Living in a Fictional Universe for a Second

By Seito

Have you ever sat down to think what cosplaying is? I mean, yes. Cosplaying is literally the combination of “costume play”, which is a community of people who dress up and use props or items with the intention of representing a character or idea. Cosplaying is usually complimented with “role-playing” or playing the role of the character, bringing it to life. But is cosplaying really that simple or is it a whole new culture? There’s something really special about dressing up and acting how you want, while spending your precious time with friends who share the same hobby. Sometimes it might seem odd, but cosplaying brings out your true self from the perspective of another character.

In order to get satisfying results and an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment, these projects require discipline, dedication, and passion. Some steps should be taken before actually working on a cosplay such as: noting down everything you need, buying many items, and organizing a friendly budget for your wallet. As a cosplayer, I advise keeping it simple for your first cosplays designs and broadening your techniques by searching tutorials online. You shouldn’t blame yourself if the results are not what you expected, there will be more opportunities. I’m sure you’ll develop better skills over time. Also, if your character has a prop or a simple outfit, it’s favorable to risk and create it yourself. In the end you’ll be rewarded with the achievement of a completely different experience.

Now, from an experienced cosplayer’s point of view, we can agree that staying up late night-after-night waiting for the paint to dry, enduring those back pains from sewing, and spending hours perfecting the wig’s style are situations that make your result priceless. The convention day finally arrives, you’re anxious to see your friends, and meet new people. Upon seeing the doors to the convention you’ve been insisting to attend, those butterflies in your stomach become a raging dragon. Your dreams shatter once you see that three-hour-long line, but don’t worry because most of us relate.

Overall, what makes cosplaying an amazing experience are the smiles in your fan’s faces, their compliments, and the gratifying sensation when they recognize your character. Also spending time with a bunch of proud geeks, just like us, and saving those memories in pictures— mostly in our hearts. I guess you could say cosplaying makes you feel like you’re living in a fictional universe for a second.

Picture by: https://www.facebook.com/think.nu.official

Useful Tips for Cosplayers

  By  Marjorie Morningstar of Cosplay +Sz

Here you’ll see a few tips for con attendees in their cosplays. You will find them useful for a smooth experience.  Concerning you:

• Be well rested. I know it's difficult to have a good sleep the day of the con. Between the excitement and the final touches for the cosplay we tend to sleep only a few hours. Plan ahead to have everything ready and sleep well

• Have a good breakfast. You don’t know how many hours you will spend at

the entrance line and you will need lots of energy so you can strike awesome poses. So eat before you get there and charge up for a day of complete fun.

• Be prepared. Have a bag with essentials like:

  o A bottle of water (you can refill at the water fountains) and snacks. o Sewing Kit. You can be a super hero, for yourself or any other with this amazing kit. But take only what’s necessary (thread, needle, safety pins, etc.)

  o First aid kit. You don’t know what can happen, and while you wait for the cons medical assistance team you can prevent blood stains on your cosplay with a Hello kitty band aid.

  o A change of clothes in case of a mayor accident or discomfort. Also, in case your cosplay is too revealing and you are asked to change clothes.

  o Girly things. To all my fellow female cosplayers, if Mother Nature has called, take some extra female napkins/tampons with you. You don’t want accidents happening.

• Bring a buddy. You can bribe them with an autograph from a special guest invited to the con or with noms (noms are good bribes). Bring someone who can help you dress up, hold your things while tacking pictures, and enjoy the con with.

Concerning your Cosplay:

• Get it done. The best advice we can give is to have your cosplay finished ahead of time. Try it on and practice posses to make sure the outfit and prop(s) holds.

• Be prepared. Keep every piece of your cosplay together including your make up, so you can get dress with less hassle. You can find bathrooms outside the convention hall where you can get dressed if you need to. If  your cosplay needs body paint, you will need extra time in the morning for
preparations. Be careful not to mess the facilities in the convention center. Try it out first, check for allergies and check if the paint runs.

• Make safe props. There are a lot of different ways to make props, be sure  to use the safest materials for your safety and that of others. Remember that there will be a sea of people and you have to make sure not to hurt yourself or others.

• Strike a pose. Practice your poses with and without your props. You can injure yourself by doing something you are not used to do.

• Enjoy!

A Plus Sized Cosplayer’s Story

 

By. Marjorie Morningstar of Cosplay +Sz

  This is the story of Kawaii Princess, a plus sized girl who loves manga, anime and video games.  She has been a loyal attendee to the local comic book and anime convention for a few years now, but this is the first time she will be attending in cosplay.  She has spent so many hours re-watching that anime, and re-playing that game, researching online for references to make the costume as close to the original as possible.  She selected that character because of the clumsy and shy traits they have in common.  She is so proud of her costume and she is satisfied with all the practice she has done to resemble that character.

