It's not every day you get the chance to meet your idol, but I was lucky enough to do just that last summer. As an early birthday present, I got the amazing opportunity to meet movie director John Carpenter.

Carpenter is responsible for the iconic music from Halloween (1978), Christine, and more, as he scores many of his own films. In the wake of the release of his second studio album Lost Themes II, he toured the world and played his music for a live audience. I jumped at the opportunity to meet him, even if would just be for a minute.

In the days leading up to the meet and greet, I planned out a small speech so that I may impress upon him his importance to me. However, the longer my sister (who was there for moral support) and I waited in line, the more I lost my nerve. We were probably the youngest people there by far.

I kept thinking to myself that he doesn't want to hear from some kid the same speech he's heard a thousand times.

When my turn finally came to get my carefully selected Michael Myers mask and clapperboard signed, I was too starstruck to say very much of anything except, "I brought a white marker" because my clapperboard is black. Of course, he was incredibly nice about it and thanked me for my white marker, signed my items, snapped a photo with me, and sent me on my merry way.

I have been kicking myself ever since that I didn't say what I wanted to that day. So now, a year later, I'm writing this open letter to Mr. Carpenter in the hopes that my sentiments will reach him.

Dear Mr. Carpenter,

I wonder if you remember the timid girl from the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall in Pittsburgh. I was toward the end of the meet and greet line, and my sister and I were the youngest people there. It's okay if you don't, as I didn't say what I wanted to in that moment. I meant to tell you in the brief span of time that I saw you that you have quite literally changed my life. Let me explain.

Five years ago, I sat in front of the television in my grandmother's living room and watched Wes Craven's Scream. My very first horror movie. It sparked an extreme passion for the genre that has stuck with me ever since. I'm sure you're wondering what a Wes Craven flick has got to do with you, but just bear with me for a hot second.

You see, before I watched Scream, I was terrified of the horror genre. A trailer was bound to keep me up at night, let alone the movie itself. After I watched it, however (as Scream is not all that frightening), I realized that horror wasn't all that bad.

Scream was my first scary movie, but Halloween was my second, and that was the movie that really sealed the deal.

After watching, Halloween, I had to see the whole franchise. Yes, I suffered through all of the crappy sequels and remakes, but oddly enjoyed every minute of it. For the record, it is one of the very few horror franchises that I've seen every last second of. I branched out into other franchises after that, and thus began my horror career.

It's funny to me now that I want to create what I was once terrified of. Starting in the fall, I will be attending college for Digital Cinema and Video Production with the dream I will one day write and direct horror movies. I also aspire to work with the greats of the genre, including you of course. I highly doubt that I would have ever pursued a career in film had it not been for Halloween.

If I had never watched Halloween, I would still think that there was no way I could ever become famous. Don't get me wrong, I'm not blind to the fact that it will take a lot to get to that point. In addition to other important lessons, horror taught me to dream big and stick to my guns.

So many good small budget horror films have made it big, proving to me that I could do it one day, too. Horror directors, from what I hear, don’t sacrifice their vision for anything, and I hope that I will be able to do the same in the future. Without Halloween, I’m not sure that I would’ve had the courage to pursue this passion of mine for film.

I watch Halloween every time it's on, and go to the theaters every October to see it on the big screen. I will still do those things regardless of what happens to this letter.

However, on the off chance that this does reach you, I hope you know that you made a difference in my life. Thank you for opening me up to a whole new world, thank you for being incredibly nice to me when we met, and thank you for inspiring me to do big things with my life.

Sincerely,

Karoline Betteridge