2019
VALKYRIE No. 1 September
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Editor’S Note VALKYRIE Magazine aims to provide a window into the stories, experiences of incredible artists in the fields of cosplay, fashion, music, and the creative arts. It features exclusive, original photographic artwork, insights direct from artists themselves as documented in interviews and articles that can be read amidst the hustle and bustle of life, to hopefully encourage, inspire you to do your best work, and little by little, change the world for the better! Hope you enjoy! - Nathan
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VALKYRIE
SEPTEMBER 2019
14 INTERVIEW with TWINMADE COSPLAY Amy and Lulu discuss cosplay, creative thoughts, and give you their best tips! 26 INTERVIEW with Oni Onigiri Alasdair shares his experiences on life, work and the creative process 38 THE MAGIC OF DISSIDIA: Feature Shoot Final Fantasy DISSIDIA; Terra Branford; Gabranth & the Warrior of Light 80 INTERVIEW with BYTE-SIZE PHOTOGRAPHY Josh and Rae discuss Photography, Teamwork and Final Fantasy! 92 CONVEnTION LIFE with Silvan Lance Volunteering at a Convention 1 96 Convention Life with Kevin & Katrina Volunteering at a Convention 2 100 INTERVIEW with PLUSH-DROPS Join Rachel’s journey and gain an insight into the rich world of plushie making!
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SEPTEMBER 2019
Oceanic Blue
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Photography: Nathankct In Collaboration with: Byte Size Photography Special Thanks: Amy Alexander, Lulu Belles, Alasdair and Daisy McCormick
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INTERVIEW
with
AMY AND LULU “One of the really important things is that it’s not necessarily easy, but they all stay together” instagram: @twinmadecosplay @amyalexanderart @makeupbylulubelles facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ twinmadecosplay
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of Twinmade Cosplay
Amy and Lulu, the beautiful and talented cosplayers of Twinmade Cosplay, join us in the studio to share their experiences about cosplay and their creative interests! Nathan (N): Welcome to the VALKYRIE studio Twinmade! Can you tell us a little about yourselves and your interests? What did you get up to today? Lulu (L) : It was a quiet day at work, but it still turned out to be hectic, not sure how. Work is quite close, but I often like to take a bus as then I get to read on the trip! I like reading, I find I’m thinking a lot better if I’m reading everyday. I’m currently reading the Homer’s The Iliad; struggling with some of the Greek names, but I find the way they speak is really intriguing, it’s like you get excited by how excited the characters are! I also went to a Pop-up Globe show in Moore Park, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, which was so good, I can’t get over how good it was. ! In true Shakespeare style, they had male actor playing the female leads… anyway, if you get the chance, you should really try to go, because you will not regret it!
Amy (A): We like a lot of fantasy series, for example Robin Hobb; we both really like The Catcher in the Rye; it’s a strange book because you can feel a certain way the first time you read it, and then the second time you just feel completely different.
N: Is there a way for us to see your art?
L: I just love the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, it’s like there’s a little bit of him in every person you meet (laughs).
N: We’ll definitely check it out! What about yourself, Lulu?
N: Favourite foods? L: No. 1 for food is icecream. We’re also pretty big sci-fi fans, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, which has a lot of references to Greek mythology, I think you would really enjoy it! A: The Expanse was pretty good too. N: Any inspirations? A: I’m thinking Studio Ghibli, and art, gets you into the mood. L: We do have a pretty big creative steak, it’s like our creative outlet, we’ve drawn inspiration from Gustav Klimt, Studio Ghibli, Yoshitaka Amano, and a lot of other cosplayers too! With Yoshitaka Amano, I find his art style very whimsical, very different, it’s very magical. It’s not too structured, not too perfect, it captures the essence of the story and characters so well. We grew up drawing, we both studied art, Amy recently completed a graphic design course, an amazing illustrator but very underground, she’s not telling anyone (laughs).
A: I did start an art Instagram, so I can direct you to it. L: It’s @amyalexanderart on Instagram.
L: I might have sketches of cosplays on my Instagram (@lulubelles) where I have deconstructed the costume, but nothing really solid. Amy definitely has the interest in stories and characters, I write fairly… miserable poems that should never be read… (everyone laughs) N: If you ever did do a creative collaboration, what would that look like? L: We had a bit of a joke about this last week; We’re both into music, but I like singing and playing piano. Nothing fancy, Amy wants me to sing, but I’m too shy. I don’t know, but I think if we ever did something, it might be me doing really bad music and Amy animating awesomely to it. N: It would be a music video? L: I think I wouldn’t want to be in the video, but I could say make an alter ego, you know, hide behind that alter ego, live vicariously through the alter ego… (laughs); absolutely. *
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“Live vicariously through the alter ego.” “Live vicariously through the alter ego.” VALKYRIE MAGAZINE 15
N: What are some things you love about cosplaying? Can you tell us what’s been some of your favourite moments in your adventures thus far? L: I think Amy can start this one. A: It’s definitely the photoshoots you mentioned, it’s the joining with people, they like the same things as you, being creative together, making new friends, together, but they are definitely a highlight. The cosplay community is great too. That photoshoot we had at Wattamolla was a great day N: ByteSize are awesome. A: Agreed! Our first photo was back in October 2014. It was right after Comic Con, and It was right after which was our first convention together. And that was the one I wore the Lightning Etro costume to; N: It must have been amazing. A: Yeah, I tried really hard.
It was probably the only time I wore that costume, to Comic Con, and then that photoshoot. L: I didn’t try at all. I did a really bad version of the original Lightning, I’m not trying to be humble, it was terrible… It was a bought costume, it had this really bad wig, and Amy remade the shoulder poultron, and so standing next to Amy, that she had worked tirelessly on for three months, well it was really nice to stand next to her and support how awesome her costume was. A: Thanks Lulu~~ L: We met Mark from TooShy Photographs at that photoshoot too. We met a couple of lovely cosplayers from that photoshoot, and it sort of set us up really well in the Final Fantasy Scene, we made some lovely friends and then we made more friends, and we build on from groups there, so we’ve had shoots with other cosplayers as a result of that shoot. A: We were very lucky. L: Yeah, we were.
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N: Is there anything planned with your friends coming up? A: There is a Dissidia group coming up, Lu.
N: Any favourite subjects to draw? A: I think it was pretty girls.
N: Any favourite costumes or projects?
L: Also a lot of fanart, we sort of admired strong female characters, and we still do. It’s inspiring.
L: I really liked the Warrior of Light. It took me back to those days as a kid painting and drawing
N: When did you first start? N: How about your family, are they also creative?
N: I remember that, it was amazing.
A: Ever since we could remember. Our mum gave us a lot of drawing lessons
L: Oh thankyou! N: Any favourite medium? A: I was really into oils, but it took a long time to dry! L: I love drawing, but when I was painting, Acrylics were my favourite. N: The colours are quite bold, are those what you used for the Warrior Of Light costume? L: Yeah I did.
L: Our older sister actually has a crochet empire, Twelve Months of Crochet with Renegate; And it’s amazing. So I think we are creatively minded, but I don’t think our whole family is born in a creative way. You gotta have that drive for it as well. N: What particularly draws you to Final Fantasy? A: It’s hard to say, the art, the music, maybe the escape, to a beautiful world, with beautiful characters and music. You feel like maybe you’re a part of it. VALKYRIE MAGAZINE 17
L: “I think one of the really important things is that it’s not necessarily easy, but they all stay together, for example you have the four warriors of light, you want to be able to fight for something good, and not have anyone abandon you.” And no matter how tough it gets, they never lose themselves, and they never lose each other.
A: Absolutely. We’ve made so many wonderful friends, and you feel so much stronger and confident putting yourself out there.
: That’s a really good answer.
You scour the internet for reference photos for hours and hours, you might even spend days and days, you might even become obsessed, like I did… I was playing the game, and I really liked it; and I was following this cosplayer on Deviantart who was making it, and she was playing with the worbla, and she gave me a lot of tips and ideas, she was so nice about it.
N: What got you started into cosplay? A: When we were teenagers, we saw there was such a thing, but then our mother was diagnosed with brain cancer, she said how she had always wanted to get a tattoo; long story short, she never did end up getting that tattoo. And then we realised, life is too short, so you have to do what makes you happy. L: Mum was big on sewing, and she would always make us costumes, that was a really fun memory, and it’s nice to have that now, we’re thinking about how much she would enjoy this. N: So in the end, it’s been a really positive experience. 18
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N: How do you first begin making the costume?
So, I basically stared at a picture of this costume for a stupid amount of time and tried to work out how it would be made and how it would sit, how it would fit together, I think that’s how you really start out when you are thinking about costumes. So worbla really helped for that. N: For those of us who are uninitiated with worbla, could you tell us what it is and what it involves?
A: Okay, so It’s a thermoplastic, and you get it in this large sheet, and then you would draw out a template on it, kind of like how with sewing you have a pattern and lay it out on the fabric and cut it out. And then you would use a heat gun to heat it up, and you have to be careful because you can overheat it, but you cut it out and then you mould it and wait for it to cool, you would have to hold it in place while it is cooling Then you would have to prime it, I used layers of gesso and then sanding it down, and then spray painting it. A lot of the time was spend priming and sanding it. In the end, I worked out you could use wood glue and there were initially some marks where I sanded it out later. So that’s pretty much the process. This was the process for the Lightning Etro armour. N: Are you meant to use gloves, or is there any danger? A: Yeah, you’re supposed to wear gloves; I didn’t heat it up too much, but I for the leg plates, put it around my legs; for the shoulder parts, I covered a vase with oil and put the worbla on top, and then waited for it to dry. It’s a bit like say with craft foam, it’s kind of a similar process.
A: I think it was chrome something or other, it was a metallic chrome paint, more expensive that the others, but you could almost see your reflection in it; It was pretty good, If you get the normal silver paint, it’s just not the same. N: Lulu, what about your process for your costume? L: I only used minimal worbla because it’s a bit heavy to wear; I used a lot of faux leather and little pieces of worbla, I knew that because it’s a pretty covered costume, so doing too much worbla would just make it unwearable. So I wanted to do as much fabric as possible. N: It did look amazing. L: Thankyou. N: How did you make the helmet? L: I had a bit of help with the horns. An exboyfriend helped carve it out foamboard with the dremel; the helmet was pretty difficult, but the paintwork took the most time; the paintwork took me forever! VALKYRIE MAGAZINE 19
Just looking at the artwork, I didn’t want to lose that 2D feeling, but I wanted it to have a bit of depth; it was hard, but I really, really enjoyed that challenge.
This series was actually a fantasy version of a sci-fi character I had created before.
I think it was just the attention to detail, a little bit of perfectionism too, I didn’t want to do any injustice to the original design, if something wasn’t right, I would go back and fix it, it was painstaking!
