A Cosplay interview with Meiko (Vocaloid)

And i finally have this video up! The Cosplayer in topic today is our ever kawaii and cool Reiko! Yes, she’s the nameless boyfriend in our Just be Friends Cosplay PV.
She wowed us all at afa last year with her impressive and sizzling hot Meiko cosplay. She was so popular the photography requests kept coming in.

As with my usual custom when i interview a cosplayer, i also do a short write up. But this has got to be the most difficult one. It seems like the closer you are with the interviewee the lesser questions you can cook up! And Reiko has got to be one of the most experienced cosplayer to be interviewed by far. Truth be told, she's been in the community longer than me! So that makes her my senpai ahaaahaha!

Ok jokes aside, her meiko cosplay really wowed everyone. Personally, I think the best thing about her cosplays is her ability to bring life to the character.

Some people wear a costume and call it cosplay. Some people slap some colours on their face and call it make up. But cosplay on her is a form of art that displays craftsmanship, styling abilities and character portrayal at its pinnacle. It's not always easy to juggle all that and get the right blend of everything in the end. But she did it anyway =)

I also love how flexible she is in portraying characters from both gender convincingly. JBF nameless BF and Meiko yeay yeay??

According to Reiko, the wig alone cost 4800yen and the microphone was 4000yen. I feel the pinch >.<||| And yes, Cosplay can be expensive T_T. The loveliest part of this cosplay is how the entire costume was constructed entirely by her. Go watch the video and see her explain every detail if you haven’t yet.

Photo credits to: Songster69

But there's a down side to being so gorgeous and sexy though. At events you become the target of hentai jiji or random event goers who are just there for the free candy.

She's a pretty girl in pretty costume and receives countless photo taking request. But a few of those who took photos with her somehow had the impression that cosplayers were alright with being touched and tried to place their hands on her waist =.=|||  a little too intimate with someone you don't know right?

  Photo credits to: Songster69

I'm not trying to imply that all event goers are bad and perverted. But I would like to remind everyone, that despite her highly urbanized society, Singapore is still largely a conservative Asian country. You don't place your hand around the uncle sitting beside you on the train so you shouldn't try that with a cosplayer you just saw at an event either! If you really want to (and god knows why you so desperately wants to !) , at least ASK for permission before doing it.

I’m sorry if I got off tangle here.I just felt the need to talk about it after reading Reiko’s comment on my previous entry about photographers.

Finally, to end this entry off, I would like to thank my dearest and cutest Reiko for accepting the interview and sharing so much!

Photo credits to: Zell

 



She’s too cute. So I couldn’t help showcasing all the Meiko photos on her gallery. Go visit her at her DA now!

Costume Interview: JiaGold Bustamante (Xenosaga)

Finally this is out! I’ve actually finished editing this video slightly before I finished editing Gin’s Bad Apple video. But I held off publishing it so as not to clash with the other event reports and partly also because i forgot to upload + was too lazy.

Photo credit: Oakultura

But anyway, it is finally here!! My costume interview with the very beautiful Kos-Mos cosplayer from Philippine who was also one of the winner of the “Asia Cosplay Meet” along with Frankie at Cosfest 2010.

Jia Gold’s winning performance at Cosfest 2010.

I only met her at the dome after the sun had went down. As the dome was really dark by then, it further illuminated(pun intended)  her LED lights clad costume.

 
Photo credit: The dot Hacker

With evilneo’s suggestion, I went up timidly to ask for an interview. And was gladly surprised she obliged! *hearts*

 

In case you didn’t watch the video, Jia Gold’s Kos-Mos costume cost her around SGD 240 and has more than 60 LED lights on it! And those lights had to be turned on manually, one-by-one.

 

 

I was definitely impressed by her costume and she was especially a sight to behold in the dimly lighted dome. I was also very blown away by her toy gun arm prop! Was really marveled by the intricate and realistic details and found it hard to believe any cosplayer can go so far for it.

Jia Gold later reveals that it was actually recycled from her brother’s old toy which was 12 years old! You see, this is the reason why it pays to be  a Garang Guni!

She also demonstrated how one needs to think out of the box when creating a costume that cannot possibly exist in this world. Remember people, anything can be part of a costume prop! Think!!

Photo credit: Phil Anime

 

 

 

Photo credit: JL Liew

Jia Gold came across as a very easy to talk to and down-to-earth person.  The photo to the right is her on Cosfest day1. She had actually approcahed Yuanie and myself (Kagamine Rin & Len) and asked for a photo too. Was definitely kinda cool to be  approached by such a pretty lady (OMG THIS SOUNDS SO WRONG WTF AM I SAYING AHAHAHA?!?!)

And interviewing her was such a pleasure. My only regret was not having better shots of her, not having better questions and not having a more conducive interview environment. 

As you could tell, it was really dark at the event hall, so I was using my own flash light to illuminate her. I’m sure the light was very uncomfortable (trust me, I blind myself every time I use it-_-). But she did a good job not letting it affect her.

