ECCC 2013: Artists and Noteworthy Cosplayers

 

 Not every cosplayer made it on the 100 Badass Costumes of Emerald City Comicon 2013.  In the case of the black-clad figure pictured above, I wonder if the Geek Wire crew would have recognized him.  When I spotted him approaching a stand, both the artist and I simultaneously shouted:  "The Marquis!". 

 

From what I could tell, he actually seemed relieved and told us we were the only two at the comicon who recognized him.  Not only was I impressed with his costume, (which he said was very hot to wear), but with the Pepperbox Pistols he made himself.

 

I became familiar with The Marquis only due to my sister, "Rox of Spazhouse."  A couple years ago she passed on her collection of the Danse Macabre comics to me as a gift.  I didn't care for the political-religious setting of the story, but I was fascinated by the main character.  What I also admired was the writer walked a tight line that kept the reader wondering:  Is this guy really a demon hunter, or a serial killer?

 

Another cosplayer I recognized was Zoe, my favorite character from the show Firefly.   

 

 

 According to this young lady, (I think she said her name was Kathleen); Zoe was her favorite character too.  One of the things we liked about Zoe was her weapon of choice--a sci-fi version of a Mare's Leg.  Kathleen said she liked the weapon so much she bought a Rossi Ranch Hand in the same caliber as her revolver. 

 

I've been thinking about buying one myself. 

 

While I continue my inner-debate on what Firefly-esque weaponry to acquire, I "consoled myself" purchasing items that struck my fancy at the ECCC. 

 

One of the first things I bought was a print by Marcio Takara.  (It wasn't until later that I thought of getting a photo taken with the artist.  When we finally returned he stepped out for a break and missed our chance).

 

 

 

Since I was dressed in a Spiderman Halloween costume and this was my fiance's first experience attending a comic book convention, I thought this print would be a nice commemorative momento...

 

 

 

Marcio signed it for both of us.  Samples of Marcio's work, like this MJ and Spidey, can be found on Deviant Art. 

 

Other treasures I acquired, included--

 

--A Night's Watch Sourcebook by Green Ronin, along with a Dragon Age Game Masters Screen

 

--The Skull Kickers Treasure Trove

 

--My fiance bought me a Punisher T-Shirt at the Super Hero Stuff stand (try saying that three times fast)

 

--And finally, there were a couple of items I bought as gifts, but I'm afraid this information will have to remain classified for a while.  (Kinda like a superhero's secret identity).

 

On the things I missed:

 

Like most conferences and conventions there was a lot going on simultaneously that it was difficult to decide what to do.  Even though I attended the full-three days, I still feel I missed out on a lot.  Forturnately, the panel discussions were taped and are available through Flipon.tv.

 

So I have until March 28th, 2014 to catch up. 

ECCC 2013: The Cosplayers of Spending Spree Sunday

 

After the last ECCC 2013 panel discussion, my fiance and I wandered around the examining the wares at all the booths--and watching the cosplayers in action.

 

For kids growing up in the 80s, "action" most likely meant Masters of the Universe.  I had just joined the military when the cartoon debuted, so I never watched it; although thanks to Mattel's marketing campaign, He-Man toys were everywhere.  This means I could be wrong about the above pair of cosplayers, but I'm assuming they're He-Man and his arch enemy Skeletor.

 

I'm going to put more of my ignorance on display here and let you folks know that I don't play very many video games.  Nearly all my table-top gaming friends do, so once again I'm only vaguely familiar with the approaching cosplayer...

 

 

...whom I belive is Desomond of Assassin's Creed. 

 

Technical note:  I took a lot more pictures than I've uploaded, but many of them didn't come out well.  One of the problems I had was adjusting my camera to the combination natural light and florescent lighting in the convention center.  But I thought this cosplayer's stealthy approach was too cool to leave out of this "rogues gallery."

 

Speaking of rogues, here's another poor picture I included which doesn't do the Jawa justice.