L: Oh Nathan, you are in for a treat! I was so excited to get on Instagram every day just to see what Amy had put up!
N: You must have really loved it. A: A love of design, L: A lot of admiration isn’t it Amy A: Yeah for sure. N: Have you designed your own artwork? A: I have actually. I don’t know if you know of Inktober, but I managed to do every single day, it was a lot of work, and I created a character for that, it’s actually an alter ego, called Beatrix. Definitely the name Beatrix was inspired by Final Fantasy IX and Fantasy. 20
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N: I will have to check it out!
N: Perhaps we could create some music to go with the story! A: Yes please. L: I’m excited! N: Lulu, what about yourself, any projects you’re working on? L: I’m currently studying, but I finish up my studies in February, but I found that if I start sketching now, it helps me relax, so I’m thinking to get back into sketching, and definitely next year wanting to get back into singing, and piano too. A: Yeah you definitely should!
L: I’ve been waiting for my dad to maybe help transport my piano from Dubbo to Sydney, it’s a big job so it’s been put off a couple of times, but I really would really love to start playing again. N: Any challenges of cosplaying? Any issues with stealing images and so on? L: Nothing in particular, I think we’ve been really lucky. A: I think maybe one of the challenges, is maybe learning a new technique to get part of the cosplay made,
I guess a tutorial even of how I made it, L: She put so much effort into this tutorial and she was sending it through to someone who just wanted some ideas! A: I was working on my assessment at the time… but I think a lot of cosplayers get so excited about people loving their characters that they’re really happy to share, so even if there is a challenge, such as sewing, there’s always someone with an idea or who’s willing to help. *
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L: Oh yeah, definitely;
N: Are there any exciting projects coming up?
A: For example sewing is difficult;
A: Lu, do you want to start?
L: I think one really amazing thing about cosplay is the resources, they don’t want anyone else to go through the pain of making something;
L: We do have the Dissidia group next year, so that’s really exciting, as soon as my studies finish in February we’ll be getting started into that.
A: That is so true! Actually, someone sent me a message enquiring about how I made one of the costumes, It was an FFXIV Iron works, it was half sewing, half armour, that’s a another story, but it’s insane, and I was just so excited that someone else was making it that I made pages, a
N: What exactly will you be studying? L: Nothing interesting at all! I’m doing two diplomas, one in management, one in marketing; VALKYRIE MAGAZINE 21
N: It’s been helpful? L: It’s definitely been beneficial, but I didn’t realise it would involve so much work and having no motivation after work, which is around the only time I could do it. N: Are these subjects related to your everyday work? L: Sort of. I’m a team coordinator/EA as part of a corporate finance management team; which is not creative at all, which does tire me out as I feel I’m not expending the creative energy I need to expend.
N: So it’s the first person people see! A: (laughs) it took me a while until I was doing what I really wanted to do; but better late than never there. N: What have you wanted to do? I’ve always wanted to do something to do with art, maybe gaming, and it’s only recently I’ve said to myself, you want to be happy, you have to do what makes you happy.
N: It sounds very professional!
N: What about yourself, Lulu?
A: It is, but I find I’m not expending the creative energy I need to expend, I have to manage people, organise meetings, and organise the things they’ve done, I mean it’s good but not quite the creative work I want to be in.
L: I definitely want to get back into cosplay, and do more cosplays, getting back into singing, and get my makeup business again; Amy is helping me, she’s created an amazing logo;
N: What about yourself, Amy?
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A: I was actually just a receptionist, nothing special at all;
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N: How can we check it out? L: I don’t have too much going on, but it will be up in the next few months!
N: What’s the name? Makeup by Lulu? L: Oh you’re close! Makeup by Lulu Belles! N: Well you know what they say, the more you believe something, the more likely it can happen. Thought is energy right! A: Actually that is true.
L: I’ll be doing any sort of makeup art, from bridal to commercial to SFX; I have studied it all though I might need a refresher in some points! N: Do you have a favourite makeup you recommend?
It’s like almost quoting the Alchemist, “When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it.”
L: I do like KRYOLAN; that’s a great special effects or professional makeup brand; especially for people wanting to get into body painting. They specialise in doing makeup kits for students and makeup artists are starting out.
N: Any particular ‘conspiracies’?
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A: Actually, I’ve always wanted to be a concept artist, art, illustration, even backgrounds, I could really get into backgrounds; I’ve always wanted that, but sort of talked myself out of it.
N: What would you tell your younger self ?
N: Is there any work we can see? A: I don’t actually have any digital up, but I actually main in digital, I really love digital art. N: What about yourself, Lulu?
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A: Being shy is a waste of time. L: You got to be authentically you, embrace the weird, explore your creativity as much as possible, if you have that drive for it, then keep exploring it. A: Be yourself, don’t be afraid of stepping outside your comfort zone. It’s those things about you that you might find uncomfortable, VALKYRIE MAGAZINE 23
embrace it, it’s a good thing, it’s a good thing to be different. There’s a quote, nothing is either good or bad, it’s thinking that makes it so. N: Shakespeare? L: It could be, I actually can’t remember, but someone very smart said it, and it wasn’t me (laughs). N: Any tips you would give aspiring cosplayers? A: Cosplay is about having fun, it’s about the love of the costumes and characters, so whatever character you choose to cosplay, remember to have fun and be respectful of others. N: Has that been your experience? A: Cosplayers are very respectful. L: We’ve had a couple of instances where people were very rude and judged us because we were cosplayers. They had their own opinions of women. 24
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Those kinds of people are not necessarily part of the cosplay community, but people like that we usually have to cut off contact immediately, there’s no room for that, A: Yeah we don’t entertain it, there’s no room for it, particularly I don’t feel we deserve it, we’re creating these things in a positive way, we don’t want to draw that negativity, we’re having fun, and it’s got nothing to do with anybody else. A: They would be rare. I would say 95% of the experience we’ve had with cosplay has been positive. N: That’s great to hear. Any particular issues to highlight? A: It varies, but just people getting in your space, messaging too much, L: Pushing the boundaries. A: Yeah, pushing the boundaries of what’s appropriate.
N: How can people support or encourage your work?
L: What about dream cosplays? Amy did you cover that
L: I guess reaching out, or saying hi, we really like it when people enjoy our stuff, it’s really nice to meet people who like the same thing.
A: I think I said Beatrix was mine, it’s a dream cosplay of mine for a very long time.
N: How can people contact you, is it via facebook, or Instagram? A: Probably the Facebook page, as that’s both of us, but we do have Instagram too; Lulu, do you post cosplay photos on your Instagram? L: Sometimes. It’s a mix of misery, selfies, and cosplay! (everyone laughs) A: I would say that Instagram is more the behind the scenes for each of us, we’re not a singular person, we might be Twinmade, but we’re two completely different people. L: I think most importantly, Amy’s art page because I absolutely love it, so I’m just going to keep plugging it. N: Anything else you would like to mention?
L: I have a few. I always wanted to do Lightning’s Equilibrium from Lightning Returns, she also has an outfit called the Cosmocrater, it’s this weird hybrid of bird and armour and feathers, it’s amazing. It kind of looks like it’s on fire, Edea from Final Fantasy VIII has also been a dream of mine as well, especially the headpiece! There was one artwork in particular, I think was Nemora from Final Fantasy VIII, and it’s just the bust of her, her shoulders are bare, and I’ve always really been drawn to that image, and I have this image in my head of doing that particular style, of just the shoulders and the headpiece. I will send you a picture! N: Well hopefully we can make it and other projects happen! A: We’ll let you know! -END VALKYRIE MAGAZINE 25
INTERVIEW
with
ALASDAIR
of Oni Onigiri
“Just a goof who appears in costumes sometimes!”
Alistair, the legendary Oni Onigiri, joins us in the studio to share his experiences on cosplay!
instagram: @cee3peeal facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ sumaiurimarimo (Oni Giri Onigiri)
Nathan (N): Welcome to the VALKYRIE studio big Al, How are you going? Alistair (A): It’s been busy, So much stress, especially with work, I recently got a promotion, some old staff left, and I’ve just training new staff. N: Congratulations on the promotion! A: Thanks, It leaves less free time, but well more money, can’t complain… I haven’t been fired yet, so I must be going all right. (everyone laughs) N: What’s one of your favourite characters to date that you’ve cosplayed?
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A: Well honestly, my favourite has been Garland. I’ve had fun in a lot of the other costumes, but honestly, Garland was the most fun to make. It was a test, as I’d never used that much Worbla before, I liked pattern making at first, until Garland because it was so stressful trying to pattern make his helmet. N: Well you did an amazing job from the little I could see! A: Thanks! I see people use wooden props, but mainly I like to use lightweight materials as it’s easier. The majority of the reason why I cosplay is mostly the making of the costume, you check references, you get to try to make it as close as possible for me, I have so much fun with that, and then I have so much fun wearing it too. I don’t personally currently make stuff for other people, I’m not trying to make a business out of it, so I just enjoy it for myself; it’s a… hobby more than the lifestyle? N: Well, doesn’t take away from the talent and skill and passion you’ve got, oftentimes it’s usually the people that are able to do it without any strings attached, you can just do it because you want to do it, right? A: Exactly, you get more fun! *
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N: Was there any reason that you started into cosplay? A: Well I watch a lot of anime, so that’s probably my main reason, so that you can dress up as the character.
But on another note, I used to work on Warhammer figurines, and I realised that I don’t want to just make my figurines look cool, I want to make something look cool and wear it myself ! So it’s just using prior skills from [Warhammer] on a larger scale, and then I can become the character that I like! And That’s what honestly got me into costume making, It’s like you kind of have that passion for both! A: I used to sculpt, convert, and meld figurines together to make a better looking one. I liked that, because I can create my own, I don’t have to just have one that’s a storebought one, I can just make it; utilising that with my costume, it just makes it more fun, and I can do all the details myself. There are some challenges, as I feel it’s not as good as say a 3d printed version, but at least I can say I made that. N: When did you first started with Warhammer figurines? A: I think I was about 9 when I first saw them, and I thought I have to start playing with these figurines because they’re so cool. I didn’t particularly like the game, I enjoyed the figurines more, painting and making them; but I joust he game felt like there were too many statistics and all that; that said, each individual figurine has it’s own story and I enjoyed that. N: Just for the readers who don’t know what Warhammer is, can you give us a short blurb on what it is?
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A: Well it’s a turn-based game, where you create armies out of your painted figurines, and it’s just army versus another army. I guess it’s like a really detailed version of chess, I guess you could say, each piece is worth different points, each army is based on the same amount of points, you can’t have more than the other person, and depending on your strategy, or you could invest a lot of your points into a high levelled character, or for the same amount of points, you could just have a lot of low levelled soldiers… sometimes, enough pawns can take down a king you know… ok now, it sounds like I’m trying to start a revolt or something.
