve and I'm thinking to myself "What the hell is he doing?"
Clive, with a big smile on his face, looked at the DVD cover and turned it around towards me with his Sharpie. He asked me to autograph it to him, in front of my brother, his assistant, and a line of about two hundred people, and a huge gasp came over the crowd. Here I am, signing my first autograph, to one of the biggest influences in my life. After I signed it and gave it back to him, making sure all my contact information was there, my brother took the picture on the main page of this site. As we left the convention shortly after, and still high on the cloud (and have been since), it just amazed me to think that for a man as loved in the industry as he is, he took me seriously and gave me total respect. I don't know if there's anything more you can ask for as an artist.
He definitely opened a new door for me. Now I can't let it slam shut on my face.
To Clive, just simply, thank you.
Scott
