Interview with Stella Chuu – Cosplayer Extraordinaire!

Cosplaying has been rising steadily over the past 10 years and performs an enormous half in gaming occasions, one thing Stella Chuu is aware of all about. It has grow to be a worldwide phenomenon and has spawned a neighborhood of devoted followers who have a good time the artwork and creativity of costume-making. Dreamhack San Diego happened over the weekend panels and a contest with an enormous $3000 prize pool with a number of the most gifted cosplayers in attendance.

Right this moment, we’re listening to from Stella Chuu about her experiences as a distinguished cosplayer in the neighborhood!

How did you first get concerned about cosplaying, and what impressed you to pursue it as a profession?

I’ve at all times been a geek. I used to be the president of Anime Membership in highschool and faculty. Cosplay and attending cons had been part of membership actions so it turned simply intertwined with my life. It wasn’t till I graduated faculty that I made a decision to pursue a profession in cosplay. This was again in 2011 when hardly anybody made a residing off of Web fame.

How do you select which conventions or occasions to attend, and what elements do you take into account when making these selections?

I used to solely attend conventions on the east coast as a result of it was near the place I lived. Ultimately I began travelling additional to different nations around the globe. Now I stay in Los Angeles the place there’s a conference inside a 4 hour drive each weekend. Regardless of bigger conventions having the most important draw and attending to work extra intently with a few of my favourite manufacturers, I nonetheless favor smaller conventions with a good group of my buddies.

How do you method the method of making a brand new cosplay, from selecting a personality to finalizing the small print of the costume?

I LOVE huge builds. I used to make the craziest costumes from KDA Ahri with 9 tails to full armor builds from Overwatch. I’m at all times researching distinctive methods for my designs to face out. Lately, I’ve loved making costumes for different folks. My bodily stamina can now not deal with sporting a 20+ pound cosplay for 8 hours. So I favor shoppers to method me with enjoyable initiatives. I really like seeing the seems to be on their faces once I snap them into their costumes. You’ll be able to see a lot of them on my YouTube at youtube.com/stellachuu

How do you handle to stability your inventive imaginative and prescient with the sensible concerns of making a cosplay that’s comfy to put on and straightforward to maneuver round in?

It takes years of expertise to construct cosplays for sporting at conventions. Individuals don’t keep in mind how fragile and uncomfortable a home made costume could be. Objects get jostled, paint will get scratched up, and pores and skin will get chaffed. My largest problem is footwear. You’ll be able to solely survive so lengthy in 6 inch heels at a conference all day.

Do you might have a very memorable fan interplay at an occasion like Dreamhack?

I used to be invited to remodel Jessica DiCicco, voice of Yellow Toad from Tremendous Mario Brothers Films, into Yellow Toad. It was her first time cosplaying and I used to be tremendous glad to make one for her. We had a good time on stage speaking about her expertise as a voice actor and her work on the movie. She additionally introduced her youngsters on stage to take footage collectively!

How has the cosplay neighborhood developed over time, and the place do you see it heading sooner or later?

I’m so glad that cosplay has grow to be mainstream. It’s good to really feel validated for the whole lot I cherished rising up. It was once a a lot smaller neighborhood with a stronger sense of competitiveness. Nonetheless, these days that power has become sharing of data. I’m at all times excited to fulfill new cosplayers and educate them methods to enhance their craft and companies.

What was essentially the most difficult a part of creating your cosplay for Dreamhack? Are there any particulars you’d like to focus on?

I constructed a Bowser turtle shell to have a good time the brand new Tremendous Mario Brothers Film launch. Collectively, with my crew, we constructed the shell in about one week. It’s huge and glossy. Positively a showstopper through the conference. I accompanied the shell with a brand new Princess Peach costume that I made in 2 days. It was a rush to get the whole lot completed in time however I’m very glad with the outcomes.

What different initiatives are you at the moment engaged on, and what can your followers sit up for seeing from you within the coming months and years?

I’ve been placing collectively a construct crew in order that I don’t should make the whole lot on my own anymore haha. I even have an enormous warehouse area the place all my tools and costumes stay. Many creators have reached out to me for commissions and we’re excited to construct for them.

How do you are feeling representing each the Asian and LGBTQIA+ communities has impacted your expertise in cosplay?

I really like this query. Truthfully, I don’t assume I might have been half as cultured as an individual if I hadn’t been cosplaying all these years. There are such a lot of completely different sorts of individuals from all walks of life in the neighborhood. I’ve realized a lot about my very own Chinese language tradition via cosplay and assembly cosplayers from overseas. I’ve found a lot about my very own sexuality and others via listening to folks’s experiences. There’s such a mishmash on this neighborhood that you just’ll at all times have one thing new to find out about your self and different folks. It makes me really feel protected and I wish to proceed to assist create a protected area for everybody.

What recommendation do you might have for people who find themselves concerned about pursuing a profession in cosplaying, and what expertise and qualities do you assume are most necessary for fulfillment on this area?

TAKE A MARKETING CLASS. And doubtless a enterprise class. Making a profession in cosplay is identical as beginning any enterprise. The crafting expertise are necessary however I’m fairly positive that’s a given. Many individuals underestimate how a lot work goes into the enterprise facet.

You will discover and observe Stella Chuu on all of her social media accounts together with Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and extra!