By: Denna Beena
Contributing Writer***UPDATE: On Saturday 5/18 Norman Reedus canceled his appearance at Spooky Empire's MayHem due to a contractual obligation with AMC . The MayHem will go on and still be amazing! ***
Now in their eleventh year, of bringing two full shows to Orlando annually (Spooky Empire’s MayHem in May, and Spooky Empire’s Ultimate Horror Weekend in October), the Southeast’s largest horror convention is gearing up for their May show. This time, there are even more exciting surprises from producers Petey & Gina Mongelli. Not only will Norman Reedus (AMC’s The Walking Dead, Boondock Saints) be appearing all weekend at MayHem, but joining him will be C. Thomas Howell (The Outsiders, Red Dawn, The Hitcher), Zach Gillgain (Gremlins, Waxworks) and the voice of Ursula, Pat Carroll (The Little Mermaid), along with many more. Check out the full guest list on their website.
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| Spooky Empire's producer's Petey & Gina Mongelli with Norman Reedus (giving his signature pose). |
In addition to the huge media guest lineup, amazing vendors, and exciting events at MayHem, Spooky Empire, for the first time ever, is teaming up with Atlanta’s mega haunt, NetherWorld, and TransWorld, a giant in the Haunted Attraction and Halloween Industry. The trio of terror will bring to Orlando and the general public, access to movie and theme park-quality props and effects usually reserved for professionals.
From the press release: “Home haunters and Halloween enthusiasts will now have the opportunity to obtain the very same items used by professional attractions and events the world over, allowing anyone and everyone to create a truly professional haunt experience.”
Orlando is going to have some truly tricked out Halloween displays this year! I had the opportunity to chat it up with Petey and Gina; here’s what they had to say:
tdc: How and why did you start Spooky Empire?
Petey: I always wanted to run my own convention. I used to work on conventions in New York and New Jersey, like the KISS Conventions and various baseball card shows. I also used to go to all of the toy conventions in Florida, but I felt Florida didn’t have what I was looking for. The conventions here were basically just a vendor room and maybe one or two celebrity guests that was it. I wanted to do something more like the shows up north. I talked about it for years, until my friend Blaine Kimball kicked me in the ass and helped me get it going in 2002. He was my partner for the first three years.
tdc: What’s the toughest part of putting your shows together?
Trying to please everyone, which we’ve realized is impossible. Putting together the right guest list is pretty tricky too. If you don’t put the right guest list together, you don’t draw the people that keep the show going.
tdc: Who would be your dream guest for a celebrity appearance for one of your shows?
My dream guest was actually Ace Frehley, which we did accomplish. Now, I think we’d love to have Jack Nicholson or Sissy Spacek.
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| The Mongelli's with Ace Frehley at Spooky Empire's MayHem 2012 |
tdc: What are some "payoff" moments for you (when you knew you were doing the right thing or got that "THIS is why I do it" confirmation)?
The first time we realized it was the second show, we did a Q & A with The Devil’s Rejects. We were able to get a trailer of the film before it was released from Rob Zombie, plus some rare photos from the set. We were the first show to get it. We planned on showing it on Sunday in a small ballroom at the hotel, but the line wrapped around the entire hotel. So we had to move it to a much bigger room.
The second “payoff moment” was the during the second year we were at the Wyndham/Orlando. Gina and I walked out to the pool and there were people gathered around the pool for as far as you could see. It was a pretty cool sight.
tdc: Any surprise guests or events you can let The Daily City in on? How about a hint?
Nope, sorry No hints here…keep checking the website!
Join the fun and insanity of Spooky Empire’s MayHem hosted at The Rosen Center on I-drive May 24-26, and don’t forget to engrave Spooky Empire’s Ultimate Horror Weekend on your calendar for the ULTIMATE Halloween weekend, October 25-27 hosted at the Doubletree by Hilton at Universal.