  At last the day has come.  As soon as she enters the convention hall she feels like that character, without even noticing it she is walking and talking like that character.  She is so excited when people start noticing her.  As she walks around, people look at her and start to whisper and point. Suddenly one girl ask for a picture and after taking it says: “Your fat version of that character is real cute”.  Then she realizes that the people weren’t praising her; they were mocking her, saying mean things about her weight.  She realizes that the whispers and remarks were not positive. People were not smiling at her, but rather they were laughing and making fun of her.

  Feeling terrible Princess ended up crying in the bathroom.  Suddenly she heard a sweet voice asking if she was ok.  The sweet voice introduces herself as Night Kitty and she had witnessed the whole situation.  Night Kitty was a cosplayer with some experience and awards under her belt.  They talked for a while and Night Kitty gave her the best advice anyone can give: “Be yourself, respect yourself, and embrace yourself.  Once you have accepted you for who you are, you will be free from the chains of discrimination.”

  The cosplay world is precious, but at the same time it’s real tough.  Most of the people in our community have being victims of bullying and discrimination, just for our hobbies or interests.  I, as a full grown woman, have being criticized for this hobby at work many times, but I do it because I love it and they have learned to accept me as I am.  I believe in myself and only I can set my limits on what I can or cannot do.

  I know that all of us put so much effort and tears into every costume we make.  The cosplay world is filled with wonderful things and many unique, creative and talented people.  We cosplay because we love the process, the characters and we are honored to portray that character in real life.  Let’s work together to break free from unrealistic beauty standards and enjoy what truly matters: YOU!

La imaginación toma vida en el desfile de disfraces que llegará al Puerto Rico Comic Con 2014

   Halloween en mayo. Para el espectador común así es como ha lucido el Puerto Rico Comic Con, el principal evento deentretenimiento en la región, durante los pasados años. En cada edición del evento miles de fans arriban al Centro de Convenciones de Puerto Rico disfrazados de sus personajes favoritos del mundo de cómics, cine, televisión, videojuego, animación japonesa (animé, manga), fantasía y otros géneros.

   Y para la edición 2014 del PRCC, la expectativa es que la creatividad y sofisticación de los disfraces alcanzará un nuevo nivel. Se trata de un fenómeno conocido como cosplay, palabra que viene del inglés ‘Costume Play’ (traducido literalmentecomo Juego de Disfraces).

   Según Ricardo Carrión, productor ejecutivo del Puerto Rico Comic Con, “el hacer cosplay en el evento surgió de manera natural y orgánica. Nunca se emitió una notificación para que la gente llegara disfrazada. Pero como es una práctica común que se da en convenciones en otros mercados, la gente vio la oportunidad en nuestro evento para importar dicha costumbre. Es algo que nuestros fans hacen para enriquecer su experiencia durante el evento y le da mucho color a la velada”.

   Carrión estima que tres de cada cinco personas que van al Puerto Rico Comic Con van de cosplay, incluyendo familias enteras. El fenómeno es tan fuerte que uno de los invitados especiales del Puerto Rico Comic Con este año es Riddle’sMessy Wardrobe (nombre verdadero Riki LeCotey), unacosplayer profesional que viaja el mundo asistiendo a diversas convenciones. La gran variedad de personajes a quienes les da vida a través del cosplay ha convertido a Riddle en una de lascosplayers más populares en la industria, con sobre 300,000 seguidores en las redes sociales.

   Carrión atribuye el auge del cosplay a que es una manera sana y creativa de rendirle homenaje a alguna figura de la cultura popular con quien la persona se identifica. Es una modalidad en donde nadie juzga a nadie por ser diferente y, todo lo contrario, se crea una comunidad de admiradores unidos por una misma pasión.

   “En el Puerto Rico Comic Con hemos visto de todo, desdeOptimus Prime (Transformers) y Spider-Man hasta la clase graduanda de Hogwarts (de la serie de filmes de Harry Potter),Master Chief (del videojuego Halo) y más. Lo que nunca deja de sorprender es la creatividad, el tiempo y el cariño que loscosplayers le dedican a sus disfraces. Es un verdaderocompromiso con su arte”.

   El fenómeno del cosplay surgió alrededor de la década del 1970 en tiendas de comics de Japón. Hoy se practica en todo el mundo por personas de todas las edades y está cada día más arraigada, especialmente en Puerto Rico como así lo demuestra el Puerto Rico Comic Con.

