Cosplayers seek Hollywood break
Print Edition
FOR now, it may be just a hobby, but for the costumed fans at the recent Comic-Con pop culture expo, dressing up can be a first step toward an entertainment career.
Costume play — or cosplay — has become a huge component of Comic-Con. Thousands of fans, and some celebrities, too, elaborately disguise themselves as their favorite characters from comic books, movies, TV, video games and anime. Taking photos of the coolest cosplayers is part of the convention experience.
Celebrities can enjoy the festival in anonymity by wearing a mask like so many other fans — just like Daniel Radcliffe did when he secretly dressed as Spider-Man last year. Jessica Chastain considered a mask as a means to invisibly attend Comic-Con’s finale event — the Masquerade Ball.
Part costume contest, part stage show, contestants embody their characters for up to two-and-a-half minutes in front of an audience of more than 4,000. The judges are Hollywood and Broadway professionals, and many entrants are entertainment hopefuls.
Self-taught artist
“I would love to make a career out of this,” said self-taught artist Jose Davalos, 20, who traveled from Mexico, to show off his “Hades from Disney’s ‘Hercules’” costume, which featured a screen-worthy, hand-sculpted silicone mask.
“My main goal is to be able to be on a movie or maybe work for Disney making things,” said Davalos, who won a craftsmanship award for his work.
Costume designer Joe Kucharski, who moderated a Costume Designers Guild panel and served as a judge of the Masquerade Ball, said the event is a realistic showcase for emerging artists.
“I would hire somebody based on their work (here),” he said.
Costume design pros say the skills cosplayers need to create their characters are often the same ones professionals use to help make TV and film characters come to life.
“A lot of things that people are doing at Comic-Con are actually what’s being done professionally,” said Jared Marantz, who helped create the superhero suits for “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” “People here are making fake armor out of foam. Well, professionals do that all the time.”
Scooti Harper, 26, who hand-stitched the striped on her Victorian corset-and-bustle gown, said she hopes to become “a seamstress in the costume industry.”
“That’s the ultimate goal for me,” said Harper, who belonged to the “Women of the Haunted Mansion” ensemble that won best in show at the ball.
Comic-Con helped make Oksana Nedavniaya’s Hollywood dreams come true. Fresh out of college, the aspiring concept artist met “Chronicles of Narnia” costume designer Isis Mussenden, a guest at a Costume Designers Guild panel. The recent graduate approached Mussenden and offered her portfolio, then went off to enjoy the convention.
“She contacted me three days later and said ‘Do you remember me?’” Nedavniaya recalled. “They were about to start pre-production on ‘Prince Caspian’ ... and she asked me if I wanted to illustrate for her. That was my big break.”
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
