VIDEO: They ain’t afraid of no ghosts…

Thursday 12 October 2017

If there’s something strange in your neighbourhood, there’s a new team you should call…

Jersey Ghostbusters – Mark Miller, Kris Green and Laura O’Neill – ain’t afraid of no ghosts and are visiting the island’s bunkers, hotels and other spooky spots to get rid of any unwanted visitors.

Their adventure as a team started shortly after the best-loved comedy thriller’s reboot last year.

Mark had already been keen to get busting, while Kris had independently become intrigued and started searching online for a fellow fanatic who could help him make a proton pack to be a “showpiece” in his house.

Pictured: The team spot something spooky outside, before heading into the Hotel de France. (MB Infocus)

“I was looking for Jersey, and most things I found were Jersey, America. Funnily enough, Mark had posted, looking for anyone in the Channel Islands. It was a complete fluke. His post is still up there and I’m the only one who ever responded to it,” Kris told Express.

They met up, and Kris’ work on his pack started in March. Laura joined the team later.

Based in a workshop at Mark’s work – otherwise known as Jersey Ghostbusters HQ – the pair helped each other build their spook-hunting kit from scratch. “It’s all trial and error,” Kris explained. “There is no instruction manual… You know what to use, but how you put it together is down to you. I’ve drilled holes and had to refill them and start again because they're in the wrong place.”

While he had never even touched Airfix as a child and had little interest for carpentry at school, Kris said that he relished the complex challenge despite occasional difficulties and found that it had some unexpected benefits.

VIDEO: Before and after - watch the Jersey Ghostbusters put their gear into action. (Jersey Ghostbusters/Purple Planet Music) 

“I’ve got a desk job like a lot of people over here and tools and kit building was never something that intrigued me, but the idea of building my own proton pack was too good to ignore. It’s a good hobby, I learn something as I go along, and make a friend while doing so.” 

It’s a time-consuming task – Kris’ pack took four months to make – and parts have to be specially ordered from the US and UK and can cost several hundreds of pounds, but he says it’s worth it. The pair have a great time in the workshop chatting about their favourite film, and building on their kit collection, which also includes guns, traps and Ecto goggles.

“We do refer to each other as doctor as well, it’s quite strange, but we go into full Ghostbusters mode.”

In recent weeks, their efforts have finally paid off, and they’ve been able to put their packs, which light up, play the Ghostbusters theme and emit smoke, to good use. Those special effects make them rather heavy beasts, however, at nearly 15kg.

Pictured: Something suspicious in the hall... (MB Infocus)

“Apparently the ones they wore in the film were pretty heavy as well. I remember seeing an interview with Bill Murray about how he had to prepare himself for a scene with the packs on and after seven hours their backs were in bits. There’s a clip in Ghostbusters 2 where they’re in Court and two ghosts come out - the Scoleri brothers. Bill Murray puts his pack on and goes, “Oh, I always hated this part of the business” – and that was actually adlib,” Kris said.

So far, the trio have busted a bunker and got rid of ghouls at the Hotel de France. Kitted out in matching boiler suits (minus the slime stains on Mark’s), the team certainly turned a few heads.

“It really is fun especially seeing the reactions. When we did the photo shoot, you don’t see the people watching, but behind the camera man there were lots of people watching and taking photos themselves. I’ve never had so many flashes going off at me before. People in the windows in their rooms looking down as we were pointing up.”

So what is it that makes Ghostbusters so special?

Pictured: Mark, Laura and Kris take on Slimer. (MB Infocus)

“The whole idea of the fact there was ghosts, the fact you can catch them, the fact [the Ghostbusters] were just ordinary people …they became heroes through these amazing guns, with these amazing lights and sounds,” Kris commented.

“I was nine when it came out in the cinema and I saw it on its first release in Jersey. I remember it cost me 70p to go see it at the Odeon and being sat there and the place was so full that people were sat on the stairs between the seats – it was absolutely overcrowded. It was that big. As a kid, seeing the visual effects of slime…. I was just hooked straight away.”

He says that the comedy spliced between the darker moments is timeless too – “You watch it now as an adult and there’s still jokes you didn’t realise as a kid.”

The Jersey Ghostbusters are now hoping to spread that love around, and use their attention to feature at events and raise money for charity. They’ll be appearing at this year’s Zombie Walk and have already been asked to attend an event at Gorey Castle in 2018.

Pictured: Hotel staff were grateful for the help, but not so impressed with the trio's methods... (MB Infocus)

They’re now on a mission to find more members to help them with their paranormal pommelling duties. Although favouring the “old classic” over the reboot, Kris says that anyone is welcome, whether fans of the first, second or new edition of the films. 

Who ya gonna call?