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Q: What has been your favourite cosplay?
This question is a little like asking a mother who her favourite child
is, as I honestly I love all my costumes for one reason or another!
If I have to break it down, though, it's between Mary Spencer (Trinity
Blood) and Tira (Soul Calibur III), because I feel they're my
most accurate and well-constructed costumes.
Q: Most memorable moment whilst cosplaying?
There's a couple that spring to
mind - firstly, winning first place in the
entertainment category at Expo for my Satine (Moulin
Rouge!) costume was a proud moment for me.
I'd been working on the costume on and off for no
less than five years and had ploughed a good deal of
time, money and effort into it. Memorable for
the wrong reasons would be the advert that my friend
Lex and I were filming for the Anime Network, when a
heavy and dangerous light came crashing from the
ceiling only feet away from us. Cosplay is a
risky hobby!
Q: Have you had any cosplays go wrong/encountered problems
whilst making cosplays?
Closer to the truth would be that I've never had a
costume that DIDN'T go wrong somewhere along the
line. I've sewn things upside down,
back-to-front, inside out, sewn them to myself, had
accidents with paint (including the time my cat
decided to walk all over the painted coat I had
carefully lying on the desk when the paint was still
wet, and I had to decide between cleaning paint off
the cat or off the costume- the cat won), trouble
finding suitable materials, etc. etc. As a
result, I often tell people that my cosplay
technique tends to consist of getting things wrong
in every possible way so that by a process of
elimination it HAS to go right in the end!
The saddest time it's happened was
when I was part-way through making an Illyria
costume from the show Angel, and I came down with a
severe ear infection before the convention and was
unable to finish it in time. It's the only
costume I've ever given up on completely.
Normally, though, I soldier on and create something
wearable, if not perfect!
Q: Have you ever regretted cosplaying?
Not for a second. I have
made so many good friends through cosplay, and had
such great times and such kind words from others,
that I could never regret it. Life's too
short.
Q. Do your cosplay have a particular theme to
them?
Not intentionally, but I do have a habit of
choosing strong female characters because they tend
to be the designs and personalities that I'm most
attracted to. I've done several costumes from
Trinity Blood, because I love the series and
am infatuated with the designs.
I also do a lot of Johnny Depp crossplay
(cross-dressing cosplay - ed.) because the first
time I was talked into it, people decided I bore a
strong resemblance to him and should cosplay his
characters as often as possible - I'm still not sure
if that's flattering or not...
Q: Have you ever done group cosplay? If so how did you find
that experience?
I do it as often as I can! For me, there's nothing greater in
cosplaying than getting to cosplay with a big group of your friends. For
Amecon 07 we had a big group cosplaying from the King of Fighters,
and I've rarely had so much fun, especially when we started
play-fighting and taking silly photographs.
My main cosplay partners in crime are my boyfriend and the Yaldy
cosplayers Angelphie and Ashe (www.yaldy.net),
but I cosplay with most of my friends if I have the opportunity.
Q: What cosplays are you planning?
I have a couple of really big projects lined up,
difficult for different reasons. I'm aiming to make Laughing
Octopus (Metal Gear Solid 4) because it's a great design,
different to anything I've made before, and presents some exciting new
challenges. I'm also planning an Astarosthe costume from
Trinity Blood that's found in a particular artwork - a beautiful
blue and white ballgown, with a lot of lace and a fabulous hat.
That'll involve some new techniques as well, which is part of what I
love about cosplay as opposed to simple dressmaking; not only have I
learned sewing techniques, but also prop making, wig styling, makeup,
prosthetics, millinery, painting, cobbling and woodcarving!
Q: Do you have a dream cosplay?
I have a habit of making, or at least attempting to make,
my dream cosplays. Satine was one, Laughing Octopus and Astarosthe
are others. Almost anything can be cosplayed with enough thought
and ingenuity, although it's best to start small and work up!
I'm also finally fulfilling a cosplay dream and making the cat twins
from Dominion Tank Police with my friend Amy-Lou, a costume I've
wanted to do for several years but had trouble finding someone to do it
with me. Q: Do you have one piece of advice that
you would give to cosplay virgins?
Enjoy
yourself, first and foremost.
When it comes down to it,
cosplay is a hobby, nothing
more, and getting involved in
drama and bitchiness does nobody
any good.
In terms of
practical advice, I do suggest
starting simple and working your
way towards more complicated
costumes. A simple costume
with lots of love and effort put
in will always look better than
a complicated costume that's
been rushed and not given due
attention. Little touches
can really elevate a costume,
like a good wig or even coloured
contact lenses.
Q: Do you have an account with the website
Cosplay island/other social networking sites?
Indeed, I was one of the first sign-ups for cosplayisland,
and I use the username Odangochan everywhere that's cosplay-related.
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