 

 

Whoever was in the suit, was a real crowd-pleaser his (her?) antics. There were at least a half-a-dozen camera-armed attendees gathered here at any given time the Jawa made an appearance.

 

Now a family that attends comic book convention together, stays together...

 

 

...as this "Incredible" family can attest to.  I snapped three photos of this family and this was the best shot.  Maybe I can claim the blurry-looking girl was about to turn invisible?

 

Nor was this the only blurry image of the day.  I don't know who two represent...

 

 

 

...but they were in a hurry and loaded for bear. 

 

I managed to stop this young lady and ask her what her costume represented.   

 

 

She told me she was a Bad Program from Tron.  Good.  Now I know who to blame if my computer goes on the fritz.

 

Here's another cosplayer from a film I haven't seen... 

 

 

...but I knew enough about Labyrinth to recognize The Goblin King, but I didn't know his name was Jareth.

 

 I encountered a second Black Widow during my shopping spree...

 

 

 

 At least I knew who she was.  Of the group standing here...

 

 

...the only one I recognized the guy on the right as one of the alternate versions of Superman.  I guess the rest of the group were members of the Justice League of America (JLA). 

 

Maybe this blogpost should be titled:  Cosplayers I'm Not Sure About?

 

Another thing I wasn't sure about was using my camera.  My fiance was more adept at handling her camera than I was with mine.  She only took a few photos, but was fascinated by this "Jacqueline Skellington" (wearing stilts underneath her costume), next to an alternate version of Batman.

 

 

Some of these cosplayers made the list of the 100 Badass Costumes of Emerald City Comicon 2013. 

 

Congratulations and I hope to see you folks again next year!

 

ECCC 2013: Spending Spree Sunday--Writers Unite!

 

 The last seminar I attended before embarking on my ECCC 2013 shopping spree was Writers Unite:  Pitching Creator Owned Comics, moderated by Jim Zub, author of Skull Kickers. 

 

The other panel members included:

 

Cullen Bunn author of The Sixth Gun and

 

Charles Soule, author of 27. 

 

If I remember correctly, Ray Fawkes, a 2012 Eisner Award nominee for his One Soul was MIA (missing in action) from the group. 

 

The focus of this panel discussion was on selling your own comic.

 

One of the mantras often repeated at writers conferences is:  Writing is an art, but publishing is a business.  The same applies to the comic book/graphic novel industry. 

 

So you have to ask yourself, why should a publisher choose your comic over someone else's?

 

To be successful in getting your comic on the shelves you should:

 

Be prepared to pitch your concept.  Organize and sum up your ideas into a short and concise pitch--yeah it's the Elevator Pitch again.

 

However, this doesn't guarantee success, but merely advances you to the next step in getting your project approved. 

 

To be successful, remember to treat your work as a profession and develop the work habits of a professional writer or artist.  You need to demonstrate you can create consistent and professional content before anyone will pay you for it.

 

Success won't happen overnight, so you have to build on your work:

 

Stare small and improve your craft with short stories and simple ideas before tackling larger work.

 

Self publish, or post your material on line.

 

Try to write something every day.  (This is another mantra I often hear during writers conferences and read in writing magazines).

 

Create work you're proud of and that represents your interests and passions.  If you don't enjoy creating it, people won't enjoy reading it.

 

Writers should collaborate with artists who strengthen their work.

 

The panelists finished the seminar with a "Stuff We Wish We Knew Before We Got Started"

 

The comic book industry is more accessable than ever before.

 

Networking is easier than you think.

 

Most people don't appreciate where they're at and they compare their success with those of others.

 

Bigger (or even smaller) isn't always better.  Find the right niche for your work.

 

Passion and hard work really do pay off.

 

 

I must admit I was still somewhat overwhelmed by my experience at this year's ECCC.  (Last year I was only able to attend the first day and spent the entire time wandering around in a daze buying stuff). 

