Spread the word.
I am producing a segment for "The Chronic Rift" podcast (at chronicrift.com) called "My Guilty Pleasure" which will talk about some of the cooler, stranger and less-known aspects of fandom.
The main reason I'm doing this is to learn more about subjects for myself. What is it about certain activities - LARPing, Wargaming, Collecting, Selling, Trading, Reading, Writing...all the stuff you see at conventions that you just don't have the time to investigate.
The segment will also talk about movies and television shows that are just so bad that you have to love them - Megaforce, Flash Gordon, the kids shows we just can't give up like Electric Company and the Muppet Show...and whatever engages my interest. The first segment I want to do is on the concept of convention Cosplay.
Growing up in the 80s/90s, the convention circuit was dominated by Trek uniforms and homemade apparel. These days, conventions are the place where models, aspiring actors and other professionals invest thousands of dollars in detailed recreations of characters popular and obscure. The art of cosplay has grown into a competitive activity, attracting people from all backgrounds. In addition to being a fanboy highlight of many large cons across the country, the craftsmanship of costumes has grown to include spandex, metalwork, fiber-optics, even full suits of armor.
What has changed in fandom that attracts people to do this?
What do you get out of spending the time, money and energy walking the con floors? Is it something that could be made into a good job or a career?
What does it take to be a successful cosplay hero? Looks? Body? Grace under pressure? Good with kids? Good with fanboys?
The "MGP" segment is usually 3 minutes and I hope to make it a general conversation with contributions from several different cosplayers. I'd like a broad spectrum of people who come from different points of view on the experience and who have different areas of interest between comics, anime, steampunk, goth, or unique creations.
If you are interested in discussing this by phone (my dime, over Skype) I'd love to promote your site and/or photographs as well as any appearances you'll be making in 2009 on the chronicrift web site. Please contact me through this site or on the Chronic Rift web site. The plan is to record in mid-January for a late Jan/early Feb broadcast.
Thanks and I hope to hear from you soon!
Jay Smith
3015North. com
www. chronicrift. com
The main reason I'm doing this is to learn more about subjects for myself. What is it about certain activities - LARPing, Wargaming, Collecting, Selling, Trading, Reading, Writing...all the stuff you see at conventions that you just don't have the time to investigate.
The segment will also talk about movies and television shows that are just so bad that you have to love them - Megaforce, Flash Gordon, the kids shows we just can't give up like Electric Company and the Muppet Show...and whatever engages my interest. The first segment I want to do is on the concept of convention Cosplay.
Growing up in the 80s/90s, the convention circuit was dominated by Trek uniforms and homemade apparel. These days, conventions are the place where models, aspiring actors and other professionals invest thousands of dollars in detailed recreations of characters popular and obscure. The art of cosplay has grown into a competitive activity, attracting people from all backgrounds. In addition to being a fanboy highlight of many large cons across the country, the craftsmanship of costumes has grown to include spandex, metalwork, fiber-optics, even full suits of armor.
What has changed in fandom that attracts people to do this?
What do you get out of spending the time, money and energy walking the con floors? Is it something that could be made into a good job or a career?
What does it take to be a successful cosplay hero? Looks? Body? Grace under pressure? Good with kids? Good with fanboys?
The "MGP" segment is usually 3 minutes and I hope to make it a general conversation with contributions from several different cosplayers. I'd like a broad spectrum of people who come from different points of view on the experience and who have different areas of interest between comics, anime, steampunk, goth, or unique creations.
If you are interested in discussing this by phone (my dime, over Skype) I'd love to promote your site and/or photographs as well as any appearances you'll be making in 2009 on the chronicrift web site. Please contact me through this site or on the Chronic Rift web site. The plan is to record in mid-January for a late Jan/early Feb broadcast.
Thanks and I hope to hear from you soon!
Jay Smith
3015North. com
www. chronicrift. com