Cosplay Sensei - Lemon Lali Cosplay


Photographer: Grahamedia (via Sharemycosplay.com)
Starting this week, I have a new segment called 'Cosplay Sensai', where cosplayers I find particularly inspiring are kind enough to participate in an interview all about their cosplay tips and tricks and passing a little bit of knowledge on. For the inaugural Cosplay Sensai, please welcome Lemon Lali Cosplay who is undoubtedly one of my favourite cosplayers out there, I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did speaking with her :)

What is the meaning/story behind your cosplay alias ‘Lemon Lali Cosplay’?
It's actually two of my nicknames put together! Lemon comes from the initials of my full name LMN plus Lali is based on the Chinese translation of Laura, I sliced in China for a year in college so we were given Chinese names there! 


How did you start cosplaying and how many costumes have you created to date?

I initially started helping with a Star Wars costume group, learned a lot about crafting and really admired their attention to detail!
From there I discovered the world of cosplay which was only just kicking off in 2012 here in Ireland. Since then I have no idea how many costumes I've made! I probably make at least 5 a year? Maybe!



What is the one tool you can’t live without while creating costumes? 

Hot glue gun!!! I've burnt myself so many times but it's still my favourite tool! I use so much hot glue as a reinforcement on my costumes to prevent any unfortunate wardrobe malfunctions at cons!



Favourite material to work with and why? 
Probably EVA foam because it's so cheap to work with, you can make it look like countless other materials like metal, leather etc plus it's nice and light if you're using it for a full armour costume! 

Lemon Lali Cosplay (Facebook)
You are one of the most motivated cosplayers I see online, how do you keep that motivation up?

Aw thank you! Ironically I have a lot of issues with fatigue from different chronic illnesses so I think I've just trained myself to make the most of any energy I have! Planning things for certain events is good as well to keep you on track, as long as you don't get too stressed out! My friends and I always keep each other going as well, I think it's important to have a good support system to keep you motivated. 



Which, if any, cosplays would you like to remake and why?
I'd love to remake my DC Bombshells Batgirl corset! It was my first full corset that I made from worbla and foam, it was mostly ok but it never fit me properly. My weight was going up and down like crazy at the time because of horrible medication and I could not get it to fit me for con day! I loved the rest of the costume so I'd love to have a fully finished nice version of it! 



Where is your cosplay work station?

I work mainly in my bedroom, half of my room is for living/sleeping and the other half is a craft zone! I'm super lucky to have a huge space to play around with! I'm not the tidiest person while I'm working though so if I'm cutting fabric or large patterns, I still need the kitchen table for extra space! 



Where do you see cosplay heading in the future?

I think it will become even more accessible to people as more craft supply companies catch up to the hobby as it grows more and more internationally! Cosplayers are getting involved with costume designs in video games etc too so it's interesting to see the work being done the other way around for a change! 



Any secret tips for other cosplayers?

Never underestimate tie wraps! They make things very secure and they can be easily hidden as well in foam armour! Insulation foam tape is great as edging on armour pieces, it makes your work look really clean and well finished!

Who is your cosplay sensei?

The one and only Jessica Nigri! I can't believe how much her skills have improved over the last year, it's incredible to watch her new costumes come together and she posts time lapses so we can all pick up tips from her! She has the same attitude as myself about cosplay- it's a fun creative hobby and it's not a matter of life and death if the seam on your dress isn't 100% straight!


Lemon Lali Cosplay (Facebook)
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From Arks to Argh! - The History of Tomb Raider Fan Fiction


Gameinformer.com
So another month of #20Croft comes to an end with April paying homage to all the fantastic Tomb Raider story weavers out there. I teamed up with Noelle, aka pfangirl, who wrote an excellent collab piece over on her blog on why Fan Fiction shouldn’t be considered the lower form of fan creation and how fan fiction is beneficial to writers. So you should certainly check that out if you haven’t read it yet.

This post has greater focus on how amateur writers has approached the Tomb Raider franchise over the years. When I say amateur, that doesn’t necessarily mean bad, it means creations that are borne from writing for writing's sake, that are not paid although may be picked up along the way and showcased. Of course there are plenty of fluff pieces floating around the internet, meeting your fan needs like you never knew you wanted them met. However there are also plenty of gems, that alongside their real-life counterparts, sometimes need a little digging to find.

