Weekly update

This week has been really productive; we secured Crystal Santoro as one of our main subjects and all met with her. On Friday we went over to her apartment and got some b-roll of her sewing, and of some of her costumes and fandom she had lying around the house. We were able to get some really interesting shots, specifically, one with a gopro mounted inside of the sewing machine. We have started a gofundme page and are eagerly awaiting updates on it, in order to mainly cover gas, tickets to the convention that we go to, and other traveling expenses. Everyone is doing a great job so far, and I’m really pumped to see what we can accomplish with this project. The only hick-up we have had thus far is really finding a second subject, but we have sent an email to one of the coordinators for the theater department to see if she can get the message out in the department for possible subjects. Other than that, things are going great.

Interview Questions 2

1. What is a basic definition of cosplay? What does it mean to you?
2. How long have you been doing cosplay? When did you first come to know about it? what did you think of it at the time?
3. What was the first cosplay you did? What was the experience like on your first build? Was it hectic, scary, fun, exciting? What were some of the tings you encountered while working on it?
4. What is your process of determining what costume you want to make for your next con? Is there a process of elimination you go through between costume ideas or does it just come to you?
5.  Talk us through the process of the build. From the pre-visualization all the way to the unveiling at the con.
6. What is it like at the con when you first get people's reactions to your creation? are you nervous about their reactions?
7. What is your favorite part about cosplay from the making of the costume to the con itself, what part of it is the most fun for you?
8. Your married, what does your husband think of cosplay? Does he ever do costumes with you?
9.  What are some of the misconceptions that people have about cosplay and the community as a whole?
10. What would you say to someone who is just starting out in cosplay? What advice would you give? What would you say to someone who is contemplating getting into cosplay but is hesitant because they don’t know about how they will be received or have other reservations?

Expert Interview 2- Danielle Hansleman

Danielle Hansleman is a 25 year old cosplayer and seamstress who currently lives in  Wilmington, North Carolina. She has been involved in the cosplay community since she was 20 years old and has been to at least fifteen different conventions, making costumes for most of them. Danielle mostly focuses on anime costumes, but has made cosplays from other genres of entertainment such as Velma from Scooby- Doo. Because she has been cosplaying for so long, she has many stories to tell about her experience in the world of cosplay, and the people within it's culture.

Expert Interview 1- Crystal Santoro

Crystal Santoro is an avid cosplayer/ model who is originally from Johnson City, New York, but currently lives in Wilmington, North Carolina. At twenty two years old, she is a full-time college student at UNCW, and works part-time as a waitress. She has been involved with the cosplay community for over 4 years and brings a vast amount of insight and knowledge about the cosplay community itself to the table. She has self admittedly been to more than twenty conventions, making cosplays for almost all of them. in her last costume contest, at NC Comicon, She took 3rd place overall for her first generation Laura Croft costume.