A: I went to two conventions not in costume, can’t remember the first one, I think this was in 2009, but the first time I actually got into it, I bought an Ichigo costume, I went with Daisy, she went as Inoue, I think the year after we started making costumes. I think it was 2011, 2012, Zorro from One Piece.
N: I love it.
A: I would never complain about that!
A: I enjoy seeing people in the same kind of costumes, I can see how they did what they did, we can pass notes, getting photos from other people from the same series is just so much fun! I’ve only done one skit a while ago, but I want to get a lot of costumes first, and then possibly doing some performances would be even more fun.
N: Garland, Cloud, are there any particular characters we should look out for?
N: When did you start on your first project?
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N: I have that awesome page, Oni Onigiri, I remember seeing you as Cloud at a Final Fantasy concert, which was awesome. A moment to say, you should definitely check out Cloud’s page – oh, I’m already calling you Cloud, that must be how good your costume is…
A: Honestly the others, I think I’ve enjoyed wearing more than making so far. But I’m starting to get into the armour ones, which is why they’re taking longer. So I haven’t done many recently, I made a War from Darksiders, the only pictures I’ve got, I forgot my wig, but I made the sword, I made everything.
N: I remember the horns with Garland, how they unscrewed, like the top off of a jar, it was super cool! A: Oh thanks, I was so happy I was able to take it off. My main thought was “how is going to fit in the car?” N: Is that something you think of when you’re making it, or just afterwards, say “Oh I need to transport this too.” A: Well more for the large things like that, but for say a sword I would just make the whole sword, and worry about it later, but armour and that, it’s more “how am I going to get this on”, which is why I worry about armour, because it doesn’t have seam lines in the cartoon, but it does in real life, and that just bugs me. For example, Steiner, from FFIX, his chestplate doesn’t have any seamlines on the side, but I have to make armour that can fit a person. N: I see, so you want to stay faithful to the original cartoon, but sometimes, real life you need to make a few adjustments.
A: Exactly, you can’t exactly be cast into this armour, and then tear it down and refix it… N: When you’re first starting a cosplay, how do you know where to begin? A: Well, honestly, I just pick my favourite part of the costume, and then I start that first, which I probably shouldn’t… (laughs) N: That sounds very fun! (laughs) A: I decided to make Cloud’s wig before I did anything else, and then I was like “Oh wait, I need a sword now”, and with Garland, I was like “I want that helmet, I need that helmet…” Then I was like how am I going to make the chest pieces that are rubbing into the helmet; and so on. That said, I feel like the best way to start with armour is chest, and then work your way outwards, because that’s the core of your body. I think that’s the best way, but that said, I didn’t do that… it’s like a jigsaw puzzle, and then it all comes together. N: Are there any tips you’d give to people who are making their cosplay? VALKYRIE MAGAZINE 29
A: Get a lot of reference pictures, that’s my main thing, get reference pictures of every part of the body. Another main one is that if you get discouraged, you have to kind of just not focus on it, and if you get into a slump where you don’t want to cosplay, watch anime, do something else and come back to it when you’re ready. Don’t force it, otherwise that’s what takes the fun of it. N: So I guess the take-home for you is the passion, so cosplay can be something that you really love doing A: Exactly, you have to keep the passion and not make it a chore.
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and then me motivating her to want to make it for me! N: Well I can see she’s very willing in the end after seeing your passion, but perhaps there does need to be a little encouragement. A: Yeah, eventually ! But if she’s going to make me costumes, I have to make stuff for her too, so it’s all fair. N: That’s awesome, does Daisy also have any costumes that you both worked on that you’re particularly proud of ?
N: Can you describe what it’s like behind the scenes as a cosplayer? Obviously you have a wonderful seamstress in Daisy –
A: I think she’s really proud of her female Ranma, and she’s done a Grimm one from RBWY, and she was really happy with that as you get to walk around as the villain.
A: – Oh yeah, Of course!
N: Villains are great!
N: – Can you describe a day in the life of cosplayer behind the scenes?
A: Yeah, they’re just so fun, it’s always good to be the villain –
A: Well honestly, behind the scenes working on a cosplay, it’s me really wanting to do a costume,
N: – You don’t want something that’s just squarely good –
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A: – yeah, everyone wants to a villain to take a photo with! Yeah it doesn’t seem as interesting, there’s no stakes, if the villain is just too good.
But if people want to buy it, I don’t judge them for buying it. If people have the time for it, then make it as it’s more fun, and
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N: What is it like going to a convention?
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N: How long does it normally take for you to make a costume? Obviously it depends on the build, but how many hours in a week can you put into cosplay along with work and other commitments? A: It really just depends on how much effort you want to put in, and of course how detailed the actual costume is. Often I end up making it and scraping it before I finish, because I want it to be the way I want it to be, and not just settle, which is annoying, but sometimes, if you’re going to make something, it’s a good reminder to worry too much on the minute details, as most of them won’t get picked up on! N: There has been an issue in the community, where some cosplayers buy their costume versus making it. What are your thoughts on that? A: Personally, I do cosplay for the making because I enjoy it.
A: Well some cosplayers are finishing the costume the day before the convention. I usually take most of my costume there, and just get dressed in the car outside and then walk in, but it depends on the costume, for example I would never drive the car with a Garland helmet on. N: It would be worth it’s weight in gold to record that trip, driving on the motorway, seeing you salute, and wave A: Everyone would be like “What is going on in that car?!” N: What about the photography at an event, is it cumbersome being stopped all the time for photos? A: Well I dress up for that because I think it’s fun. If you’re going to dress up, you’re gotta expect that you’re going to be stopped for photos, VALKYRIE MAGAZINE 31
I don’t get people saying: “Oh I’ve been stopped all morning”. “Well, then don’t wear a good costume!” N: Well personally, you make a lot of people’s days just to see someone who has put in all the work and to see an amazing character come to life. A: Well I’m glad about that. N: What kind of feedback do you normally get? A: With some of my costumes, people say “I haven’t seen someone do this costume yet”, or “I really like that”, it’s really nice conversing to people that appreciate what you’ve done. N: It’s the people that make the experience A: Well I love the making process so it’s not essential, and I would make it anyway, but it can be a bit discouraging if you’ve put in a lot of work and no one likes your costume. That said, there are some people who also want recognition too, which seems fair since they’ve put in the work. 32 VALKYRIE MAGAZINE
N: Surely there’s no reason why you can’t have both! *
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N: Any favourite conventions? A: I love PAX down in Melbourne. My main reason is because you can go there, and it’s so large, in armour, and you can take whatever size weapon you want. That’s my main gripe, some places have a 1m limit – a lot of characters have massive swords, and spears, you can’t have a metre long spear, it’s like a having a metre long Sephiroth sword, well no one wants that, especially if you’re going to do an accurate costume. N: Well photographers can help with that using perspective and photoshop, but totally know what you mean. *
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N: Any upcoming projects you’re working on? A: I’m working from Steiner from FFIX, and Gabranth from FFX, they are very different.
Steiner is very flat panelled, and I don’t like having seam lines, so that’s a challenge [to make it accurate and also functional]. I’m also working on the Meta from Red vs Blue, which is a Halo armour, which is a big difference as it’s very futuristic. I find with the fantasy genre, you can have a lot of detail, and more room for flow, and more leeway for uh… “battle damage”, but for the futuristic stuff, it’s all straight lines and less room for error. N: Any favourite materials you like to use when making your cosplay? A: I use a lot of EVA foam, and contact adhesive. N: Where would you source your materials normally? A: Mainly Bunnings has a lot of EVA foam, but I do get a lot of paint from actual paint stores, as I do prefer it over the Bunnings. N: Any goals or dream cosplays?
A: I want to eventually do the Monkey King from Journey to the West, I haven’t gotten used to doing beards and the sideburns for costume yet. I started with wigs and working my way up. I also feel like it would be something if we could get all the Dissidia characters in one day, that would be my goal, but it is a lot of characters, about 30 characters, with the DLC, imagine having all of them, that would be so good. N: Well with Garland, you would be making the hardest one probably, so at least we would have that. I could see the amount of effort from just editing the photos, there were parts I was wondering if it was supposed to be like that, but when I checked the reference images, it was spot on! A: Thanks for that my man. N: Well, let’s keep DISSIDIA on the cards, if there’s anyone who wants to do this, A: – Start a hastag, #DISSIDIA2020 – N: – and hopefully we can get a group cosplay up and running! VALKYRIE MAGAZINE 33
N: Are there any tips you would give people getting into the cosplay? A: Don’t come into it trying to make a job out of it. Get into it just for fun, but don’t start off with a Patreon without having done anything. If you don’t have the money for a convention, then don’t go… Life comes first, it should be a hobby, at least until you’ve gotten so good that you can keep it as your main income. * * * N: Are there any ways we can support cosplayers? A: If you look up references or if you don’t know something - google is your best friend – but I feel there’s not really much people can do apart from say, like a picture, or offer a constructive criticism, but as I said, it’s a hobby so you kind of have to do it yourself as it’s part of the fun. Oh yeah, also don’t be a dick to people in costume, so don’t go up to people and say “it should be this”, or “my friend did a better one and so on”, this is what I did so I guess that’s it.
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N: I guess you do meet all types of people. Speaking of that, what tips do you have to people who don’t have those social skills, or perhaps are finding it difficult to get into the cosplay community? A: Do what I did, talk to people, especially people from the same costumes or series, as clearly you have common interest. I remember going on stage with other cosplayers, taking photos, and even now I am still great friends with them. Oh yeah, obviously get to know the other person, don’t just talk about that one series you have in common, and think that’s the only thing you can talk about. N: That’s definitely one of the aims of these interviews, to welcome people into this world! Is that how the photoshoot with Amy and Lulu started? A: Well actually, I made Garland, because I love Garland, and then Lulu was making the Warrior of Light and Amy was making Terra, and then they let me know they were doing a photoshoot, do I want to come? And then I was like: “Yes!?” “Yes! I would love to come!”
