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 LMC:
How do you care for your masks?
BC:
85%
of my collection is foam filled. In addition I cover my masks with
clear plastic bags and keep them out of the sunlight. I know it's a
crazy way to display your collection but it has allowed me to
preserve pieces that are over 25 years old.
LMC:
What do you think about collecting something that won’t last
forever?
 BC:
Wait
until it's about to rot, then put it on ebay. Seriously I have to
say that I have not had a problem with masks rotting due to the way
I take care of my colletcion. Then there is always the Mask Doctor
Kelly Mann. He can restore anything!
LMC:
How do
you chose which mask to part with from your collection?
 BC:
If it were up to me, I would keep everything. I have sold more masks
then I own over the years. When you have so many masks, it's hard to
appreciate each one individually when you see this massive
collection. I try to stick to the masks I really love. I will admit
that I have sold many masks that I later regretted parting with. My
advice is to keep everything if you can afford it.
LMC:
Any
masks you regret letting go?
BC:
I once
owned an original screen used Predator 2 mask. I've also sold some
unthinkable pieces like the original Distortions Alien with the
dome, the Sam McCain Shape and Jason, DonPost original 60's foam
master Lugosi Dracula and Glen Strange Frankenstein. Sometimes it
seems like I've owned everything at one time or another. I always
say if you're patient and willing to spend some money, you will find
everything you are looking for eventually.
 LMC:
Where do you go to stock your collection?
BC: It
used to be old costume stores or other collectors. Today it's the
internet without a doubt
LMC: What indicates a good quality mask when
you finally get a hold of it?
BC:
Of
course the sculpt has a lot to do with it but the paint job is the
most important thing. A great paint job can make many average masks
look fantastic.
 LMC:
Would
you rather have 5 so so masks or 1 unbelievable one for the same
price?
BC:
I'll
take the one unbelievable mask for sure.
LMC:
How do
you feel when that box shows up at your door?
BC: Like
a kid on Christmas morning. that's what makes this hobby so fun.
It's the same as when I was 14 years old and my parents gave me a
Mummy 5000 BC for my birthday.
LMC:
Do your non mask friends think you are nuts
BC:
I have
no non-mask friends.
 LMC:
What
collectors out there rival your collection in size and rarity?
BC:
Wow,
there are so many great collections out there. I've travelled all
accross the country just to visit fellow collectors and take
pictures. Dante Renta has the best Don Post Universal collection,
Steve Haberman the best classic movie mask colletcion. My good
friend Larry Kidd has the best modern horror movie prop and model
kit collection. And David Lady always has a collection second to
none. There is one collector out there that I have not seen on the
internet who I feel has the most impressive and complete overall
mask collection. His name is Frank Tocco from New York. This guy has
everything, and I mean EVERYTING! He's been doing this forever and
has an enormous collection. In addition, he is insane when it comes
to customizing and displaying his masks. Many are professionally
costumed! I beleive he had to purchase a second home just for his
collection (I'm serious). Frank has the best cross section of
vintage Don Post, Distortions, etc., along with all the movie stuff,
Halloween Society, Alvarez, you name it, all finished to perfection.
And he never sells anything. Of course all this is just my opinion.
 LMC:
Do you
ever wear your masks?
BC:
You
can wear masks?
LMC:
How
has mask collecting changed with the advent of the internet?
BC:
It
provides a forum for collectors and artists to trade, sell and keep
the hobby alive. It's also much easier to find stuff. I used to run
up $500 phone bills calling all over the country looking for masks.
LMC:
Is it
for the better?
 BC:
Very
much so.
LMC:
Have
you ever tried your hand at mask making?
BC:
Never
have. Probably a combination of lack of talent and overall laziness.
I'd rather have the box arrive at the door, open it up, put it on
the shelf and I'm done.
LMC:
What
one mask do you want that you don’t have?
BC:
There
really isn't one single mask that comes to mind. I'd always like to
add a piece or two to my vintage Distortions collection but there is
not one single mask out there that I'm dying to have but cannot
locate. If you had asked me that question last year I would have
said the Distortions Warlord mask from the mid 80's. But thanks to a
very unselfish tip from my friend Rhonda Underwood, I got one on
ebay for $25!
 LMC:
What
one mask will you never part with?
BC:
There's probably a few hundred I'll take to the grave but certainly
my original "Land" Creature tops the list.
LMC:
What
is your opinion of the Myers craze?
BC:
I
think it's fun. It amazes me the passion some collectors have
collecting the one simple likeness. I get a kick out of seeing some
collections with ten or twenty Myers masks all lined up. Personally
I am not into the Myers thing but will admit to owning six different
versions anyway. I do love most of the films as well.
 LMC:
How do
you see mask collecting evolving years down the road?
BC:
It
just seems like more and more quality stuff is available. In the
past, you had a very few number of artists out there to sculpt or
paint your mask. Now it's possible to commision real movie artists
to do work. And studios are releasing pieces from the original molds
like the Predator, Pumpkinhead, etc. This kind of stuff was unheard
of in the 80's. It should only get better.
LMC:
Do you ever see the general population seeing
masks for anything more than Halloween throwaways?
 BC:
I
think it will always be a unique hobby and I don't think that's a
bad thing. It's cool to be involved in a cult-like hobby that few
have an appreciation for. It makes it all the better when the
exterminator walks into your house, looks around and says "holy
shit, what is this!"
LMC:
Do you
ever seek out commissions?
BC:
As
previously mentioned. To me there is nothing more fun than having
commissioned a piece.
 LMC:
Where
will your collection go if it outlasts you?
BC:
In the
ground right next to me. It will have to be a pretty big plot!
Seriously I'd like to think that some of my friends who have helped
me assemble it would get first shot (assuming they are still
around). The rest will go on ebay!
LMC:
If you
had ten million dollars, what mask related purchases would come your
way?
 BC:
I'd
walk into Stan Winston's Studios and put them to work. How about a
T-Rex? Full Size Predator 1 & 2? Alien Queen? Monster Squad Gillman?
Now that is a dream come true!
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