So how did Tomb Raider fan fiction come about? It is hard to pinpoint, however writing about an existing franchise was nothing new, especially with the rise of easier to use forums, hosting and archiving websites in the mid to late 1990s. It was inevitable that someone, somewhere would publish a story about the globe trotting Lady Croft sooner rather than later. The earliest recorded story was by Robert Wheeler titled Lara Croft and the Lost Ark in 1997; inspired by the easter egg of the Ark of the Covenant within the mansion. The story took, as most of the early works did, a lot of inspiration from the Indiana Jones films with subtle references to the franchise and woven in with the gameplay from Tomb Raider to create the narrative. Many of these older stories can be found here on the Tomb Raider Archive. Most are short, one shot, adventure filled romps that rely on the artefact, or indeed artefacts, being the sole purpose for Lara’s motivations.

As we approached the new millennium, Tomb Raider as a franchise began to change. We saw the possibility that Lara Croft could be dead at the end of Last Revelations with Chronicles relying on flashbacks as a secret team worked on the first reboot, Lara Croft: Angel of Darkness. Within fan fiction, stories were no longer reliant to being hosted on individual or niche sites when fanfiction.net launched in 1998. As authors migrated their stories over, they became easier to find and create a community. Even to this day, Tomb Raider is a small to medium sized writing community, commanding 1.5k individual stories as of April 2016 compared to Devil May Cry at 5.5k, Mass Effect at 17.7k or Undertale which has only been out a few months amassing 3.5k. There are of course other sites, for Tomb Raider one of the most influential was the Croft Codex which is now sadly not in operation.

What we see developing past the year 2000, are the stories about Lara becoming longer and more detailed as the trend for novel length fan fiction stories grows greater than ever before. Core Design also acknowledged the work of these writers by hosting competitions on their forums and through official PR streams. In addition to her excellent work of gathering screenshots from the Tomb Raider franchise, Katie Fleming found great success in publicising her stories with Sweat, Strength, and Determination winning first prize in a 2003 competition by Core and The Search for Delphi being published as part of a not-for-profit comic, Tales of Lara Croft. Her stories were also publicised within the Tomb Raider Anniversary Ten Year Collectors Edition.

KatieFleming.com
Let’s backtrack a little to 2003, a very important year to the history of Tomb Raider fan fiction due to the introduction of one particular man; the ever elusive and brooding Kurtis Trent. Although deemed as an activity as ‘what not to do in a Tomb Raider game’, Angel of Darkness delivered a larger and more detailed story to the franchise. The game finished on a cliffhanger with many threads left hanging as to what happened both before and after the events of the game narrative. It provided a wealth of inspiration for writers to dig into, in particular the relationship between Lara and Kurtis. Until now, if a relationship appeared in a fan fiction, it was either as a friend, a colleague or if it was romantically, often an original character or Alex from the 2001 Tomb Raider movie. There were also the odd ones with questionable stories involving Werner around Ankor Wat, but let’s not get into that! Angel of Darkness provided a much needed injection of creativity into the Tomb Raider writing community, a trend that continues to this day with a solid fan base who use their stories to finish off the timeline and use the space available to speculate what could have been. Personally, this side is my favourite of the Tomb Raider fan fictions as the stories tend to sway a little darker and as an AoD fan, I’ll always be wondering what if?

As we approach the second reboot with Tomb Raider Legend, Anniversary and Underworld, Tomb Raider fan fiction moved with the games incorporating elements such as exploring Lara’s relationship with her mother or revisiting the artefact based narrative rather than human interaction based as had been the trend after Angel of Darkness. Kurtis Trent romance stories were still in their abundance, however the momentum had dropped significantly. I began writing in 2011/2012 after replaying Angel of Darkness and I remember the total number of stories being around the 800 mark.

Then the next important milestone hit in March of 2013. As the third reboot of the franchise was released, it expanded the fanbase and tagged along the fan fiction writers with it. Exploring the relationships between the Endurance crew, in particular Sam and Alex. Writers took it upon themselves to delve deeply into the what ifs of Lara and her relationships to other people. The notion of a survivor came through the writings and people found creativity through the naïvety Lara held in the reboot. Of course there was smut, there will always be smut and fluff! At the moment, it does seem to be mostly LaraxSam stories, and admittedly they are the most reviewed and followed at the moment, however these only account for around 18 percent of Tomb Raider stories on ff.net. A number I was actually quite surprised to work out as admittedly I thought it would be higher! As with everything when you dip your toe into the world of fan creations, you often need to invest the time to find what suits your style, or if all else fails you create your own.