I had so much fun. I mean, how often do you see Garland on a beach? (everyone laughs) N: Any future plans? A: Eventually I wold love to do a Red vs Blue Halo group! N: I remember seeing some excellent groups in Australia dedicated to Halo. Well this just about wraps it up, but is there anything else you’d like to talk about, say what you love about cosplay? A: Well, as mentioned I love to make and wear costumes, but one thought is that you do have to be nice to your photographers, and just to be grateful, they have to edit it after a long day at the convention, sometimes it’s good not to be rushed too much. N: Likewise, it could work the other way too, you can see the cosplayers put so much effort into the costume, I want to put at least as much effort into creating too. A: It is true, everyone is pitching in to get a good result, it’s all teamwork to get this good picture,
the photographer and the cosplayer are like artists together creating this one awesome thing, so it’s important to have respect for each other. N: Any favourite kind of photoshoots, is there a favourite editing style or aesthetic you like? A: I love location shoots, I find you have so much fun, when you go out and scout a place out. Even if it takes some research or going out for a day and then going to the same place in costume, I find you get much better pictures when you have a background that’s not photoshopped, it just feels better when it’s there! N: That sounds great, maybe we can invite people for a road-trip to explore – A: – yeah and then it’d be fun go out for dinner afterwards! N: – especially after a long month of working! A: – That would be nice. N: It is amazing how positive energy can create new pathways and possibilities, just like how we’re talking now! VALKYRIE MAGAZINE 35
N: So you have your facebook page Oni Onigiri, but if people want to support you, what’s the best way to contact you or get in contact with you? Also, can you tell us, where does the name Oni Onigiri come from? A: Well I started because Zorro from One Piece has an attack called Oni Giri which means Demon Slash, but Onigiri in one word is the Japanese Riceball, so I guess it just means “Demon Slash Riceball”… N: Do you use Instagram as well? A: I do use Instagram as well, my Instagram is cee3peeal. N: Where does that come from? A: Daisy has an Instagram called R2Daisy2, so I did that basically so I could match her. N: You’re the nicest guy!
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A: Well I try. N: Does Daisy have a seamstress page? A: Oh no, it’s all on together on the Oni Onigiri page too. N: So yeah, definitely check out the Demon Slash Riceball page, and their Instagram! And If anyone is interested in joining a Dissidia photoshoot, definitely reach out. Big Al, it’s been a real pleasure! A: Likewise my man. - END
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INTERVIEW
with
JOSH AND RAE “Look out for everyone, and that’s how you build a good relationship with people.” instagram: @bytesizephotography facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ ByteSizePhotography ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/bytesize
of ByteSize Photography
Josh and Rae discuss Photography, Working as a Team and their love of Final Fantasy! Nathan (N): We know photography is just one of your many talents! How does photography fit in with your day to day life? Josh (J): Thanks Nathan, It actually fits in very well, because a lot of the jobs that I’m accustomed to for work at the moment, require at least some aspects of photography; so whether I’m doing graphic design, it helps with the creativeness of framing or looking at things differently, or I’m currently in the process of redesigning and rebranding a company’s logo and look, and photography has helped me see things from a more creative perspective. How about you Rae? Rae (R): While I am in a field that is completely different to photography, it’s helped me how to, for lack of a better term, deal with people on a day to day basis, understand perspectives, to understand how ...
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J: Pretty much how to talk to people, R: Yeah how to talk to people, so it’s helped me with social skills a lot, I used to be an extremely shy person, I’d cry at the sight of people, I cried trying to interact with people! I’ve definitely gotten a little better even though I stumble over my words a little bit, but it’s improved my communication skills and it’s really put me on the spot to try to improve myself, and I try to aim for perfection nowadays through photography, I aim to be the best person I can be, and a better person than I was the day before, it’s been a more personal journey for me rather than a technical one. N: Sounds like it’s been a pretty inspirational part of your day to day life then, it gives you a lot of insights about working and people, and how to do things better; like you said, aiming for perfection, you can make a photo up to a point where you’re happy with it, and it’s the same idea, but not photography, but how it could be applied to other areas of life as well, is that what you mean? J&R: That’s right. N: That’s awesome. Josh any other things to add? J: I’m pretty sure Rae’s covered it all, but the whole talking to people and understanding and different ways of communicating; when you do photography, you work with a wide range of people, some are really shy, or completely committed, and how to play to their strengths, how to get shy people to come out of their shells, how to talk to them, it helps with general day to day life.
N: That sounds really great. And I guess a nice ‘easy’ one. What are some of your favourite foods as well? (everyone laughs) J: One of my favourite foods is a nice, medium rare steak. N: Yeah, that sounds delicious! What about yourself Rae? R: Ooh… I’ll try to go with three off the top of my head. Hainanese Chicken Rice, I also really like Philipino dish called Dinuguan and another Philipino called Laing is my third one! N: What are some of your favourite hobbies as well aside from photography? J and R: Martial arts! R: We both love Kung Fu and lion dancing! Separately, what are your favourite hobbies Josh? J: My number one hobby is [actually] Martial Arts, so Kung Fu, I’ve been doing it for ten, coming up to eleven years, and as part of that, we’ve been doing lion dance, traditional Chinese lion dance, and we’ve been doing that since early 2010, so nine years now. And I suppose the other hobbies is just learning about photography and cars as well. N: They probably go hand in hand right! R: We’re trying to incorporate our cars into more photoshoots, hopefully both worlds colliding there.
“It’s been a... personal journey” “I aim to be a better person than I was the day before”
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J: Another thing is games! We are avid Monster Hunter fans, and Final Fantasy Fans. R: I remember we bonded over Final Fantasy! N: Yes! Any favourite TV shows? R: Not too much TV shows, but we are watching a lot of Anime, the latest including Demon Slayer and Fire Force. J: Not too many TV shows either. N: Any books? R: I love reading so much, my favourite book of all time is The Little Prince, followed by Fight Club and Dangerous Liaisons! N: What about yourself Josh? J: I used to read a lot of Matthew Reilly, for example Scarecrow, Ice station, but now, it’s a lot more about Photography books, if that counts! N: It definitely does! Anything in particular that made you like those books? 82
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R: Hmm… I think The Little Prince really helps with relationship building, and the books teach you a lot about life in general! N: Anything that inspires you as well? J: A lot is from social media, and just looking at what people are doing, the amount of amazing work that you get to find just on Instagram alone, and it just inspires you to go ”Oh, how did they do that, or “how did they execute this effect”, “is this something I could replicate or try myself ?” that’s one of the biggest inspirations for me, it’s just so easy just to sit at work and look at other people’s work and go “Just… How do you do that!” N: That sounds amazing. R: The accounts that we mostly follow are cosplayers, photographers, cosplay photographers, portrait photography. J: Would you believe it or not, a good portion of those are not actually cosplayers or cosplay photography, you see a lot of high production or really artistic photos that make you feel like,
“how could I put those into cosplay”, or “how can I use that technique in a cosplay [photo]”, it’s really great. R: Just models in general, for example Coco Rocha, she has a modelling bootcamp for young and upcoming female models, and lately, looking at the photography side as well, and trying to boost female photographers in the scene, just to make the shoot a little easier for them. I was looking at her photoshoots, I stay up to date with her Instagram as well, as she regularly shows BTS [behind the scenes] of her photoshoots, and the way that she goes through poses is simply amazing. The way that she cycles through body [positioning], facial expressions, she can go from happy to sad in a single second. It’s really cool. N: What about yourself, Josh, any accounts you feel warrant a shoutout? J: There’s too many, I’ll have to send you my top 3! N: What are some things that you love about photography? Any memorable projects, during the process, anything particular you love about it?
J: One of the things I love about photography is meeting new people, and learning about new people, what makes them strong in a photoshoot, and if there are weaknesses, how to overcome weaknesses, I think, is one of the biggest things for me. R: I agree completely with Joshua, I’ve met so many different people I wouldn’t ever have had I not been doing this, and I wouldn’t have overcome my own insecurities had I not been doing this at all. From what Joshua said, my favourite part about doing all of this, in particular, is keeping up with all the Final Fantasy cosplayers! (everyone laughs) J: One of the best things that I love about photography as well is the creative challenge, looking at an outfit and going “how can I make this outfit look amazing with the resources I’ve got on hand.” R: Also, how can I show off every single detail of the costume in which the cosplayer has either put the effort in, or are proud to how off. J: So to give you an example, we did a photoshoot with Will Wong, AK Wirru; a lot of his VALKYRIE MAGAZINE 83
costumes have really great detail in it, and Rae and I, we always, every time we shoot with him, we always say “show us some of the best parts of your costume that you think no one else will see”, and we always make it a big point to show that part of the costume off, or just something about his costume that you really want people to see. N: I’m sure he’s very grateful for the work you do, and I’m sure many people know of him! I believe you have worked on a photobook with Will as well, is that one of your favourite projects or would you have any other favourites as well? R: Yeah, our photobooks, well at first, we did it for ourselves, and we were actually surprised that other people wanted it, and with the t-shirts, at conventions, we just wore it for ourselves, but we had people approach us, and say: “hey, we really like the shirt you’re wearing, how can we have it, can we purchase one from you?” So, it’s really interesting that even with the merchandise part, that aside from the photography, people are actually getting interested in it too, and we really didn’t expect that at all. 84
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N: That is quite amazing; especially that it really comes from the people. You have so much experience now, but do you remember when you first started photography? J: Well I’ve been doing photography since… well it feels like forever, R: Probably since 2003 at least, J: Yeah, we first started probably around 2003, and our first convention was 2013, ten years later, and we really started taking it seriously around 2015. R: Yeah around August 2015, J: And one of our most memorable shoot from the early days was actually shooting with Will – Wirru. It was one of the first shoots where we actually approached other people, instead of people approaching us, and it was a project that both parties really really wanted to work on together, that was one of Rae’s first shoots, that she organised, and she shot, I helped her in parts of it, but all the creative aspects of it, such as choosing the location, choosing the framing, choosing the colour palette, that was all Rae.
N: Wow, that’s so nice. J: That was one the photos that we actually entered in the Madman Anime Festival, and it actually got quite a bit of love. N: We will have to include that image! J: Dad got me into photography a long time ago, even before 2003, and I guess Year 7, we just picked up a photography class and started doing it, and in Year 9, took it further. I guess eased off between Year 9 until 2013, and I picked it up again in Uni. We used to go to conventions since 2011, R: Where we started taking happy snaps, J: We met some lovely people, and we thought we can do better, and wanted to do better, and yeah that’s how we got started R: and that’s when we started investing in lighting equipment, we started with Speedlites, off camera flashes, and moved on to Studio Lighting.