 

Next year, I hope to attend even more professional panels so I can continue to improve my craft.

 

ECCC 2013: Spending Spree Sunday--Women in Webseries

(Image:  Legend of the Shadow Clans, ECCC 2013 Special Edition Print)

 

Before I spent money on items I couldn't live without, my fiance and I attended two more seminars on the final day of ECCC 2013. 

 

The first was the Women in Webseries panel discussion, hosted by Trin Miller.

 

 

 (Image:  Trin Miller, drafted at the last minute to moderate, is about to open the panel discussion)

 

I went to a similar seminar two years ago at GeekGirlCon, which the panelists jokingly subtitled "Women in Webseries--other than The Guild" and where I initially met some of the panelists. 

 

While not producing--let alone staring--in a webseries (not to mention being a guy to boot), I do make YouTube movies of some of the games I've played.  I felt these activities were similar enough to justify attending this panel discussion in the hopes of improving my own craft.

 

In case you're wondering what a "webseries" is, here's a decent definition, according to Wikipedia. 

 

The panel consisted of the following producers (as near as I can remember) and their webseries:

 

Darlene Sellers of Chop Socky Boom.

 

Joanna Gaskell of Standard Action, now in it's Second Season.

 

Jen Page of Geek Seekers and Clockwork Infinity (currently in production by 1947 Entertainment).

 

I can't recall if Glynis Mitchell of Causality was part of the panel, or I merely snagged her business card afterwards.  (Later in the day, there was a panel discussion titled Causality:  How to Make a Webseries and Not Lose Your Mind," which I didn't attend). 

 

Also mentioned was the fantasy web comedy Journey Quest. 

 

 Amy Lillard of Washington Filmworks was on hand to discuss her agency's support for what she called local story telling.

 

And there were plenty of stories about the pleasures and pitfalls of being involved with a webseries...

 

First, what is the benefit of a webseries format?

 

It is accessible to anyone, not just women.  There are no "gatekeepers," as there are in the major studios.

 

You are in control of your content and production.

 

Webseries opens the story-telling world to everyone and is the perfect opportunity to become a creator.

 

The film crew is small and therefore, very nimble.  That is they can pick up and move, or change locations on a much shorter notice.

 

As a comparison, for women working in the studio-system; more often than not, play support roles in marketing and production.  Also, according to Amy Lillard, the Top-Ten grossing movies in the US have all been sci-fi flicks--none of which were produced by women.

 

Of course, webseries aren't in the same league as the big box office hits. 

 

So you have to define your own measure of success.

 

Any project made and completed can be considered a major achievement.

 

This shouldn't be a financial measure.

 

Having the creative freedom not found by working in the major studios and therefore providing great content for your fans.

 

The caveat to all this is (yes, there's always a downside):  You have to support yourself financially via other means.

 

Even with an abundance of creative synergy, without living as a starving artist, how do you attract fans?

 

Word of mouth. 

 

Promote with other webseries.

 

Connect with bloggers.

 

Become active on social media sites like Facebook.

 

Utilize YouTube.

 

However, you still have to know your audience.  Be clear on what genre you're working under and write/produce for the fans within this field.

 

Also if you're seeking funding, know how to communicate what you intend to do.  Know your Elevator Pitch. 

 

Speaking of fundraising, Washington Filmworks has, at the time of this post, a $175,000 budget to divvy out in support of local film-making.  This is a jurried award, with a minimum threshold of $25,000, based on the merit of the project.  While the deadline for this year's submissions was March 8th, .

 

 

 

(Joanna Gaskell, Darlene Sellers and Trin Miller at the Zombie Orpheus Entertainment booth)

 

Like most stories, this seminar came with a couple of plot twists:  In the form of a couple of "surprise guests" from the audience. 

 

The first was a young lady, (I forgot her name), introduced the webseries she was involved with:  Epic Heroes, a dramedy about disabled children with super powers.

