By Julie Waters
FROM Bangor to New York and Japan, the Ghostbuster festive video phenomenon Pass the Trap is proving to be a global hit raising vital funds for charity.
As dedicated members of the Ghostbusters NI cosplay group, the Taylor family, dad Bill, mum Elaine and their daughter Aurora have found themselves at the heart of a worldwide video sensation.
What started as a smaller UK Christmas campaign, in which enthusiasts of the hit 1980s paranormal film record festive messages to be compiled into a video, has now attracted fans from across the world.
Once the global video has been created, plans are in the pipeline to raise as much money as possible by selling Pass the Trap merchandise, to support the vital work of the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice.
Four decades after the original Ghostbusters film was released, starring Bill Murrary, Dan Aykroyd, Rick Moranis, Harold Ramis and Sigourney Weaver, a new generation of fans has been born after the release of the latest films.
The Ghostbusters regularly save the world from all sorts of ghostly goings on, capturing these other worldly beings in their ‘trap’ before they are stored in the containment unit – and who can forget their iconic catchphrase, ‘Who you gonna call – Ghostbusters’.
Elaine and her family, who live in Bangor, have been members of the Ghostbusters NI for the past two years, and have been blown away by the global Pass the Trap response.
“It really has taken a life of its own,” said Elaine. “It’s gone global, we are getting videos from Japan, to Australia, and we actually had a video from New York pass their trap across the Atlantic to the Titanic slipway in Belfast.”
She explained how the Pass the Trap phenomenon was inspired by a family tradition. “We just wanted to bring the Ghostbusters community together across Ireland and the United Kingdom in a Christmas activity.
“We got the Pass the Trap idea from Pass the Plate where you pass a plate on to a friend or family member and they use it throughout the whole year. So we got in touch with our various groups and asked them to take part.”
Said Elaine: “It has went way beyond our expectations, it is phenomenal the way it has taken off. We were just hoping five or six groups from across the UK and Ireland would take part and it has now gone all over the world with people keen keen to get involved.”
The Ghostbusters NI group currently boasts 24 senior members, seven cadets aged up to 18 years, and 10 junior cadets who are under 10 years old, and helping others through their cosplay passion is at their core.
They regularly attend Comic Cons, which are fan conventions, and take part in street collections dressed in their Ghostbusters jumpsuits with a host of impressive equipment from proton packs to ghost scanners.
“Our main charity is the Children’s Hospice and when we attend Comic Cons we would regularly hold ballots and prize draws and all the proceeds go to the hospice. We are also hoping to work with the Cats Protection charity next year,” said Elaine.
They will also be raising funds through their Pass the Trap video campaign as Elaine explained: “We are going to be generating revenue through Pass the Trap merchandise such as pin badges and t-shirts with all the proceeds going to the Children’s Hospice.”
Elaine spoke of the joy their Ghostbusters group brings to others saying: “Whenever we are out on the streets and at Comic Cons the amount of people who want their photograph taken with you and the equipment is amazing. They are all excited about getting photographed with our proton packs.
“The 1980s is coming back into vogue with the likes of the Stranger Things series, and with the new Ghostbuster films we are getting new generations of fans. It is also a family thing, it is about teamwork, camaraderie and community.”
The group is always keen to recruit new members. “Anybody who would like to join Ghostbusters NI is very welcome,” said Elaine.
“We have all age groups, from seniors, to cadets and junior cadets – our latest junior cadet was born just last week. We are open to all ages and have different activities for all age groups.”
For further information about the Ghostbusters NI group, visit: ghostbustersni.co.uk