N: Can you describe a day in the life of a photographer behind the scenes, when you’re doing a shoot? R: There’s a lot of preparation that goes before, we like to have all preparations complete at least a day or two before a photoshoot that we set, if we do know the location, and character, series, we’d like to do some research to make sure we get the characterisation correct. J: Would it help if we gave an example with what we did for Wirru’s shoot? N: That sounds like an excellent plan. J: With Wirru’s shoot, we first looked at his costume and went “wow, this is something that we would really love to shoot”, and so Rae contacted him and said: “hey would you be open to doing a photoshoot with us”, showed some examples of our work, and he agreed. After that, we came up with a storyboard and this is where Rae stepped in. A lot of the Clouds at the time were going towards more industrial settings, but Rae, and this is where the greater part comes in, decided “okay, let’s go for more of a forest look!” VALKYRIE MAGAZINE 85
R: We wanted to show off the natural side of Final Fantasy VII, because well, playing it, a major part is technology vs nature. J: So what we did after that was, we went out to the Blue Mountains, and went around to all the different locations, and we eventually settled with a really nice waterfall that was out there, it was a bit of a trek down I think took us about twenty three minutes or so? R: Yeah, around twenty minutes, and it was easier going down than coming back up too. J: So, Rae and I went down there by ourselves and said: “Okay, this is a good spot, we gotta tell Wirru about it and then come back. Then, the next step was we drew up little storyboards of how we wanted shots to appear, and this was placed among all the other images we pulled from google, and just went, “hey these are really cool shots, let’s try and do something like this.” R: Also, we replayed the game to look at the locations and get a sense of the character again, just to refresh that. J: After that, it was a long back and forth trying to pick a date and the perfect weather to do it. R: It took several months to get it [organised], but luckily for us, Wirru was very patient, for example we did approach him at another convention, and I apologised saying. “I’m really sorry we have to keep pushing it back”, and he said “no worries, if you can’t do it today, we’ll push for another time.” J: After we had the date locked in, we asked ourselves “Ok, what do we need for this trip?” So, we planned out food, water, all the photography equipment, and if it’s one tip that I can give, it’s “always plan out the food and water, not just for you, not just for your partner, but for the cosplayers as well.” If your cosplayers are not fed, if they’re not energised or hydrated, your job as a photographer is going to be a lot harder. R: Especially if you’re making a trek down, and you know that maybe water is involved, then you pack a towel for them to keep them warm!
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J: Look out for everyone, and that’s how you build a good relationship with people. After we had all the equipment sorted, we made the trek. It’s funny that, you can plan and plan as much as you want, but then all it takes is for someone like Wirru to just in the pool, and then suddenly you’ve got the Aerith scene (everyone laughs). So yeah, it’s great planning it and all, but sometimes you just need to get down there and see what your cosplayers come up with as well! R: We were lucky in the sense that he [Wirru] came up with a lot of ideas and he was excited as much as we were to contribute. J: One of the greatest advantages as a photographer is when not all the creative aspect is pushed on you, it’s shared as a team; I mean, it’s okay, I understand that everyone has different skills, and varying levels of creativity, but it helps when both teams come together and everyone comes up with a really good photoshoot and image. N: That sounds like you really considered every detail, and that even then, that was just the foundation, and when you did the shoot, you were able to use that energy that you all had together to make those magical moments and all those beautiful photos that we are so lucky to see! *
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N: Is there anything that you particularly keep in mind when taking photos? J: We do try to keep the general photography rules, but my philosophy is, it’s a more of an exception rather than a rule. It’s good to keep say the rule of thirds in mind, and the golden mean but it shouldn’t be used to govern a photo, it should be used to help a photo, not rule over it. In terms of lighting, we try to plan out all that, so we have shots that we’re going to achieve, kind of like a plan, what to achieve by x amount of time, and then after that it’s just kind of go with the flow. Like I was saying with the Cloud [Wirru] shoot, you can plan out all your photos but then all it takes is the cosplayer to jump in the pool and then suddenly you have a whole different scene and look and feel to it. So, I guess we do go with the flow sometimes. Speaking from other shoots, sometimes you get stormy weather, and it doesn’t necessarily fit your shoot, you just have to work around it, find a wall inside, make it work.
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N: From experience, you can actually convert that into a good thing, if you have rain for example, it can actually create reflections and other things that you can actually work with.
R: Yep!
J: You could even say that this is like our cosplay build! I’m not extremely talented in prop making or costume making, but I’m up for making props and skits!
N: Sounds like planning is really key, to make sure you have a clear workflow you can go off, and having the flexibility to keep an open mind. Any particular projects you’re working on at the moment or excited about yourself ?
N: I’m sure you’re just being modest there! And with your martial arts background, you’d probably be really good with the drama, and visualising all the different possibilities with movements and so on?
J: Can’t go into details too much at the moment! But I can tell you a little about it. At the moment, we’re kind of into set building, so building up sets in a studio and buying and making props and all that,
R: Yeah!
J: Precisely!
R: And even making our own diffusers and stuff like that. J: A big part of this year was making our own photography equipment, and yeah, you can say it’s helped out a lot, just little custom unique items that you wouldn’t find in a shop, unique to the situation. Another one is that we have a lot of shoots planned where we are working with animals. I know it’s going to be a real challenge, but we’re looking forward to it. N: There’s only one way to grow and find out about anything, and that’s by trying things out and jumping in right! R: That’s right! N: Do you feel like it’s helped out to make your own gear in any particular ways? J: It’s something that’s a lot different to what other people are doing in the cosplay community, not too ridiculously crazy, but it’s something a little bit different from the norm. N: It gives that more personal touch doesn’t it, so people can see more that “Oh that’s Bytesize, Josh and Rae took that photo!” J: Exactly. It’s kind of like our style.
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R: And building our own things, it’s helping us understand the technicalities in what makes a proper prop or a proper set.
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J: Martial arts has really helped a lot with posing, different angles, how to achieve certain looks, it helps a lot. R: Because we do Lion dancing, that has helped with story boarding too as there is a set sequence in the performances too! N: How can we check out your lion dancing, is it on your photography page too? J: You can always check out our martial arts page, it’s Choy Lee Fat, Pennant Hills: http://www.clfph. com.au/ N: Sounds great! *
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N: Anything you would tell your younger self ? J: I guess my younger self used to hold people up on a pedestal, you used to see certain cosplayer, and you’d be almost intimidated to approach them, and you start talking to them a bit differently, and I guess to my younger self, I would say, “Hey don’t forget that they’re just people! A person made that prop, a person was the creative mind behind it, you should talk to them.” R: And they’re probably just the same as you and me, and probably shy as well! N: What about yourself Rae, anything you would want to tell a younger version of Rae?
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R: I used to play, well I still do play Final Fantasy VII every year, at least once a year, so I learn a lot from it, even though it’s the same game with the same dialogue, there are things that I picked up on as an adult which I didn’t as a child, or I viewed things particularly in life a lot differently compared to what I did back then. But I was also picked on by my older brother, he called me a loser for playing Final Fantasy VII, and some of my friends in highschool, they kind of made fun of it, they weren’t too mean or anything, but they were kind of like: “Don’t you have better things to do with your time?” But it’s kind of really amazing now how my favourite game, how that has influenced our photography, and our social life as well. N: It’s almost like Final Fantasy VII has given you back everything and more almost right, for all the time you put it! R: That’s right! N: Any tips that you would give aspiring photographers as well?
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J: My biggest tip is don’t worry about the equipment first, worry about what you want to achieve first, and then everything else follows through. The equipment is great, and a lot of the times you can work around without having the fanciest equipment. But having said that, you are also limited if you don’t have the right equipment in the end. So first think about what you want to achieve, second how you are going to achieve it, and third, you will need the right equipment [only] then for the shoot. N: Having the vision of what you want to do, working out what you need, and then getting the equipment, is that what you mean? J and R: Yeah! R: On a feeling type of level, there may be times you may feel rejected by either a cosplayer or a model, and they say they’d rather not do a shoot in their own type of way, and the important thing as a photographer is don’t take it personally. There were times that we did take it personally, and felt that maybe we aren’t as good as we think we are, or maybe, because we should stop doing this, because we felt a little bit insecure and upset.
N: Can definitely relate to that myself ! R: The main thing is to keep pursuing, but respect other people’s boundaries as well, just move on and don’t take it personally. N: That’s really helpful advice, as you said people are people, sometimes they may be going through a rough patch, and there may be no need to project anything onto yourself that may not even be there, and you have to just keep believing and sharing the positivity in the way you believe in.
N: How can we support you and your work as well? R: We are on social media so we do have a facebook, Instagram, world cosplay, we’re kind of inactive on our Flickr at the moment, we do have a Ko-Fi too. J: We do have a Ko-Fi, but I would prefer if people would actually request paid shoots, or buying a book, buying a T-shirt, or something like that.
R: That’s right.
N: How do people get in touch to do this?
N: Loving how Josh has given the technical elements, while Rae has shared the emotional aspect, it is something that I’ve noticed that in terms of the teamwork, it complements really nicely, and you have all the physical, metaphysical aspects covered so I think you’re doing great work if that can be an encouragement!
J: You can contact us on either Instagram or Facebook for a paid shoot, or buy a book or T-shirt that we have which can all be found on those platforms too!
J and R: Thanks! *
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N: Okay! Thanks for your time! -END
* VALKYRIE MAGAZINE 91
INTERVIEW SILVAN
with
on Volunteering at a
Convention
“It’s an experience that’s worth doing. Try It the first time and see how you go; but usually, it’s a pretty close knit family, and if you’re willing to help out, and if you’re willing to work, you’ll help other people enjoy it too, and it is absolutely worth it! They know how to manage the volunteers, and they really take care of you.”
Silvan Lance, veteran volunteer, joins us in the studio to share his experiences on what it’s like supporting convention operations behind the scenes!
More information at: http://mad.mn/jointheparty
N: So obviously volunteering is not something you do full time, what do you normally do in the day to day?
N: Silvan, first of all, how are you going today? Silvan: Well I was sick a week before, thought I recovered, but for some reason got sick again just before the convention, but well, I’m still here which is good!
S: Me? I’m a bank manager. N: I can see that professional demeanour coming across! S: Thanks! N: How did you first get into the convention scene? 92 VALKYRIE MAGAZINE
S: I got into it around year 10. We played a game based on Naruto, and from there we just got into it. One of my good friends learned about all these expos that are going on, and so we started going along, really enjoyed it, liked the community, liked the whole thing. That was a while ago, but probably the last five years or so, I’ve started volunteering for them. N: Do you have any favourite TV shows or anime that you enjoy? S: Probably My Hero Academia at the moment. N: It is so good isn’t it. You finish your work, and then you get a bit of it in. S: I love the intensity. N: Any other favourites? S: Naruto started it for me. Full Metal Alchemist, Gurren Lagann… N: Those are truly epic aren’t they, especially the overcoming of adversity.
S: I love the whole expo floor of it, you can walk around, see if you can find cool merchandise, meet some of the voice actors which is pretty awesome and get their autographs, and the panels are usually pretty funny, where you hear the guests talk. N: So mainly the atmosphere, and a lot of different attractions on display. S: Yeah, Speaking of merchandise, I don’t mind collecting a few figurines if there’s an anime I really like! N: Figurines are a black hole aren’t they… S: Oh man, yeah, it’s so bad. N: Just like any collection, once you get started, it’s like a deep rabbit hole, you can always go deeper and get more. S: Yeah I guess you just have to find one you like and uh, know your limits. That’s why I say I’ll only collect two figurines from each series I like, no more.
