What’s your most memorable Halloween experience?

I remember it like it was yesterday. I begged and begged for my dad to take me to Horror Nights at our local amusement park. I was dressed as a decaying vampire - full makeup and costume that my dad made for me. I spent half the night with my face buried in his back, and most of my makeup was thoroughly embedded in his shirt. I was scared out of my mind, but loved every second of it. I loved the idea of being able to get a rush out of scaring people, and loved being scared.

Tell us why you would make it to the end of a horror movie.

Through years of watching the trial and error in all of the films in the 70s and 80s, you pick up all of the things NOT to do. No upstairs, no blind alleys, no enclosed spaces, NO CLOSETS.

What would you do with the unlucky $13,000?

It's such a tough toss up between traveling to horror film locations I have yet to see, and starting the funding of a new film. I can't wait to get back behind the lens of a camera on a film. I love bringing horror to life, and love watching my creations making people jump, scream, retch...it's an amazing feeling to watch something you've done getting such visceral reactions from an audience.

Who is your real-life hero who you would want to survive a horror movie with?

It's hard to pick one person. So many have influenced my life in so many amazing ways. Keeping it in the horror vein, I think I'll have to go with Cassandra Peterson. Not only is she the creator of the immortal Elvira - a tough and ballsy woman with razor sharp wit, but she's also become such a symbol for queer visibility and inclusion in horror. Not only am I sure we'd make it out alive, she'd have me laughing the whole time.