Eric is in a tough spot. He loves his mother, but she is physically and verbally abusive to him. Watching out for her causes him to sleep during classes and get in trouble at school. His relationship with Bobby and James is his anchor and his safe place. He dresses in black as an outward expression of his own life. Although they are best friends, he is hurt when Bobby goes after a preppy girl.
Bobby is a poser while Eric is the real thing. As Megan says, “some of us dress in black for a reason. It’s not a game.” Eric is in it for real. During the scripting stage, the writers really wanted to be sure that goth teenagers were not belittled as a people group. They decided that the best way to do that would be to show some of the difficulties that teenagers are facing today and just a few of the reasons that people have for dressing in goth clothing.
Another reason for Eric’s story in the script is to introduce audience members to a truly likeable goth character. Many people are afraid to be in contact with someone who is dressed differently than them. The filmmakers thought it was necessary to introduce the audience to someone whose life may be different from their own, but is still likeable and relatable.
Eric also exists to encourage abused teenagers to stand up and tell someone about their situation. There is no need for teenagers to hide the actions of their abusive parents. If you or someone you know is being abused, please call your local police department or talk to a responsible teacher or mentor. Though the Bible does say we need to honor our parents, it does not mean taking physical abuse from them.
Adam Misenko (Eric) is a talented young man whose career is about to take off. He has worked in various forms of print modeling. His most recent venture was to appear in a nationally televised commercial. In his free time Adam enjoys playing video games.
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