MGreg

Looking for Non-Traditional Cosplayers

Pretty much everyone who’s subscribed this has probably already seen a post to this effect on the other sites I frequent. So, here’s hoping other people occasionally read this ;)

I am a third-year Art student, and in preparation for my Senior art exhibit, I am putting together a portfolio of cosplay photos. I am specifically looking for non-traditional cosplayers (I term which I am hesitant to use, because the kinds of cosplayers that are excluded here are probably the rarer- that is, cosplayers with model-like figures or large fan followings). Specifically, I am looking for cosplayers with different body type, age or cultural background from their characters; differently-abled cosplayers; crossplayers; and really anyone who brings something new or different to the world of cosplay. I will be doing photoshoots from now until probably April (when I have to submit the initial portfolio) in Iowa and the Midwest United States in general. I am willing to travel about 3 hours in any direction right now and I’ll do my best to buy a dinner for anyone that has to travel here to participate (mind you, that doesn’t mean I’ll automatically choose you; I can’t afford to buy everyone dinner :P ). If things go well, I will look into getting grant or scholarship money to travel/help others travel here to complete this project. Otherwise, the only compensation I can offer volunteers is a CD with your pics (but lets be fair here- that’s still free cosplay portraits).

If you are interested, you can message me here, through any other sites you know me from, or email me at mgregdesign@gmail.com (put something about which website you got this from in the subject line please). I can’t promise I’ll use you for the final project, but I will talk to you- and probably interview you.

[Special note, coming from the sad, hopeful part of myself that thinks people get directed here from my business cards: I would love to see you, Young DBZ crossplayer with the zombie bite from Spark!, and the wonderful Supergirl/Bubbles that came to my workshops at QC-Anime Zing!- you both get dinner and dessert if you volunteer ^-^ ]

Even if you can’t participate directly, tell your friends (or enemies? Your neighbors? That person that bags your groceries?) about this; the best way to help me right now is to refer people.

-M

Musings on Cosplay Behavior

So, at a convention I went to last summer, a certain Cosplayer made the rounds harassing young women while dressed as Zapp Brannigan. Honestly, I thought his costume was amazingly accurate and detailed, and he did do a good job of being in character throughout the con (too good; I did say harassing). Toward the end of the weekend we stopped seeing him around (with a plastic rocked in his trouser-region, no less), and word was he was given a stern talking-to and/or got kicked out.

This year’s convention is in about a week and a half, and I am challenging myself to complete a Turanga Leela costume (for those that don’t know [GAWD, I have like 3 readers, and I don’t know them well enough to know if this parenthetical is pointless >.<], Leela is the antithesis of Zapp, and it is implied throughout the show that they once had a drunken, ill-advised one night stand). I am making this costume for the makeup challenge (that is, building a convincing cyclops prosthetic in about a week); I am not making it to draw attention from this person (granted, being in costume makes me a serious attention hog. Not sure why yet), and I don’t even know if that character will ever be brought out again (a pitchfork-wielding army of ladies would seem like enough incentive not to, if you ask me), but part of me- the vaguely militant feminist part, I think- would enjoy the opportunity to both play along with the character and also to stand up to this guy. I also think it would be a nice outfit for me- I could show off my awkwardly muscular arms for a change! And Purple Hair, dammit!

I don’t know how this costume will go for me, or how I will react if I find myself in a dispute with this fellow, but whether I am granted the opportunity to shake hands with this guy or kick him in the rocket-pants, I will be sure to post pictures ^-^

-M

Back in the saddle (so to speak)

Due to “popular” demand (read: I had some moderate success teaching workshops at a convention this past weekend, and I promised to share makeup tips and bloggy goodness to a certain audience member- HI!!) I am trying to hoist this blog back into function. Which means: more Makeup posts, more Cosplay photos, and fewer posts about me halfway-abandoning projects (you might have noticed I’ve deleted my last post, oh dear 3-or-4 readers of mine).

I apologize for what will hopefully be an influx of posts in the next few days- I have about six months worth of being a makeup-person to catch up on on the interwebs. Glad to be back guys!