S: Yeah, I also do love it when something tragic happens, you get so attached to the characters…
N: Sounds like a great rule to have! Obviously bank managing is pretty busy, how does that sit with your passion for the cosplay and anime scene, what’s the balance there?
N: We’ll avoid too many spoilers for our readers, but so many great series there to check out if they haven’t already. In the meantime, Silvan, what are some things you especially love about conventions?
S: Well I used to volunteer a lot more before I got into my current position. So I guess these days, I volunteer at less events, now it’s only twice a year these days. N: It still sounds like quite a lot!
“I love the expo floor... meeting some of the voice actors, and the panels are usually pretty funny” VALKYRIE MAGAZINE 93
S: Well it’s only around 2-3 days for a convention, so usually a take a week off work, so a couple of weeks a year isn’t too bad. N: How much time would you have to spend preparing? Obviously the actual convention goes for 2-3 days, but is there training and that kind of thing? S: Yeah at first, you get a lot of training, there’s usually some pre-days to meet up and get an induction, usually the biggest commitment comes from the event organisers, for the volunteers, max commitment would be a week just to help with setup, do the induction, learn the convention areas; N: So it mainly takes a week? S: Well, Normally you have to sign up months in advance, and they send you emails, keep you posted, some OH and S too. So you do have to sign up ahead of time, as there is a closing date, but each convention is a little different. N: Well I guess you know Madman quite well. How would you be notified if you wanted to sign up? 94
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S: You can check the website, and they actually have an app called “initlive”, you can register through there, it tells you your schedule, and you check in for your shift. Madman is particularly great with the organisation and technology, none of the other events I’ve been to actually use that, so Madman is really good with the technology and innovation! N: So you mainly began from year 10, and the rest is history would you say? S: Yeah my interest in anime started in year 10, then a year or two after, when we learned about these events, so I went to experience it an attendee, and it was really exciting seeing everyone in cosplay, then as the years go by, I thought you know what, I could probably do more, and that’s when I started volunteering as well, and then I realised you what, this is just as fun! N: So you first went as an attendee, and then was it immediately after you began volunteering, or a few years after? S: It was a few years after, we went to a couple, and then later down the track, I was like “let’s see what volunteering is like”.
N: Do your friends also volunteer with you, is it something you decided yourself ? S: Some of my friends did also volunteer, I think it was something I decided to do myself, and I made a lot of friends volunteering N: Can you tell us about a day in the life of a volunteer? What is it like? S: Well when you first start up, you usually come a bit earlier on one of the days before the convention, for example for Madman the Friday as the event would be on the Saturday and Sunday, do the induction, sit down, ask any questions, they go through general questions you will get, emergency procedures in case something happens; afterwards hey take you for a tour so you know the layout, and then you can help out setting up, you can help with some of the booths, some of the showbags, setting up the different areas, and things like that. N: So it’s more about knowing the information to help the guests, and preparing the materials to hand out. S: Exactly. N: You mentioned you made a lot of friends which is great, but how many people normally are involved in volunteering? S: I’m not too sure of the numbers, but on the Friday maybe 150, around half the theatre or so. N: Wow! Do you get to work with a team, are people split into groups? S: Yeah, there are different areas there’s a team that manages the expo floor, there’s a team that manages front of house duties, a team for ticketing duties, and you can sort of stand up and choose the areas you prefer. N: Do you have any personal preferences for areas you prefer? S: I’m a bit all round, I love the expo floor as mentioned, but these days I’m helping out with the front of house and ticketing area.
N: Obviously you’ve been volunteering for over five years, do you have any particular personal goals, ambitions and hopes based on your experiences? S: Well I have always considered event management, I’ve studied a diploma of event management part time; I’m all about experience, the more I learn, the more I develop myself, the better I feel about everything; I’ve never considered myself as a bank manager, and you know I’m doing well and I’m good at it, so kept climbing the corporate ladder but who knows what’s next, if I get bored with that, I want to learn something new. N: That sounds great. And what better way to learn something new but to meet so many passionate people working towards this amazing event! S: Exactly. N: What advice would you give to someone considering volunteering or who has never done it before? S: It’s an experience that’s worth doing. Try It the first time and see how you go; but usually, it’s a pretty close knit family, and if you’re willing to help out, and if you’re willing to work, you have to enjoy it, and it you do you’ll help other people enjoy it, but if you’re considering volunteering, then it is absolutely worth it. Madman is a great place to volunteer, another great one is PAX, they guys, they know how to manage the volunteers, and they really take care of you. N: That sounds amazing. Thanks so much Sylvan, Is there any particular way people can support you or volunteers, or get involved with Madman? S: I’d say just go on the website, there should a section called Join Up/Volunteer section they can read to get more information. N: Thanks again, and get well! S: Thanks! -END VALKYRIE MAGAZINE 95
INTERVIEW
with
KEVIN and CATRINA “But the important thing is you’re
not alone, you have team members that you can rely on, and a team leader, and the desire to make this a success together.”
More information at: http://mad.mn/jointheparty
on
Volunteering at a Convention
What’s it like volunteering at a convention? Kevin Ly and Catrina Daly, experienced volunteers, share their thoughts what it’s like helping out behind the scenes and being part of the team making things happen! Nathan: First of all, how are you guys both going today? Catrina: Pretty good! Kevin: Uh yeah, I had my breakfast, so I’m good to go! (laughs) N: Excellent. And do you have any favourite series or shows you enjoy? Catrina: Loving Cells at Work at the moment! Kevin: I enjoy mainstream shounen, particularly One Piece, the manga, the anime, it’s like a journey that never ends and I hope never ends. If I had to choose a genre, I prefer school life and or romance, things like Nisekoi and School Rumble. N: What kind of got you into these conventions in particular? When did the journey begin for you both?
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Catrina: I have older siblings, so I grew up with it all, and they encouraged me to go. This was about five years ago! In the mornings, the family would be like “Oh One Piece is on, let’s watch it” whilst eating our breakfast. N: What about yourself, Kevin? Kevin: I started volunteering 2-3 years ago at small scale events for charities, but this year I applied for a few big events, such as Animaga, Supanova, I enjoy the experience, and I also wanted to improve my CV, that was one of my goals, to upgrade the ol’ resume! N: I’m sure many employers would be chuffed to have you. Kevin: Yeah… well I like the community spirit and atmosphere, as well as the shows, and just happy to play my part! N: So this year, you really decided to step up the volunteering. K: Yeah, it started from baby steps a couple of years before. N: Are you both working or studying at the moment? Catrina; Working. Kevin: Studying and volunteering! N: That’s great to know. What are some highlights of the conventions?
Catrina: Well meeting new people for one, but it’s also the dedication with the costumes, some are really on point. I just saw a family dressed up as Natsu, Lucy and Happy, [characters from the popular series Fairy Tail] and to me that’s just family goals right there! Kevin: Yeah you got to appreciate the cosplayers going the extra mile, and not just because of the competition, but the whole spirit of it all, and the live panels, the events, are some of the main attractions. N: You’ve spoken about spirit, how would you describe this for someone who has never been before? K: It is a range of emotions, happiness, confusion, the first time you go, you have a lot of questions… C: Also, that everyone is so into it, and this is weird, but I fit in! N: Can you describe a day in the life of a staff member of volunteer? What’s it like? C: It’s very hard working, you need to be able to communicate with others, and you have to be careful of other people as it is a work environment. K: But the important thing is you’re not alone, you have team members that you can rely on, and a team leader, and the desire to make this a success together. *
*
*
“It’s a range of emotions... happiness, confusion, the first time you go you have a lot of questions!” VALKYRIE MAGAZINE 97
* * * N: What does it look like to prepare and be convention ready? C: We get a rundown on what is happening for each specific area, it is quite structured and we get given instructions on what to do depending on various scenarios. * * * N: How does volunteering tie in with your own dreams and goals? K: It’s split between long term and short term goals, I’m studying the diploma of languages at RMIT majoring in Japanese, and I think being exposed to these conventions helps me get more attuned to Japanese culture. Short term, I’d like to learn as much Japanese language as possible, and long term, I’d like to go to Japan one day after having mastered as much of the language as possible! C: I’m looking towards an apprenticeship in carpentry, and the cosplay really helps with the crafting and design aspects of my goal!
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N: What are some tips that you can give people who would like to get into volunteering? K: Well we live in an information age, so I’d say do some research on the company and event, the companies connected to it, and see if it suits you. There are often reviews and comments online that you can see to get an idea before you apply. But I think getting data, and working out what you’re getting yourself into, especially if it is your first time, is the main thing; And to not worry too much, even if the application is not successful, there can always be next time! * * * N: Well no one likes to be knocked back; what do you think are the prerequisites or what kind of person would be an ideal candidate for volunteering? C: People skills is a big one, one of the questions involves how well would you be able to work with other people! It is also better if you have a broad skill set, particularly if it’s relevant or related to the convention!
* * * N: How can we get involved with the cosplay community aside from volunteering? K: Madman is always looking for sponsors, also you can sign up as an exhibitor too. N: Where is the best platform to stay updated or to sign up? K: I always keep my Facebook channel open, and Twitter; but especially facebook, as Madman post up information in the leadup; I think they post up an announcement for volunteers on facebook around 3 months in advance or so. But you would have to be quick on the draw, you do have to be proactive, and also only apply if you can commit! N: Ok, this has been very helpful, thanks so much guys for your time! * END
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VALKYRIE MAGAZINE 99
INTERVIEW
with
RACHEL SAID “Every plush I’ve made, I’ve really really loved them, even the ones I think “hmm I don’t know what they’re going to turn out like” and then I finish them and think “they turned out better than I thought!” Even if it’s just some of the minor details, like putting a little smile on the finished plush, it really brings them to life, and those are the moments you remember.” deviantart: Plush-Drops www.deviantart.com/plush-drops facebook: Plush-Drops www.facebook.com/PlushDrops
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of Plush-Drops
Rachel, deisgner and creator of amazing plushies joins us to share about her journey so far! Nathan (N): Thanks for making time to talk today Rachel! Can you tell us when your adventures in sewing first started? Rachel (R): Thanks Nathan! I started sewing in highschool for one year; just some simple plushies and other small things like pillows. A few years later, I saw a sewing machine at K-mart for one hundred dollars and thought you know what, I’ll go into it, just as a hobby here and there. I mostly started with small things. I used to go to Manifest, it’s an anime convention though it doesn’t exist anymore, but I went there for many years. One year I brought a plushie that I had made, and a lot of people asked me where I had got it from, and I said well, I had made it! Had a lot of people interested in buying it there and then.