 

While the next surprise guest, was none other than Steve Jackson, Professor of Film at Central Washington University (CWU).  He asked about the possibility of providing mentorship for those involved in webseries.

 

These revelations were followed by a flurry of business card swaps.

 

Later that day, when my fiance and I were touring the booths, I picked up fliers for these two webseries:

 

Dark Darkness  and Transolar Galactica. 

 

Well it looks like I have a lot of catching up to do...

ECCC 2013: The Cosplayers of Serious Saturday

 

I don't consider myself a "people watcher."  However, with a legion of cosplayers out in-force for this year's Emerald City Comicon (ECCC 2013), it was hard not to notice the folks all dressed up--and with someplace to go.

 

I only saw a couple of steampunk aficionados, but this sci-fi subgenre has gained ground, with it's own Steamcon, now celebrating it's fifth year.

 

 

One of steampunk's log-lines is:  "When past meets future." 

 

Looks like Spider-Man and Poison Ivy have taken the motto to a personal level...

 

 

Although he should be careful not to lower his guard while under Ivy's charms, because Venom is lurking nearby...

 

 

 Here's a "typical" Poison Ivy with gal-pal Harley Quinn...

 

 

 Uh-oh.  Looks like Batman has been two-timing on Harely...

 

 

 Meanwhile, it looks like Loki, (or should I say "Lokiette?"), is conjuring some mischief...

 

 

So if trouble does break out at a comicon, "who you gonna call?"

 

 

 Or, how about the Emerald City Caped Crusaders?

 

 

A couple ladies from the Watchmen were also on hand.  But it looks like they were ready to start trouble, not prevent any...

 

 

 There was a group posing as the Avengers for photo ops, but the only decent picture I got was this one of  Black Widow...

 

 

I'm not sure who this woman was suppose to be.  Maybe a cross between Tank Girl and the Punisher?   

 

 

The superheros at the comicon weren't limited to Planet Earth.  While there were a few Supergirls out and about, none of those photos came out well.  This one of Starfire did...

 

 

 Maybe the glow from her orange skin helped with the lighting issues I was experiencing.  (The skybridge was open to natural light, while the rest of the convention center was illuminated with over-head florescent tubes). 

 

But since I was dressed something like this...

 

 

...I could have said, "I'm a doctor, not a photographer" as an excuse for my lack of photographic skill.  I know I'm mixing metaphors.  And while I didn't see any Leonard McCoys, there were a few other Indiana Jones at . 

 

In fact, one of them parked next to me in the convention's garage.  A third passed me by on the skybridge, ruefully addressing me as  "Doctor."  There was even an "Indiana-ette."  Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera ready during these encounters.

 

I did, however, manage to snap photos of the following "doctors in-residence;" like Doctor Doom...

 

 

 

...an incarnation of the Fourth Doctor of the Doctor Who series...

 

 

 ...and Dr Emmett Brown, no doubt looking for DeLorean. 

 

 

 

I even ran into Indy's dad. 

  

 

Some folks from "...a galaxy far, far away," also made an appearance.  A detachment of the 501st Legion even had a photo booth with a Tantive IV corridor as a backdrop.  Attendees could have their pictures taken (for an additional fee) with all a variety of Star Wars characters.

 

 

Hey! 

 

 

That was the droid I was looking for! 

 

For the past 30 years, anyone attending a sci-fi convention will usually run into a bevy of Slave Leias.  Although, somehow I didn't see a single one at last year's convention.  There was a full court this year, but only a few pictures turned out post-worthy:

 

#1

 

 

 

#2

 

 

 

#3

 

 

 

 Cosplay at the comicon wasn't limited to the realms of sci-fi and superheroes either.  Gandalf was on hand...

 

 

...probably after leaving Bilbo & Co on the edges of Mirkwood. 

 

Liea, whether in various forms of (un)dress, wasn't the only princess in attendance.  There was at least one Xena ...

 

 

...who was probably going to bust-in on that "Panel Room Full" behind her.  

