POWFest - I Love Your Cosplay
Separated from her friends, timid and geeky Abby must find the courage to walk alone at a Comic Book Convention, don her costume, and meet her lifelong idol Asher Regis.
Interview with Director Kia Anne Geraths
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
The first comic book convention I ever went to was in Seattle. I found myself completely dazzled by the array of costumes and characters I came across. It was a nerd-gasm experience to say the least. The amazing thing about cosplay is it’s like a giant “I like this” beacon. You immediately can find and connect with someone based on a common interest one or both of you are literally wearing. In a world of digital media, digital friendships, it’s absolutely awesome to see these face to face interactions and friendships created by a maker hobby. You are building, creating, and sharing in a positive medium. I wanted to make this film not only to introduce people to what cosplay is, but also to see how through the journey of my main character, it can open you up and find new ways to express yourself. It’s not just a costume but it’s a form of art that can help spark conversation and help meet new people.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
When I’ve been wearing a cosplay or in the process of making one I’ve been asked before, “Why are you doing this?” That’s why I want people to watch this film. I want people to come away with not only understanding what cosplay is but also recognizing it’s a way for people to connect and realize no matter who you are, you’re not alone.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Loneliness is a universal theme that is shown in this work. You want to go out, you want to experience but often time there’s a codependency that exists. Abby is supposed to go to this comic book convention with her friend Ray but she doesn’t make it. So Abby is alone and has to face this place alone so she retracts. A very personal theme for me is embarrassment and we see Abby’s actions show that she would rather be alone, reserved, standoffish even, in an attempt to protect herself from so-called embarrassment. It isn’t until she’s forced to face that fear that she realizes ultimately, well you should probably watch the movie and find out.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
The film was made for my senior thesis in film school. I had only come up with the title I Love Your Cosplay and that was it. If you have ever cosplayed that’s generally the first thing people come up to you and say. That’s how amazing conversations with strangers start. Danielle Eberhard wrote the majority of the film with me adding or taking away portions. We knew that the only way to make this happen was to shoot during a real comic book convention. I connected with Jeremy Hardwick at Emerald City Comic Con who graciously let us film during the convention, guerrilla style, to create the look of chaos during the convention scenes. It was through the list of convention guests that I met Jennifer Blanc-Biehn who plays The Artist in our film. She was absolutely brilliant and so supportive of the project.
The film really came to life when we cast Marza Warsinske as our main character, Abby. She perfectly inhabited the role of this awkward/cute women we had written. We were so lucky to find her. Lilly Moore was our amazing concept artist and she created the fictional comic book characterTorch Girl that would be Abby’s cosplay in the film. We contacted Alex Eve Panttaja-Taylor who is a real life cosplayer and she made the cosplay you see Abby wear in the film.
After filming wrapped, the editing process took forever and we found that the film needed to change considerably from what we had written. It needed to focus more on Abby and less on the outside world. The film eventually began to collect dust while I tried to raise funds to complete it. Finally, I got enough nest egg and time together to get it where I liked it and here we are today.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I would say the majority of people who have seen it have done a collective, “Awwwww,” sound at the end, which I actually really like. I originally got into filmmaking because of my love of horror so it was nice to finally make something a little more on the feel good spectrum. I think that people who cosplay will be able to relate this to their own experiences. Danielle and I wrote the film loosely based on our own experiences and I think there’s a level of authenticity that people get from that.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I’m hoping that more people can understand what the hobby of cosplay is and why it’s so important.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I would love if producers would come on board to perhaps make a larger, more developed version of this film. Cosplaying is such an amazing positive subculture and it would be interesting to take this idea and make a feature length version.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
If this film is even seen by one person who maybe was a little apprehensive at trying out cosplay because they were afraid, or nervous, or worried. If this film makes it so they actually go out and try, then that would be all I need.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Do you think the creation of face to face friendships are dead in a digital world?
Would you like to add anything else?
Cosplay has always been to me a hobby of inclusion and support. Every geeky human on this planet has the fandoms they love. I’ve seen people dressed up as characters from Marvel, DC, Game of Thrones, Sailor Moon, Adventure Time, Doctor Who, Firefly, Star Wars, Star Trek, and I could go on and on and on. No matter what universes you love there’s somebody else who loves them too. In today’s climate I think it’s so important to be able to connect with a community and to realize you are not alone. With cosplay it’s as simple as, “Hey, we’re both dressed up as Totoro, let’s be friends.”
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Currently I’m working with writer Marissa Hunt on creating a web series entitled Dead-ish. I’m also looking into developing a feature film version of I Love Your Cosplay.
Interview: March 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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I Love Your Cosplay
Separated from her friends, timid and geeky Abby must find the courage to walk alone at a Comic Book Convention, don her costume, and meet her lifelong idol Asher Regis.
Length: 9:09
Director: Kia Anne Geraths
Producer: Kevin Fisk, Mikel Jenson, Brendan Stubbs
Writer: Danielle Eberhard
Key cast: Marza Warsinske and Jennifer Blanc-Biehn
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Producers
Funders: None
Made in association with: None
Where can I see it in the next month?
POWFest at the Hollywood Theater in Portland on March 2nd at 9PM.