AFA 2011

This is gonna be one difficult post to write without a mixture of disappointment and pessimism. This project started off really exciting but as it dragged for over a month after preliminary under a pathetic organization, it got really tiresome. Many said that AFA is the battle of armors to begin with. I ran through the marking scheme on their official site:

25% on costume ACCURACY (not GAR-ness, mind you)

40% on performance (30% entertainment and 10% technical effects, that is your LED, bling bling, flying here and there) 

In character 15%

Workmanship 15% (sendiri mali, commissioned/tailored-made, neatness, durability that sort).

Ref: http://www.animefestival.asia/rcc2011.html

After running through these, I thought it isn't so bad. Surely they didn't mention only armored cosplay can participate and share the chance of winning. So I pick what I do best, cloth based costumes rather than to venture into armored thingy where I'm not experienced enough and risk ridiculing myself on stage with stuffs falling apart and restricted mobility. I picked Ouke no monshou - Isis and Carol. For your information, the chest piece, head gears and accessories are not easy to make. The specific beads (imitating ancient Egypt accessories) were hunt for with wires to bends and fingers cut. It's a form of craft art. What do we get in the end? A majority of critics that says, 'their costume isn't much' and 'why did they chose such costume?' Why can't I? Because you know that only armored costume stand a chance to win?

So I went on, building stage props to bring a bit of Egypt on stage. I said before and I will say it again - every little details and props matters to me in delivering a complete performance. I had enough of people telling me the judges don't see this, they don't care that, they won't check so much et cetera. It's my style, it's the little things which makes a difference...BUT only for people who care. Then we come up with a 2:57 min skit to adhere to their rules and regulations of 3min skit limitations. Ref: http://www.animefestival.asia/rcc2011.html. 

Guess what? Usagi said she hope the skit was longer and guess what? There seems no penalty for longer skit. FML. I asked the organizers before hand if there were penalty referring from last year skits. Guess what? No answer. You know why? Because Msian team has always been taken lightly, they never win anyway, who cares what they do on stage and how long. Who cares what they need since they are going to screw up anyway. 

WE PROVED YOU WRONG. WE WERE DEAD SERIOUS ABOUT THE COMPETITION.   

It was sad, sad that we were treated by trash from the day we were selected all the way till the first day we arrived. Everybody talks to everybody except the Malaysian team. There were no reputable people from our country to fend us in AFA in any way. We were on our own. Our team were lucky to have Sky and Yuan to help out. There were several local friends who constantly giving us moral support and of course, we were lucky to have a friendly friend of AFA to guide us, Michelle. Things were only slightly better after the rehearsal. 

Put all the sad things aside, I was glad to have met several friendly Singaporean cosplayers. If there is one thing that pulled us through the whole difficult weekend, it would be the present of supportive friends both local and Singaporeans. At the same time, I did witness the awesome armor of Thai cosplayers and awesome weapon from Philippines. It was an eye opening event. 

AFA was supposed to be my last major event for cosplay BUT now I'm burning with rage. I will be back, more aggressive and violent than ever (in the positive way =.="). I really hope the public don't take Malaysian cosplayers lightly anymore. Sheesh...totally against my believe for cosplaying what you love and not what people want you to. Argh!

So much positive comments...where went wrong then? Y U NO JUSTIFY *memeface.jpg* Y U NO PUT 50% COSTUME?? THEN I CHOOSE SOMETHING ELSE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MZH79E21W4&feature=share

The video where someone commented that the costume isn't much: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6DdeRefxGg

The video where they don't even bother recording till the end: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy2GJOVmaKY 

A Letter to AFA Cosplay Organization

Being the person who experienced stuff first hand, it was like a wicked bullet to bite and dust to swallow. I've written this email to one of the organizer. Chances is, I will be ignored, the email deleted and we will be left in the dark again until last minute next year by their selected irresponsible local partner but what the heck, it's worth the try.

Hi Mr. SW,

I'm writing this email concerning our future representatives for AFA Regional Cosplay Championship. This year, we went though lots of last minute information, changes, miscommunication and wrong information which burdened the selection altogether. We have seen how the representatives from other countries were selected and they are truly, worthy of envy - proper stage, lighting, good sound system, reputable judges, almost a cosplay event by itself. What do we have? A corner of a shopping center with close to zero lighting and poor sound system we had to use handphone over the mike - all due to poor organization and last minute information. This is rather demoralizing for our cosplay committee. Due to the last minute information as well, we were reduced from five teams to only two teams for selection. 

I am pleading that for next year, please kindly approach our cosplay committee rather than an event company to organize the AFA RCC representative selection. Please allow us to conduct a proper selection and this can only be done when the committee (your partner or representatives) from Malaysia consists of people with cosplay background or people who have the experience in organizing actal cosplay events. 

I understood that it may be down to business at the end of the day so it is agreeable that you look to event companies to assist in publicity and profit but once again, we plead that the cosplay portion can be given to the cosplay community to conduct. We can assure you we will do a better job given the chance as we too, desire for the positive growth of our cosplay community here. Disregard of how Malaysian cosplayers were viewed previously, I do hope you take note that we are serious about this competition now. We, the Malaysian Cosplay community wish to send our best representatives for international competitions as well. 

Please kindly reply upon consideration of our request. Thank you.

Regards,

Venus

Too Much At One Go

Let's see...I don't remember what I've missed after Anicom. Hmm...after the third week competition where I participated as Kakyuu, the transformed version, I was so sure I would be bored to death till my work starts in January. So I quickly bugged Yukito, Marianne, Anthony, Kenneth and Joseph to plan yet another Christmas & New Year Eve Cosplay Ball in a hotel ballroom :) CosplayBall2011

Then...backside itchy, participated in AFA despite being so last minute. Completed the costumes with handheld props within 10 days. I don't remember sleeping much and I had all ten fingers pricked in the process of making the accessories. So here goes...Ouke no Monshou, a manga debuted in 1976 if I'm not mistaken. 

How I come to know about this manga? I was very young when my cousin sis used to rent comics from Pudu Plaza. I can't read what more to understand the content but I've always like the way Isis was drawn - the sharp eyes, delicate frame...I didn't know she was called Isis till I actually read the translated version much much later. Still, I preferred her than that blonde Carol. Everything is too perfect for Carol, four apparently hot-looking princes from four different countries wanted her. Bah, Isis for me ;)

 Currently really stressed out for AFA. I wanna throw in my best cuz it's gonna be a one shot thing before my dull working life starts T.T I love cosplay very much. It made me a happier person *kicks of the stressful part*