So, what is the future for Tomb Raider fan fiction? I can’t honestly say because who would have predicted Sam and Lara back in 2005? Fan fiction moves with the franchise with certain elements that thread through the years. There will always be adventure stories involving Lara, stories that involve the manor and Winston. Likewise, there will always be LaraxKurtis and LaraxSam style fictions as these have proven to be popular with fans. What appears to be the situation is when the official narrative leaves plots holes, hints or ambiguity; this is where writers pick up the baton. For the readers, they are interested to understand what happens next and can be frustrated when official sources cannot clarify details. Is Lara gay or bisexual? Is Kurtis dead? What happened to the doppleganger? These all provide a platform for creativity within boundaries that push writers to explore existing narratives and expand upon them. I applaud everyone who has sat down and decided to write about my favourite fandom, you are a talented bunch and deserve more recognition and respect than you currently receive.

Do you have any thoughts about the history of Tomb Raider fan fiction? Have I missed anything out or if you simply have a must read you have found over the years; let me know in the comments below or tweet me @Lady_Scion.

Further Reading:
Fan Fiction on WikiRaider

CosDown 1: Cosplay Cards



Cosplay cards, or cos cards are now a common addition to the cosplayer arsenal. For someone new to cosplay, do you need them? Where do I buy them? Well, I am here to answer your questions in the first of my new series ‘CosDown’, the lowdown from the cosplay community, broken down with some handy hints along the way.

What are cosplay cards? 
Cosplay cards are practically the same as business cards and used in a similar manner. At conventions, it can sometimes be confusing to remember every photographer or a cosplayer who you meet and wish to talk to again, either for photographs, commissions or inspiration for example. They usually consist of a high quality photograph on the front and social media details on the back; sometimes you get an email or website. They are also handy to send out with commissions if that is something that you undertake. I do this with orders from my Etsy store.

Do I need them? 
Definitely not. Ordering a batch of cards is not cheap and the price can increase quickly with finishes and paper type. You could easily make notes on your phone with people’s names or social media handles instead of swapping cards. However it is without a doubt the easiest way to swap details, especially if you want some photos back with minimal searching. If you are just starting out with cosplay, wait until you have a few cosplays under your belt before taking the plunge (and you’ll have more photos that way!).

Isn’t a little egotistical? 
Perhaps it is a little, but as long as you don’t throw them around like they are going out of fashion, reserving them for people you have worked with, has asked if you have one or people you want to work with. Then that makes the cosplay card a handy part of your cosplay experience. Plus, for a lot of people it is nice to have a little collection in the way people enjoyed the collecting side of Pokèmon cards!

What should I put on the card? 
At the minimum it should be a high quality picture of your iconic or frequently worn cosplay and your main point of contact. It will be easier for people to remember you that way. On mine I have Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email and my Etsy store name. Some people put QR codes on while others make duel sided photo cards with details around the edge. It is completely up to you and your budget. Use a clear font, either black or white depending on your background colour and no urls!

Where can I buy them? 
Moo and Vistaprint both offer a great selection for cosplayers. Personally I prefer Moo because of the quality and editing options. Moo also have mini cards which are much easier to carry around at conventions. You can also make them yourself using business card templates available online or on word processing suites.

Cosplay Card Tips: 
1. Don’t hand everyone and their mother a card. Not only will it cost you more in the long term but not everyone wants one. Normally photographers will ask if you have one. If someone is asking you how you made your costume and looks like they would want to know more; offer them a card to say if they need any help you can contact me via these details.
2. Be concise - Only put on details that are necessary and relevant.
3. Make sure to get the photographers permission to use their photos on your card.
4. If you can, get multiple pictures on cards that match up to your common or recognisable cosplays.
5.Google codes for sites such as Vistaprint or Moo, they are usually abundant and you should never need to pay full price for a pack of cards.
6. Order smallish quantities so they can up-to-date with your most recent cosplays or photosets.

Excellent resource for tips on card creation can be found on OHI Cosplay’s Tumblr.

Hopefully this has help you understand a little more on the world of cosplay cards. CosDown will be back again in a few weeks :)

Myths of Cosplay

As cosplay expands and becomes a popular pastime for a global audience it appears as though, for some, that the fun has gone out of cosplay. Unspoken rules and expectations are set up that are discussed within forums and social media and rather than enjoying the process of creating and being, it is more of a competition both online and on the convention floor.