 

I must admit thought, that I'm not always well-versed on all things geeky.  I had to ask a couple of people about the costumes they were wearing.

 

This young-lady told me she was dressed as Zecora in My Little Pony. 

 

 

 

While there were plenty of princesses parading around, I came across only one prince: Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender...

 

 

I didn't see the panned movie, I heard the animated series was quite good. 

 

 Just as I was about leave the comicon collective and try to assimilate into Seattle's traffic, I encountered  Seven of Nine...

 

 

...and so "Serious Saturday" came to a close.  I attended a couple more panel-discussions the following day and saved the bulk of my shopping for "Spending Spree Sunday."

 

So stay tuned!

Serious Saturday, Part 3: Professional Tools for Self-Publishers

(Image:  Red Team, ECCC Edition, by Garth Ennis and Craig Cermak)

 

In addition to Kickstarter, which was prominently featured in yesterday's post, there are other avenues to self-publishing available to comic creators.  Professional Tools for Self-Publishers workshop, hosted by editor Rachel Edidin, business director George Rohac of Oni Press and attorney Katie A. Lane; discussed some of the methods for "...bridging the gap between D.I.Y. and traditional publishing models" (ECCC 2013 Program Guide).

 

Nearly everyone's perception of the publishing timeline, looks something like this:

 

Idea >-----------------------------------------------------------------> Published Book

 

The reality is, there's no uninterrupted, "straight line" to getting published. 

 

Here are some questions to ask as you venture down this path:

 

What kind of project is it? 

This help identify the resources you need.

 

How big is the project?

The answer affects what you need.

 

What jobs are you good at and can do on your own?

 

What jobs will you need help with?  Writers and artists will often need the professional help of others, such as a--

 

--project manager

--business manager

--print buyer/broker

--editor

--designer (for both book and website)

--distributor

--and an attorney, just to name a few.

 

Writing and/or editing assistance may be available through Editorial Freelancers Association.

 

What is your timeline?  When do you want, or need the book to be published?

This is where treating your work as a profession, rather than a hobby, comes in. 

 

How do you plan to raise money? 

Kickstarter isn't the only funding site available.  Add 15-20% more to the funds you calculated as your budget for unexpected expenses.

 

How will you publish your book?

Various self-publishing companies are available, but research them first!  (Once again, see yesterday's post).

 

How will you promote your book?

Most writers are uncomfortable at self-promoting, but it's necessary to get the word out about your work.

 

How will you distribute your work?  Stacked on comic store shelves?  Posted on the web?

 

Once you tackle all these questions, you should have a straight shot at getting your book published.

 

Serious Saturday, Part 2: Self-Publishing with Kickstarter

(Image:  Freelancers by Reilly Brown)

 

We've often heard that "it takes money to make money."  This bit of capitalistic mantra isn't limited your 401K, but also applies to creative pursuits as well.  In the past, artists sought out patrons to finance their work.  Today, such patrons can be found on-line through various crowdfunding sites, which can help self-published comics--well--get published.

 

One such site, or at least the one I've heard of the most is Kickstarter.  It was through this site that Chris Furniss financed his comic The 31 Days of Zero Suit Samus.

 

Here are some of his thoughts on developing a successful Kickstarter Campaign:

 

First, make a video to pique the interest of potential backers, but keep it under four minutes.

 

Include exclusive awards for backers that won't be available for normal purchase and make uniquely-named backer award levels.  The most popular award level appears to be $35 donations.

 

Keep your goals modest and don't stretch them.  (In the military, this is called "mission creep" for ever-expanding goals).

 

There are Kickstarter Talking Sites that can help with any questions and/or issues you might have.

 

What can you do to ensure your project is successful?

 

Follow these basic tenets--

 

--Be prepared.

--Be thorough.

--Be transparent.

--Be timely.

--Be respectful.

 

"The 5 Bs" in detail:

 

Be Prepared

 

First ask, what is your goal?