N: How long ago was this? R: About eight years ago now. It was an Umbreon plush, you know Pokemon right? N: Of course. We all love Pokemon! R: I had a Gameboy, but my parents wouldn’t buy me Pokemon, so I was one of the people who didn’t have it. N: That could be why you have a real job now XD. R: Well I’ve caught up with everything [to do with Pokemon] now I think! N: You must have enjoyed watching the show as a kid? R: I did watch it, not a lot, I watched a lot of Yugioh as well, I’m a Yugioh fan. I don’t think I’ve made anything Yugioh related and I want to make something from Yugioh, but a lot of designs are very complex, the simplest might be a Kuriboh, but Pokemon is a lot simpler in terms of design, so they are a lot easier to sew. The other show I used to watch too was Digmon, I’ve made a lot of Digimon plushies as well, my first commission was a Digimon plush. N: Which one was that? R: I think it was Upamon. I had just bought my new sewing machine at the time, and had someone asking for that commission, and I said “do you mind waiting until I get my embroidering machine so I can embroider on the eyes”, and they were willing to wait; like I said, it was my first pattern as well, it was simple, just a little round ball with ears. I didn’t have the experience then, so it took a long time to do it, I had to embroider so many eyes until I got it right! N: Sounds like you had a keen eye for quality even since then.
R: Sometimes when you’re embroidering, it will pull the whole fabric off the embroidering machine, so obviously then you can’t use that anymore, and every time it went wrong I had to cut out a new one and start again. I didn’t have the experience back then, but I did have the determination (laughs). N: When was this in the timeline after getting the first sewing machine? R: I think this was a couple of years after the first one, I had saved up some money, about a thousand dollars, from the hundred dollars one, it was a big investment, and I hoped I was investing in the right direction; I’ve had that one for about 6 years, nothing wrong with it, I get it serviced and everything and it’s all still good. N: It is buy once buy right sometimes isn’t it. R: Yeah, sometimes it’s worth investing to really get into it. N: Any favourite series or games in addition to Pokemon, Yugioh and Digimon? R: I do watch Sword Art Online sometimes, and I’ve watched Jojo’ s Bizarre Adventure, a big fan of that one; Speaking of games, The World Ends with You is one of my favourite video games. N: I haven’t actually played that. Can you give us a brief synopsis of The World Ends with you? R: Well it’s based on this teenager who died, he wakes up and finds out he’s in the underground, and to come back to real life, he has to survive these seven days, and each day is a different challenge; he’s an antisocial person, and he has to team up with someone [to overcome the challenge]. So the first person he teams up with is quite chatty, and wants to get to know him, and he’s standoffish, and the whole thing is them trying to get through the seven days together, and when they get to the end of it, they’re best friends.
“I didn’t have the experience back then, but I did have the determination.” VALKYRIE MAGAZINE101
“Umbreon”, the “Pokemon” plushie that Rachel brought to Manifest all those years ago!. N: That character development! R: Yeah, it’s really good, done by Square Enix; he gets more partners as he goes along; there’s one who is a bit snobby and only cares about himself, and he thinks of the main character as a pawn in his game; there’s another one who is like a skater, in the way he talks and everything, but they all work well together. N: I remember you have mentioned to me before that Baiten Kaitos is also one of your favourite games. R: Yes! Baiten Kaitos is one of my favourites too; I just picked up for the Gamecube, took it home and it ended up being one of the greatest games ever; it also looked beautiful; N: Gamecube had all these gems. J: I am a bit of a Gamecube collector, I have around 80-60 games, and I did try to go for the gems, the ones that are high dollar now, I have all of them with the boxes still, bought them
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brand new if I could, and they still have the manual; they’re all in alphabetical order as well! One I’m still looking for is Mario Baseball, it’s very rare, a PAL copy goes for around two hundred dollars; though it didn’t seem to sell to well in Australia. N: Yes, Baseball doesn’t seem too big in Australia, that could be partly why. R: The other favourite Gamecube game is Cubivore, you start off as a little pig, and you’re supposed to bring back the ‘wild’ in nature, as some evil creatures took it away. So you eat your way to the top basically, you start off as a pig with one limb, and each limb you get, you walk a different way, and then he mates to get more limbs N: Limbs? R: Yeah like legs, so it can look like a snake, some of the walking animations are hilarious, but they are all square, it’s kind of like Minecraft before Minecraft N: wow, so the original, but the… eating version !
The gigantic Terriermon”, from the popular series “Digimon” R: Yeah! (laughs)
R: I can’t remember, I think it was just a subject offered and I just thought well I’ll just pick sewing, N: Was there anything in particular that inspired maybe I might like it. So I guess there must have you to get that first sewing machine? been something telling me at the time that I should get into sewing. R: I just thought when I got the first sewing machine that, well I’ll take a gamble, I’ll just * * * make some soft toys during my spare time; I got my sewing machine after highschool. But I just N: What are some things you love about sewing said I liked sewing in highschool, I’ll just invest and plushie making in particular? in a cheap one, and if I don’t like it, it’s just a hundred dollars. R: It’s relaxing, and the plush turns out in the end, and each one can be unique; you can make N: So you got started in highschool, was there the same thing for example and make them look anything in particular that got you excited to do completely different. it then? N: I kind of know what you mean with music R: When I was in highschool, it was mostly for example you can play the same piece a lot projects that the teacher gives you, I had to do of ways, and every time is a bit different, it can a tie-dye frog for example, and another one capture the moment and feelings you had at that was a cat, and a pillow. A lot of time was spent time. Would sewing could be a similar kind of an learning how to use a sewing machine. outlet for you? N: What subject would you have to do to take R: Yeah, it’s my way of relaxing, especially when up sewing, was it under the umbrella of say you come home from work, you might be tired or Textiles? stressed, and it’s a good way to sit down and just relax, because there’s no one rushing you to do it. VALKYRIE MAGAZINE103
N: So a little bit at a time, and it just gradually takes form doesn’t it. R: Yeah it does, especially a friend’s plushies, they are taking quite a while. Especially for the eyes, I was originally thinking of using plastic balls, but I actually started looking at doing resin eyes, custom done, it might cost a little bit more, but it’s something I want to get into, to see how resin works for plushies. I have seen some people use it for horns, and I’d love to see how it turns out for the eyes. N: What would the difference be between using plastic and resin? R: Well, I think resin would be more of a solid plastic, whereas the plastic would be more like Christmas ornaments, but I thought I would try resin to make it a little more sturdy, and instead of just airbrushing the colours of the eye, I can use a pigment dye instead. It might take me a few tries though to get it right as it’s my first time using them. N: That is how we learn isn’t it, trying something new, and getting outside our comfort zone. R: Yeah, it is exciting every time I get a new challenge. It can be stressful but it is part of the job. N: It is part of the process isn’t it, say you get a new piano piece to learn, you get excited because it is a challenge and you want to push yourself to discover a new technique. R: It’s also a bit like my work as well, I do printing, and it is basic enough, but everyone who comes through the door, they always have their own project that they want to see finished, it’s a bit like art in that way; N: Is it the dimensions they want, or the colour chart they want, that kind of thing? R: Yeah, it can be like that, or they come in wanting a certain template done, and you have to do the artwork for them, even if it’s just like artwork design, or logo design, colour matching and so on. 104
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“Torchic” plushie from “Pokemon” N: So they give you an idea of what they want, and you have to create it for them?
“Kiwimon” plushie from “Digimon”
R: That’s right, and it’s kind of like doing artwork. What I’ve learned from my embroidery files, I use that at work, it’s the same process. N: Can you tell us a little about the process? Say I come to you about making a magazine, what would you be thinking? R: Well, magazines usually have a cover page, on the inside you have your contents, and then you can have any layout you like, especially if you want the photos to be in a certain place or the text to be in a certain place, we would do that. N: How would you say that is related to your plushie making? R: With plush making you still have to design how you want it to look, so it’s a similar process, you start with brainstorming and pattern making, see how it looks and consult with the person, see if they’re happy with it, and if it’s all okay then you can proceed to the final phase of creating!
N: Can you tell us what are your favourite moments in plushie making? R: It’s hard to say, because every plush I’ve made, I’ve really loved them, even the ones I think “hmm I don’t know what they’re going to turn out like” and then I finish them and think “they turned out better than I thought”, even if it’s just some of the minor details, like putting a little smile on the finished plush, it really brings them to life, those are the little moments I remember! N: It’s that satisfaction of finishing a long project. R: Exactly. From sewing, you imagine how it’s going to look, and then when it’s done, it can actually look better than what you imagined it to be. N: That must be such a great feeling. R: Another thing too is when you give them to people and you get the response back from those people, you want to hear from them, and them being excited about it.
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N: It is so great to hear the gratitude and appreciation, right R: Yeah, especially some people have had a really bad day, and they come home from work or school, they find the parcel… and they message me straight away, and they say “I’m so happy, you’ve made my day”, it really means a lot to me to hear that. N: You can’t put a price on that can you. R Exactly. I mean, I can make plushies, but I still go out and buy them myself [so I know the feeling]! N: Is there a favourite plushie you’ve made? R: One of my favourites is the Umbreon plush I mentioned, I still have him, I haven’t sold him, I’ve kept him because he’s my reminder of where it all started, he’s also where I got my name from, N: Plush-Drops?
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R: Yeah, because when I was walking around, everyone was saying that he looks like a droplet, and I thought that “I should use it as a name, it’s perfect!” So he [Umbreon] started it all! N: I was actually thinking originally that the ‘Drops’ in Plushdrops was coming from the term Item ‘Drop’ from gaming, but it’s so cool to hear the story behind that. R: I had made a few things before, but that was the first real pattern I did myself. N: The first is always special isn’t it. And you couldn’t even replicate it if you tried right? R: Probably not! I’ve changed so much from experience, he [Umbreon] is very lumpy, and not sewn properly, but like I said, end of the day, it was the first one I really had done. And he was the one where everyone stopped to look at him, which surprised me! N: Maybe perfection isn’t the most important thing, and sometimes it’s more about the feelings and the effort that went into it.
R: Yeah exactly. I watch a lot of people on Deviantart and facebook, and I always wanted to strive to be like them, and it got to this point where I realised: “I’ve got my own style, why am I trying to copy people”. It took me so long to realise it, that I’ve got my own style, that everything I do, it looks different to theirs because “that’s me, that’s my style.” N: It has that unique touch that no one can really copy in a way. R: Exactly. You can buy a pattern from somebody, and whip it up, but it doesn’t look like the one in the photo, because you’ve done it. You sew differently to other people, even in drawing, everyone has their own style, or music too. N: Wow, was there a point in time you had this epiphany? R: I think it was about two years ago, around the time I started saying I wanted to start selling at tables, I’d been saying that for years, but that’s why I told myself I really want to do it, and why I joined up to Madfest [an Anime convention in Australia] last year; that’s why I saved up to get the car; I really motivated myself to get things done.
