Hello, my name is Dee DL and I am with Convention of Cosplay, and I am with Rob (Roxy Darknight) today. I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to be interviewed, Rob, especially so soon after the Niagara Falls Comic Con.
Rob: My pleasure, very excited to do this with you.
Dee: I really appreciate it, Rob. It's great to have the chance to ask you a few questions about your cosplay experiences. To start things off, how long have you been cosplaying and what was your inspiration to start?
Rob: I have been cosplaying for just under two years now. My inspiration was my love for comics, movies, and video games and my love of dressup. I am known to close friends as a human dress up doll.
Dee: That's fantastic to have been able to get involved with cosplay. I have seen you at various events already and I wanted to ask if you could share with us some of the cosplays you have done since you started? Which one of those would be a favourite of yours?
Rob: I have done ones such as Poison from Street Fighter, which was my first ever Cosplay. Also ones such as Princess Leia, Harley Quinn, Mystique, Sailor Moon both full version and bikini style, The Joker and The Wicked witch to name a few. I have a hard time picking a favourite, mainly because lately I keep out doing myself. The Wicked Witch is up there in the top, and Alice in Wonderland.
Dee: What methods do you use and / or what decisions do you make when it comes to selecting and putting together a cosplay?
Rob: First thing is it has to be a character I like. If it's someone I think looks cool, I check the show out and backstory. Also make sure I can pull them off and find a style that will suit me. Also make sure I can do the makeup or find someone to hire to help.
Dee: That's fantastic! So if I may be able to ask a few opinion questions...
Rob: I would love that!
Dee: So, despite how much the cosplay community is growing, there is still a lot of negativity surrounding cosplay. So what I would like to ask is: What does cosplay mean to you?
Rob: Cosplay to me means exactly what the name implies. Costume Play. Like, what's better than dressing up as your favourite character and fooling around with your friends? Nothing!
Dee: What do you like and / or dislike about cosplaying?
Rob: I love the Family aspect of it. There is a big group of us that stay pretty connected. We help each other out and compliment on the works we create. I dislike the bullying aspect, because we are here to have fun. It shouldn't matter who we dress as, how we look and how much time or money we put into a costume. As long as we are having fun, who cares? or who should care is the real question! It saddens me that prople still feel the need to put others down. We are all fans, that's what drew us here. Doesn't matter what the fandom is.
Dee: Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on cosplay. So, what advice would you give to someone who wants to go into cosplay but isn't sure on how to start?
Rob: Start where you're comfortable. Pick someone from something you love. Don't be afraid to ask friends and/or family for help. It doesn't have to be huge and elaborate. I once saw a guy wear a cardboard box with the word Gundam on it. Easy, but also super clever. Doesn't matter it was a cardboard box, he was having fun. Also, don't think you can't cosplay someone just because you think you don't look like them. Do it anyway!!!
Dee: So knowing what you know now from your experiences with cosplay, what would you like to see for the future of it?
Rob: I would love to see everyone getting along and appreciating everyone's effort. Also more amazing costumes.
Dee: So just a couple last questions. If you could cosplay anywhere in the world (or at any convention specifically), where would it be and which cosplay(s) would you take?
Rob: I would love to at least once say I went to SDCC. Also I've been talking about Wizard World New Orleans because I just wanna see the city. I would also love to Cosplay in Japan. Not that I'm a huge Anime fan but to see where cosplay all began would be epic to join in. On which costumes to take? Definately a variation of Harley Quinn, Dr. Manhattan to show my love of body paint, and I'm not sure on a third. Definately something epically awesome to me. Maybe Cruella DeVille?
Dee: I think that would be a very exciting and wonderful experience. Hopefully you will be able to attend those conventions some day.
Rob: If I set my mind to it, I'm sure I can accomplish it. All in good time!!
Dee: So finally, I wanted to end by asking you what your most memorable and positive experience so far as a cosplayer. Any particular event that stands out, meeting a guest or fellow cosplayer or experience?
Rob: My first event will always be memorable because of how nervous I was doing something that huge as a Transgendered character. The artists in artist alley made me feel really comfortable quick. Also at many cons I have young men approach me saying what I do inspires them. Some women too. They always ask for my advice on "crossplaying" and if they should. My response is "do you love the character?". When they say "yes", I respond with "just do it". Somewhere down the line we become role models without trying to be or realizing it. Those events really stand out to me. Scaring Sean Patrick Flannery was kinda thrilling too.
Dee: Rob, I wanted to thank you so much for sharing you experiences and taking part in this interview today. I can't wait to see your upcoming cosplays and see you again and the next convention. If you could leave us with a favourite quote, that would be amazing!
Rob: Thank you for having me do this. And since this is cosplay related, I will leave a quote I live by for my costumes. -"Don't get strung out by the way I look. Don't judge a book by its cover. I'm not much of a man by the light of day. But by night I'm one hell of a lover".
For the second update of our five update week, we bring you the first episode of a new Test Drive series! This time, Raven, Ichida, Ransack, and Chuck sit down to try out the new Legend of Zelda game, Hyrule Warriors. Ichida, a newcomer to Dynasty Warriors games, starts us off as he cuts a swathe of destruction across Hyrule Field.
