Mad Monster convention promises a ‘Scream’ reunion, a Ramone, and a ‘Mandalorian’ star

The annual Mad Monster Party returns to the Hilton Charlotte University Place this weekend for three days of horror and pop culture.

This year’s celebrity guests include Carl Weathers (“Rocky,” “Predator,” and — most recently — “The Mandalorian”), “Nightmare on Elm Street’s” Robert Englund, “Terminator’s” Edward Furlong, Ramones’ drummer Marky Ramone, and “Scream” stars Neve Campbell, Matthew Lillard, Jamie Kennedy and Roger L. Jackson (aka the voice of Ghostface).

(Note: Campbell and Weathers will only appear Saturday and Sunday).

This week, the Observer spoke to three of the convention’s guests in preparation for the big, bloody Valentine’s weekend.

Neve Campbell

Q. How did you get involved in these conventions?

My friend Michael McDowell told me it might be a good idea to start doing them. What’s wonderful about them is watching like-minded people who are passionate about the same thing meeting each other and making connections. They get to let loose. I really enjoy observing.

Q. How does making something like “Scream” compare to doing something more down-to-earth, from an acting standpoint?

As much as there is a great deal of humor, and it’s heightened in a sense, you have to be grounded in the character. Certainly for Sidney, if I had not been grounded in the character, I’m not sure it would have worked. The audience sees what’s happening through her eyes. Sidney throughout all the films represents that. That person you follow.

Q. “The Craft” and “Scream” presented relatable, confident female role models long before #MeToo. Is that something you often hear from fans?

It’s fantastic as an actress when you get the opportunity to play a role that helps give (viewers) confidence or reflects their own lives. It’s rare an actor gets to understand the impact. So many (fans) talk about the effect “The Craft” had on their lives. So lovely to realize you have an impact somehow. ... With the hashtag movement and women’s voices growing, our stories are becoming more important, finally. It’s good to see even 20 years ago there was the beginning of that.

Q. Any news on “Scream 5?”

I’ve not been told about it, but I’ve read about it. I think it’s in the very early stages. Maybe they’ve acquired the rights to it. Truthfully, I have no idea if they intend to come to me.

Marky Ramone

Q. How did you get involved in these conventions?

The promoters asked me if I would do it, and I thought it would be great because I collect, too. I have a sci-fi poster collection, and when I go to these things I always find something. So I sign autographs and take pictures and see my friends — kill two birds with one stone.

Q. Where do you keep your collection?

My place. I have storage rooms, and what I do is rotate like a museum where you’ll have something on display for a while and switch it out.

Q. What else do you enjoy about the conventions?

I like meeting the younger people that come. They love the Ramones. We talk about what’s going on in their lives. They aren’t any different than anyone else. They want job security, to be able to make a living. A lot of things that I can relate to. They want to have a clean world, and that’s what they expect. And they’re ready to vote.

Q. If the other members were still alive, do you think the Ramones would cash in on a reunion like so many others acts have?

We never believed in reunion bands. If they were still alive, we wouldn’t have done a reunion. We stopped at our peak. The impression you leave in someone’s mind of your last show, that’s how you want to remember them — not as a singer that can’t hit the notes, or is 30 or 40 pounds (overweight).

Q. As a fan, what are your favorite scary movies?

I’ll go by decade. The ’40s: I loved “Frankenstein,” “Dracula” and “The Wolfman.” ’50s: “Godzilla: King of Monsters,” “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” “Forbidden Planet,” “The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms.” The ’60s? “2001: Space Odyssey.” Sci-fi films weren’t that big in the ’60s. “Alien” in the ’70s. “The Exorcist,” which freaked my friend out. He had to walk out of the theater. In the ’80s you had Freddy Krueger and the slasher movies, then later on I was watching the remakes of “Godzilla” and “King Kong,” which the first one is one of my favorites. But they don’t have the charm. It’s all effects. The acting was important. Now it’s all digitized and acting is secondary. They can be a little over-the-top.

Carl Weathers

Q. What made you want to become part of the “Star Wars” universe?

I hadn’t specifically been thinking about “Star Wars.” I was in conversation with Jon Favreau. He was interested in having me be a part of it. He gave me a tour of the production offices that the company inhabited. In the conference room, there was wall-to-wall artwork and (he) shared the idea of what he wanted to do. ... (I signed on) because of the quality of it all.

Q. Did you have any inkling it would be a success?

No clue. How do you know something is going to be successful? I’ve experienced that before — where it was good, but not quite as good. I didn’t expect it to be a huge hit, but I didn’t expect it to be a bomb. It’s probably exceeded a lot of expectations.

Q. How were you able to keep the secret of The Child (aka Baby Yoda) from leaking?

Everybody was basically asked not to reveal what was going on, and no photos were being taken. Everyone seemed to honor that, and here we are all these months later and no one knew what we had until it was released.

Q. In the show Baby Yoda is about the cutest thing ever, but what was it like working with it?

It’s like working with any inanimate object. What makes it work is the character is such a cute little character that the audience accepts it. And the writing.

Mad Monster Party - Carolina

When: 6-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Hilton Charlotte University Place, 8629 JM Keynes Drive.

Tickets: $35 for single-day passes Friday or Sunday; $45 for single-day passes Saturday; $80 for a three-day pass.

Details: www.madmonster.com.

This story was originally published February 13, 2020 at 1:12 PM.