N: It is nice at Madfest isn’t it, seeing people having a good time! R: Yeah, it’s a good environment to be in. The Artist tables are usually the first place to go to for me! And you get to talk to people, in everyday life it’s not that easy to talk to people about games and anime and things like that. I made a bit of money, and got to meet a lot of new people! In the first hour, someone had come in, I had two plushies there, a bat and a fox, she couldn’t decide, she said “I love them both”, and so she ended up buying both, and it was the first hour of the Saturday. She saw one trait in one and really liked it, and another trait in the other and couldn’t choose! The other thing that sold a lot too were the chickens from Harvest Moon. I’m also a Harvest Moon fan. R: Last year was really busy, I was still sewing the whole weekend, even when I finished the convention, I still had so many plushies to get done! N: How did it go for you as well?
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R: For my first time, I sold pretty well, but it was the things that I expected not to sell that sold, and the things that I had made for the convention to sell that didn’t really sell. N: That’s interesting. R: Yeah, I had things sitting around for a couple of years and I thought well “I’ll take them with me, there’s no harm”, and they were the first things that went! N: Maybe people can see the uniqueness of certain things! R: It has given me a rough idea of what to expect for Madfest this year, which I’ve signed up for. N: What is the process like working on a plushie, and how does that look like on a day to day basis? R: It does vary according to the different requirements of the project, I’m grateful when people are patience with me, some people really want updates, and I had one project after Christmas, where the person was messaging me every day asking how their project was going! N: I see, is it very common that people that this happens? R: I’ve been really lucky, and there hasn’t been many person that are really like that, people are usually “take as long as you need to, as long as you get it done.” But it’s not always the case, in real life, at the printing place, last Friday, all these people came in wanting jobs done, and one person was expecting the job done the same day, a huge menu typed out with graphics done, and she kept calling, asking how it’s going, because she needed it that same day to be displayed on TV, it’s people like that… (laughs). N: You can’t rush art as they say. R: Yeah I don’t like to be rushed, even if I’m doing work, it’s still art! N: It’s amazing you have that mindset. R: I always try to treat everything 100%, the way I see it, if they’re paying you for work, you have to live up to it, that’s what I think. 108
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N: Sometimes it is the artist themselves that is the harshest critic on their own work. R: Yeah, and I am, every time I finish a plushie, I will think “Oh, I have this mistake, or I wish I did this better”, although people won’t notice it at all unless I specifically explain it. Well it is the same with work too, where I do digital printing, every time you print something, the colours may be different on a given day, depending on the weather, the temperature, and various factors. For example, if it’s hot, it can affect blues, and if it’s cold, it can affect yellows. It’s similar with plushie-making and art. Fabric is the same too, I might buy the same fabric in the same colour, but there can be differences, so I tend to bulk buy fabric, I have around 90 colours, to avoid the colour differences. N: Wow. Where would you buy the fabric, online? R: I used to get it from Lincraft, but their fabric was very thin, so now I buy online, the shipping is expensive so I will buy a certain amount [of fabric] that gives me the best value for that. N: Do you have any recommendations for online retailers? R: There’s an Australian one called Minkee! They have very basic colours, but that’s what I started with, and some of their colours I really love. But every retailer is unique, if I make a plushie from one brand, I can’t mix brands for colours. The other one I buy from is Plush Addict, in the UK, and that’s where I buy from now, as they have over a hundred colours to choose from! N: Are there any particular projects you’re working on that you’re excited about? R: I have a little budgie plush I’m working on, based on a person’s pet that passed away, she’s a recurring customer and she’s come to me a few times now. She’s gotten around three or four from me. And I don’t know how much everyone is into Pokemon, but the new trailer came out and I want to make the new Starter Pokemon so bad! Hopefully I can have them done before the convention. N: Any dream plushies you’d like to make as well?
Neon-Blur...
... a plushie that glows in the dark!
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R: A Gilmon. A Gilmon plush, so it’s a Digimon, I wanted to make a lifesized one many years ago, and I thought to myself, “Rachel, that is a bad idea!”, as it was going to be huge, it was going be two meters long, and I still don’t have room for this thing, but I bought the fabric for it, and it was staring at me every day, and I’m like “Oh, I should make it”, but I don’t have the room; unless someone is going to come to me and say I’m willing to buy this; no one wants to buy big plushies, they cost more money to make and they also cost a lot for shipping. You mentioned the giant plushie I made, Terriermon, he was from the same series as Gilmon, but just to ship him would have cost around a hundred dollars. N: Well you never know! R: Well funnily enough he sold, at first I was thinking I could raffle him off at the convention, for example maybe if someone bought a plush they can get a ticket, but he sold just before it; it was someone in Australia, so the shipping wasn’t too bad, around seventy dollars; they were ecstatic. Usually I put it in a little bag and with a tag and you know, advertise that it’s me. He was so big that I had to get a big box for him, and to wrap him up I used cling wrap, and I wrapped it right round; and the person that received it they said: “I thought I received a mummy!” (everyone laughs). They were really happy with it. I had a few plushies just before I went to the convention too, I don’t normally get many sales, but just before Madfest I sold a lot. N: Do you think it was because you were announced at Madfest, or was it just a coincidence? R: Well one was from overseas and unrelated to Madfest, so I think it was maybe a bit of both. I guess people may just want a certain thing at a certain time, they’ll search it up and say oh, that looks really nice, I’ll buy it. N: I’m sure if I really knew about Digimon, I would be interested in the really big ones. R: And special ones, like Terriermon, there was no official plush of him, so usually they sell really easily. That’s what I was thought, but in the end, I had him for five years before he sold. And I thought, “Oh he’s not going to sell at this point, I’ll just raffle him off.” Well now he’s gone, I’ve got space for other things now!
N: Any particular challenges? R: Well I had a raffle before and the winner asked for a patchwork wolf, but I asked her to choose the colours, and she chose them and I got to work, but halfway through, when I showed her some progress, she said that they were the wrong colours and didn’t want to accept it. In the end, I made something she was happy with, but it took a long time to do for essentially a free plush. N: What do you normally do in those situations? R: Well my mistake was not putting any restrictions on what they wanted, sometimes the best thing to do is start another plush, but they may have to invest in the money to redo it, so I asked her to help me pay for the shipping of the new fabric, as it was coming in from the UK. But it went well in the end. N: Anything highlights you remember? R: About three or four years ago, I did an art trade with someone who was a big Watcher on Deviantart, and she came to me and asked me if I could do a plushie for her and she would do an artwork for me. And I decided to accept that as it would be publicity for me, and I would do something for her, and she would do something for me, and I finished her plush and she was ecstatic, and she advertised it everywhere, and my phone just went off from so many notifications of people favouriting the work, and that was nice to get noticed. N: That sounds great that your hard work got some recognition. R: Yeah, plushie making does take a lot of time and effort for sure, but I do love it. N: It is a saying that sometimes, the universe rewards people who deserve it the most. Hopefully this article can also help! R: I really appreciate it. Any recognition is great as there are so many people that are already popular, and all the people that are smaller don’t get noticed, and disappear among all the big ones. N: Well, perhaps they are on the journey to become the ‘big’ ones! VALKYRIE MAGAZINE111
R: It has taken me a long time, but the last couple of years have been getting better, I’ve had more people getting interested in quotes and I’ve had more Etsy orders; I’ve only had three orders in four years, but I’ve already had around four orders just from this year and last year, and you have to start somewhere. And on Etsy too, people look at it based on how many sales you’ve made, if you have made a lot of sales, people are more likely to go to that person, whereas if you have no sales, then they go “how can I trust this person?” N: Sometimes the hardest part of flying is getting the plane off the ground. R: Exactly, I feel like it’s gotten a little easier now. N: Any big inspirations? R: My first one was Magna Storm, she’s located in America, she’s a plush artist, and as soon as her slots are open for commissions, they are gone in an hour. She used to be first come first served, but now she gets to choose the ones she wants to do a bit more. You know the movie “How to Train our Dragon?” She made a lifesized Toothless and it looked amazing, 112
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and after that she had so many orders for Toothless, and she had enough after a while, she had made about forty, and eventually she decided to stop making them! The other one is Plush-Lore. N: Anything in particular that made them more interesting for you? R: With Magna Storm, I think was every time I saw her work, seeing how much she had improved on her artwork, and every plush looked amazing. The other person, Plush-Lore, I used to talk to her a lot, she gave me a lot of tips on how to sew, and prepare for conventions, she was super nice, and she was my person to lean on for support, like having a mentor. Every time I’d have something go wrong, I’d talk to her and she would always be helpful. N: She doesn’t go to conventions anymore? R: She kind of disappeared from Deviantart, and I haven’t seen her, which I’m a bit sad about as I used to talk to her a lot. She has her own style as well, everything she made was always cute, she would never make angry looking plushies for example.
N: Do you have people coming to you for tips? R: I haven’t had any ongoing people yet, but at work, for example, sometimes the clients may enquire about something like screen-printing, and my boss would say “She does sewing, ask her”! N: Can you tell us how we can support you and your work? R: Well spreading the work is really great. I had some doubts about my prices too. Some people said “oh it’s too expensive”, for others, they say “it’s a bargain for what it is”. Advertising does always help, so more people can know about it. N: What are some tips you would give someone wanting to start making plushies? R: Do lots of research, that’s where I started, and if you’re not sure about it, go do a class, during uni in my spare time, I did some sewing classes, and they weren’t plushies, one was a sewing machine cover, another was a placemat to place your sewing machine. I discovered I wasn’t that great at quilting, or clothes, but plushies are what I’m drawn to. So that way you can learn about what you like!
N: How can we support you and your work and get in touch? R: For me, it’s Facebook and Deviantart, I know not everyone uses Deviantart now though I’ve had mine for ten years, eleven years, I signed up one day and said “I want to meet people”, and a lot of my friendships started there. The Deviantart handle is Plush_Drops, and for facebook, it’s Plushdrops without the hyphen. Facebook is more for people who don’t have Deviantart, but mostly I get people contacting me from Deviantart and also Etsy. It makes me excited as I get to make what I want without having to keep it, as there is no space otherwise to keep them! That said, I kept the original plushies I’ve made as a reminder to see how much I’ve improved, as an encouragement to keep going. N: Any current goals for the year? R: I would love to start making a Patreon and I’m paying off the car. That’s my two plans for this year, get a Patreon, and start up a website. N: All the best with that, and thanks for your time! -END
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