Cosplay.
The word was barely known in Prince George prior to the first edition of Northern FanCon.
Those who participated in "costume play" then did so out of town or in rare, small measures in this area.
Four years later and you'd never know, walking around the FanCon floor, that there was ever a time that cosplay was under wraps. You'd think that these Jokers and Harley Quinns, these Princess Peaches and Desmond Miles personifiers walked around town in-character all day, every day. It has become a cottage industry. It has become a comfortable way of life.
On its surface, cosplay is about celebrating your favourite characters with elaborate costumes, but underneath it is a philosophy. It's about outspoken personal expression. It's about applying yourself to an art form. It's about joining a flamboyant, creative tribe. It's about identifying with your favourite aspects of culture. It's about playing with the bounds of identity. It's about using the likeness of someone else to become a better you.
"I think I like the challenge, myself, of the costume creation," said Lane Monteith, who has come up through the ranks of Northern FanCon's cosplay cadre, starting as a curious participant, then to competition winner, and now to one of the main organizers of the cosplay events at this city's convention despite living in Edmonton.
"I like learning new things on each one; I like pushing myself," Monteith said.
"Having that crafting background, using material like thermoplastic combined with materials that have been around for thousands of years like leather and metal. And then wearing it as a complete work of art, you get all these interactions with other cosplayers, unique characters all combining at once, which couldn't really happen any other way. It doesn't matter if your character is from a movie or a comic or a video game or something you made up yourself, we all appreciate everyone's efforts."
Karli Woods went to film school, and she also had a hobby for sewing. When her brother took her to a fan convention in Ontario, she saw the cosplayers and had an epiphany. She could combine her passions.
Now, Woods is one of North America's cosplay stars, brought in by conventions to show off her latest costumes, make a positive spectacle for the public, and be an interactive inspiration to other cosplayers.
"I'm all about being comfortable in your costume. Don't do things that are too risky for you. It's all about comfort and confidence. I try to bring that everywhere I go," said Woods, who is one of the cosplay VIPs this year at Northern FanCon. Her signature cosplay flare is the tutu. She wears them whenever possible, and one of her favourites that she'll have in Prince George is her Star Wars-themed R2-TuTu.
"How do I become a professional cosplayer? That's a question I get a lot. And I always ask back what do you want, ultimately, to do with your cosplay? You need to realize what you want in the end, that way you can take the right path. And there is no wrong path. But if you set that goal, you know what to focus on."
The goal Ivy Doomkitty set for herself was to change the conversation about body image. She is a plus-sized Los Angeles model who fell in love with cosplay when she realized just how much fun she had when she wore costumes for a comic book artist friend, Frank Cho, creator of the character Brandy (in his Liberty Meadows franchise) whom Doomkitty portrays at live demonstration events.
The costume that tipped the balance for her was a Star Trek redshirt, like that worn by Lt. Uhura in the original series. The character's actor, Nichelle Nichols, broke a number of social barriers in that garment and now so is Doomkitty - plus her host of other handmade costumes.
"I've been going to cons for 13, 14 years, just as a fan, getting comics signed, collecting action figures, stuff like that," said Doomkitty, another of the cosplay pros coming this year to Northern FanCon.
"But when I started to think about starting cosplaying, but I was terrified of it because I'm not the typical body type you see out there in that world, and I was made fun of a lot as a kid," Doomkitty said.
Cho told her to take the Uhura costume she'd worn on stage and get thee to a fan convention. She did, and Ivy Doomkitty's fate was sealed. She loved the experience despite the occasional body-shamer who would make a rude comment. The positive comments far outshone the haters.
"Cosplay gave me that confidence I didn't have before and I started to feel more comfortable in my own skin," she said. "I knew I wished I had someone years ago to talk to me at cons about encouraging me. So I decided I was going to do it. I knew if I felt that way, there are no doubt others who feel the same way. And it was true. People come to me all the time about that."
Costumes can be worn for fun, worn for competition, sold to others after you've worn them, and advance your knowledge of working with various materials and how to source them.
Costumes are also rooted in the ancient arts of spinning, weaving, knitting, sewing, fabric dying, metalwork, leatherwork, woodwork, jewelry making, and these days also the manipulation of plastic, silicone, graphite, and other cutting edge materials.
She doesn't do much cosplaying herself, but Allisa Swanson is behind that industry from a different angle. She designs the costumes worn by the heroes that cosplayers then wear at conventions. Swanson will be returning to Northern FanCon this year to talk about her work on costume-centric shows like The 100 and Once Upon A Time. She is one of the VIPs in the Creative Corner segment of our convention.
"Hollywood North is a thing," she said.
"We are so busy, there has never been a better time to start a career in film and TV. If you bring enthusiasm, a great work ethic and a willingness to learn, as well as a love for film and TV, now is a great time to join the industry."
She said her previous experience at Northern FanCon was so positive, she lobbied organizers to bring her back.
"Everyone was so amazing," she said.
"I will have some super cool items at my booth this year and can't wait to answer everyone's questions. It is one of my favourite cons, worldwide! I am so excited to meet with the other film professionals who will be there this year, I actually learnt a ton about different aspects of film from my fellow presenters last year.
"There are so many aspects to film and TV production, it is really amazing Northern FanCon does the Creative Corner for its guests. I am so looking forward to the women in film panel. The film industry is still so male dominated, it is a shift that definitely needs to take place, and it is great that we ladies are using our voices."
Male or female, Northern FanCon is a convention that wears pop-culture well.