Many many thanks to Jia Gold for accepting my impromptu interview request and I sincerely hope she enjoyed her experience in Singapore =)

P/s: Any Philippine readers knows if she has any online account or gallery? Would really like to let her see this entry as a way of expressing my appreciation ^^

p/p/s: I’m really regretting not printing out some TCC Business card to distribute. Maybe I should do that for the next event!

Cosplay Documentary

Okay, this is not a video pimp (at least its not out yet xD). But just thought I’d help spread the words for #WorldCosplay’s upcoming Cosplay Documentary.

Yeap, someone’s thinking of filming a Cosplay Documentary =) I hope the website has more information but alas it doesn’t have much so I can’t really say anything more. But nevertheless, its still an exciting project to support and keep a look out for =)

Words from the people themselves =)

On May 2nd, 2010, at 11am, Cosplay: The Documentary will be officially kicking off its production days!
We'll be starting in Orlando, Florida and making our way across the United States, interviewing cosplayers and visiting conventions!

Be SURE to look for us at:
Anime Next
Otakon
CTConn
AWA

and [funding providing] Anime Expo, for your chance to make it into the film!
Visit our website: [link] ! Keep checking back for updates as well! We could be coming to your city!
And be sure to check out the Support Shoppe - it's the only way we're able to fund the project, through your support!
All-in-all, it's a cause for celebration! Thank you to the powers that be for helping this first production weekend take place! Also, special thanks to Full Sail University!

Visit their website here! I’m sure the wait for the video will be a long one but let’s all look forward to it! I’m sure it would be awesome xD

A Cosplay interview with Taiga (Tora Dora)

Following my last Cosplay Interview with reifes88 and his Iron Tager, I have another TIGER to introduce to everyone in the year of the METAL TIGER (Chinese horoscope) !!!!

Yes, its everyone male Otaku’s favourite animal girl; Taiga Aisaka !!

 

Blehhh I suck so much at interviewing. I promise I’ll do better next time T_T

 

I met KuroHoshi’s Taiga at the GCA event last year and she totally owned the crowd! Whenever she starts posing a wall of photographer appears xD

KuroHoshi was really cute and natural when I interacted with her, MOE much! Her love for the character shows through even though she didn’t make the costume herself but its clear she really loved Taiga and knew the character inside out.

 

How can anyone resist her???? Check out her wordpress if you wanna know more of her =)

MSN interview with Clive

Yeap~~ another MSN interview with the other Singapore team to represent us at AFA’s regional Cosplay Competition.

Best known for his dedication to Gundam modeling and props making. He is definitely a cosplayer I look up to. With the help of Maria, I got a chance to interview him via MSN. See how he shares his concerns and anticipation for the competition below ^_^!

MSN Interview with one of Singapore’s Finalist! Maria!

Simply because I thought this idea is novel, easy to execute and fun =)

Here is Maria’s 2 cents regarding her shortlist :D. I’m deliberately leaving the Display Picture as it is because…its a MSN interview so…it has to stay authentic yeah xDD?

  

I’m definitely looking forward to more Short & sweet MSN interviews. Hope you guys enjoyed it! Leave me a comment below to tell me what you think about this idea hokays ^_~?

A Cosplay interview with Iron Tager (BlazBlue)

The first cosplayer to kickstart our official Cosplay Interview section; Iron Tager from BlazBlue by Reifes88.

(That epic Sheryl Nome interview  by Dan the Farmer(Alto) is not counted XD)




We met him at the Comics and Games Asia event last month and he came across as a very nice and professional (wud?! )  Cosplayer.

According to him, the entire costume was made by himself! And as you can tell from the video, I sure as hell was surprised. Because male cosplayers mostly only concentrate on making props and weapons and usually leave the dressmaking to the ladies, so that's one surprised card dished out by him XD

What I like about Reifes88 is how dedicated to honing his skills he is, I mean hey, his even someone's understudy xD. He is one of those few cosplayers whose dedication to crafting really comes thgough very strongly. His Iron Tager was also an awe-inspiring sight to behold with its stark red costume and bulky arm weaponry. Much love also goes to his very well built and solid arm props. My favourite part would be detail done to make the fist in those props looks really like ...well., a fist.

Photos by Hidetox

Even though he can't disclose his props making secrets but he definitely gave us an insight into the world of  prop making.


In this interview, he also shares his views about something all cosplayers would have heard of but something that has never really been addressed; Cosplay Politics.

"If you want to make it a business, 

                            make sure you don't Cosplay"

Photo by Everblue

Cosplay Politics. An ever occuring issue in the community yet a topic that seems destined to be stuffed under the table. It is something that EVERYONE is aware of, something that everyone has opinion on but something nobody want/dares to openly talk about.

This is definitely an issue I would like to talk in depth next time. Before that, share what you think about this issue and Reifes88's cosplay here :)

Comment away!!!