Then develop a business proposal.

 

Be Thorough

 

Take lots of notes (do your research)

Price-out your backer rewards.

Overestimate the backer reward fulfillment (the "fudge factor," because there's always unexpected expenses).

Present as much information as possible in order to sell your idea. 

That is--Be Enticing (make that "The 6 Bs")--

 

--Utilize spellcheck.  Inattention to a detail such as proper spelling can turn off potential backers.

--Make a video, as mentioned above.

--Make something someone wants to buy.  Or as they say in marketing--find a need.  What to people need, or want?

--Be friendly and thank everyone who mentions your project.

 

(Note:  Many projects fail because they're not enticing enough).

 

Be Transparent

 

It's okay to make money off your project. 

Update only when you have something meaningful to say.  Don't be a spammer.

 

Be Timely

 

It's okay to be late.  Just be honest and explain why your project is running behind schedule.

 

Be Respectful

 

Listen to feedback.

 

Some other issues to keep in mind:

 

Make use of free resources.

 

Outsource as much as possible--don't do everything yourself.

 

In regards to printing--

 

--Ask for recommendations and get at least 3 estimates.

--Use local resources, which will be easier for you to monitor and interact with.

--Thoroughly examine all prints and proofs.

--Pack in some surprises (like buttons, or stickers) for your customers.

 

Survey Tips

 

How do your backers like your finished product?  According to Chris, the customer survey is the weakest aspect of Kickstarter.  Send folks a friendly reminder to provide some feedback.

 

Follow-up Notes

 

Provide friendly customer service.  Don't hassle anyone claiming their product was damaged, or misplaced.  Accept all returns and ship out new items as necessary.

 

Merchandise (the surprises and awards mentioned above) can be developed, or obtained through companies like Fangamer.

Serious Saturday, Part 1: Small Press Comics Forum

(Image:  AT Fionna & Cake by Colleen Coover) 

 

Okay, so I spent the first day of this year's Emerald City Comicon giving in to my fandom.  For Day Two, (Saturday, 2 March 2013), it was time to get serious and attend some how-to sessions. 

 

One of the first seminars I attended was the Small Press Comics Forum, hosted by Travis Hanson, Tyler & Wendy Chin-Tanner, "Reece" Friesen; along with Shawn Cruz, Sean Hollenhors and tatoo artist AnnMare Grove, from Corrosive Comics.  (I think someone was absent from the panel, but I can't remember who).

 

The panel discussed their triumphs and tribulations of developing, or working with, small comic companies:

 

First, treat your project as a profession and not merely a hobby.  Consider your work as a business.  So keep "business hours."  Or, as I've heard in all the writer's workshops I attended:  Write every day.  And if you're uploading your work on line, then you need to post on a regular schedule, otherwise, your fans will loose interest.

 

Seperate yourself from your work.  People will criticize your material, but that doesn't mean they're criticizing you.  Be open to advice and talk to people who are doing what you're doing.  But keep in mind someone may be merely expressing their opinion.  Research the critiquer to determine their level of expertise, then decide if you want to follow any of their suggestions.

 

How do you get started?

 

Well, to copy the Nike motto:  Just do it.

 

But of course, research anything before you start.

 

Build a website, or at least a web presence.  Some templates are free. Wordpress offers a Comics Press download that can be utilized with their web format.

 

Putting stuff on line will attract fans.  You can still earn an income doing this, because fans still want books and are willing to pay for printed products. 

 

Speaking of printed material, comic book stores cater to the major publishers.  So if you wish to see your comics on the shelves, then its best to develop a (professional) relationship with the store owner.  Since comics are a visual medium, writers tend to have a harder time breaking into the industry than artists.

 

Finally, one of the panelists, (I forget who), stressed that you should have six weeks of material archived before you set up.  This gives you flexibility enough to maintain your regular postings, while dealing with "Life-getting-in-the-way" issues.