   La próxima edición del Puerto Rico Comic Con se celebrará el 24 y 25 de mayo en el Centro de Convenciones. Fiel a su legado de brindar una experiencia de entretenimiento sin igual, PRCC 2014 contará con la participación de importantes exponentes de la industria, incluyendo talento local e internacional (actores de Hollywood, artistas de cómics, diseñadores de videojuegos, celebridades, etc.) que llegan para interactuar con sus fans y también presentar sus nuevas propuestas.

   Para más información sobre taquillas, oportunidades para exhibidores/vendedores, y auspicio:www.facebook.com/prcomiccon, www.prcomiccon.com, ywww.ticketpop.com.

Good manners when it comes to photographing favorite cosplayers at conventions

 By. Samurai Millo

  There has been growing awareness about harassment problems at conventions, with the Internet spearheading campaigns such as Cosplay Is Not Consent. I figured that I would do my part by writing a series of guidelines. That way, the average convention attendee can stay out of trouble when it comes to interacting and taking photos of cosplayers.

  The following is a series of tips I’ve adapted from several websites that contain articles with codes of conduct that people attending conventions should follow. This is my way of offering advice for the best way to behave at conventions, especially when it comes to interacting with a cosplayer. The thousands of people who annually attend conventions and similar events in Puerto Rico can avoid bad or awkward moments with these suggestions.

     •  Always ask for permission from the cosplayer before taking a photo in a courteous and respectful manner.

    • Avoid blocking hallways and corridors (both inside the building and outside) with makeshift photo sessions. Move to the sides so you don’t hinder or bother anyone.

   • If a cosplayer is eating, talking on the phone, or occupied in any way, don’t disturb him/her. Leave the person alone and try again when they’re not this busy.

   • If another photographer is already taking a shot of a cosplayer, don’t get in the middle to steal their shot. Wait for your turn.

   • The cosplayers are also people. Do not be offended if they don’t want you to take a photo. He/she might not be feeling well, or he/she can be in a hurry because of a personal situation.

  • Respect personal space. There are cosplayers who don't like to be touched or to have their cosplay touched.

  • Do not "glomp", hug, or push to the floor a cosplayer without his/her previous permission. Doing so could damage the cosplay, or seriously injure the cosplayer and yourself. Unwarranted physical contact is never acceptable.

  • Keep in mind that any kind of harassment in any convention isn’t tolerated, either to a cosplayer or to the attendees. If they catch you doing that, they’ll kick you out.

  • Rude or lascivious comments are never acceptable.

  • If you want to take a picture of a cosplayer outside of the convention area, ask politely. If the cosplayer says no, respect his/her wishes.

  • Nonconstructive remarks about the quality of someone's cosplay should be avoided. Express yourself in a positive and respectful manner.

  • And finally, no means NO. Always respect the wishes of others.

Ducktape Body Cast Tutorial

You know when you want to make something fit your body perfectly, but the

problem is that you don’t have something to use as a mold for it? Sure, you can

buy a sewing mannequin, but that might be tough if you’re on budget. Well,

Dalai Dama is here to help!

As you’ll see in this step-by-step, you can make your own mannequin, one

made to fit your own shape, and you’ll only spend around $20. It turns out

that today is your lucky day!

Material's you will need:

·         Scissors

·         Pillow filling for stuffing out your form

·         A metal base

·         2-3 rolls of duct tape

·         Apiece of cardboard

·         An old hip-length T-shirt

      A food foil (for the neck)

And most importantly Friends!

Steps!

1. Prepare all your tools, supplies and feed your friends!!!! (Not after midnight though.)

2. Find an old t-shirt that fits your body and reaches just under your hip. Wrap your neck with a food foil to secure it (as shown on the picture), and tuck the foil under the shirt. 

 

3 . Have a friend to help you in wrapping your silhouette with the duct tape. The first strip should go under your breasts (and be sure it’s tight enough). The next stripe goes crossed in between the breasts as shown on the picture.

4. Continue wrapping one by one! Try to make your belly a bit bigger, so that way when the wrapping gets tighter you don't faint. If you feel like a mummy, you’re doing it right!

 

5. Next, you’ll need to take off the food foil and make a sort of collar, like the one in the t-shirt as you can see on the picture.

6. This is how it should look like at the back. Wrap more tape evenly from your waist till the end of your t-shirt line.

7. Now it's time to cut it in the back, that way you can escape!

8. Last but not least, use your magical powers to get rid of the cut! And by magical I mean more tape of course.

 

9. Time to fill the form with the pillow filling, small pieces of fabric leftovers or even cotton like the ones in pillows. Then finish your work sticking the form on your metal base (optional).

11. Behold! Your masterpiece is finished and you are still alive!