Well, stop right there because it is time to dispel some of these myths in cosplay.

nerdcaliber.com
 1. You need a Facebook page.

Ah, the ever popular Facebook page, while admittedly it can be useful if you are meeting with photographers and other cosplayers at conventions, does every cosplayer need one? Nope. If you feel uncomfortable sharing pictures or it feels like too much of a responsibility, you certainly don’t need a page. Many cosplayers have fallen into a trap of trying to become a brand which can, for some, take a lot of the enjoyment out of creating costumes. Personally, I feel a lot more comfortable on Twitter and only made a Facebook page a few months ago because I was working with Crystal Dynamics and they needed a Facebook page. I’ve grown to appreciate it, but it certainly doesn’t need to be a priority.

2. Every costume needs to be made from scratch.

Do you want to make a t shirt? Brilliant, go ahead. Can you buy one from Primark or Target and modify it? Fantastic. Does it matter which one you do? Not at all. For many characters, their clothing are based upon traditional garment shapes and most of the time it is cheaper to buy a basic t shirt or pair or trousers and modify them. Don’t feel bad about buying off the rack, just the sheer effort of all that research and hunting around for the perfect garment is an achievement in itself. Also, you have lesser chance of item ripping at a con because the seams may be more sturdy than if you constructed it yourself. Only in competitions does it matter if you have made everything, otherwise just buy those £3 gloves from eBay!

 3. You need to be authentic and true likeness.

We all love it when somebody looks like the walking version of something that previously existed as a bunch of pixels or ink. However this should not be the be all and end all of cosplay. You don’t need to have everything 100% correct to be a true representation of a character if all you are doing is going to a convention, meeting up with friends and photographers and enjoying the day. It is fantastic when people put little spins on characters and inject a little bit of their personality and appearance into their representation of the character.

 4. You need to endlessly make costumes or multiple costumes a year.

Let me tell you something your probably already know. Cosplay is expensive. From fabric to tools and convention tickets. The price of the hobby quickly mounts up. You are not Yaya Han, or need to be, there is no need to skip meals to pay for worbla for your fifth costume of 2015. In a way this links with the social media branding side that is emerging from the cosplay culture, you may feel the need to endlessly make new costumes because you need new content. I’ve been hit by this too, feeling sad because I only made two costumes one year, a lot of cosplayers feel like this. It honestly doesn’t matter though, go for quality and invest in costumes you want to make and that can be updated and improved upon in the future. You’ll not only feel more comfortable but also reap greater rewards from the money you invested in your hobby. Do what you can with the amount of time and money you can afford. For some this might mean one costume, for others it might mean six, don’t focus too much on quantity and just do the best you can.

geekandsundry.com
 5. You need to progress from simple costumes or shouldn’t even consider them.

Want to know a secret? Sometimes the simplest looking costumes are the damn hardest to make. The reason being that every mistake is highlighted, every missed stitch, every wonky hem EVERYTHING! Sometimes they even defy physics because they are too simple. On the flip side, simple costumes that are mainly bought may mean you get enjoy cosplaying while bringing up a family or travelling. Of course you should push yourself if you feel you want to make more intricate costumes, but that is a decision left to the individual not the community as a whole.

 6. You should wear a cosplay only once.

If you enjoy wearing a costume and it is structurally sound, you damn well wear it until it drops off your body! Like I did with my reborn Lara which is my cosplay baby who now has all her arrows broken or lost, multiple fixed straps on the holster, many washes and three different pairs of boots!

retrenders.com
 7. You can give up your day job if you become well known.

The cosplay dream, giving up the 9 to 5 office job to be hot glued to the wall and drowning in taffeta. For some, it has happened, but for most of us it just isn’t going to happen, sorry :(. However, don’t let it stop you doing things on the side such as Etsy, prop commissioning, photo editing, YouTube, eBay store with materials, Twitch streaming etc. It might not be your full-time job but you can certainly learn extra skills and opportunities by doing side activities. To be honest, it is all the fun of having a cosplay ‘job’ without as much admin or stress.

So there are seven cosplay myths dispelled! Know of anymore? Let me know in the comment box below or tweet me.

Most importantly, enjoy your hobby, because it is your hobby and you can treat it however you want :)
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