HERE'S
HERE'S MARGARET LARSON. >>> GOOD MORNING, FIRST UP,
COLORFUL AND CREATIVE COS PLAY,
THIS YEAR IS THE FOURTH YEAR
FOR THE RENTON CITY COMICON.
WHERE ALL THINGS SCIFI,
FANTASY, AND GAMING COME
TOGETHER IN ONE LOCATION.
HERE WITH THE IMPRESSIVE COS
PLAY COSTUMES YOU MIGHT SEE
THERE, RENT CON'S EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, BRIAN MORRIS, IT'S
VERY GOOD TO SEE YOU.
WE WERE HAVING A REALLY
INTERESTING CONVERSATION I WANT
YOU TO REPEAT FOR EVERYBODY.
WHICH IS TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT
THE DEMAND AND THE ECONOMICS
BEHIND THE WHOLE COS PLAY
COMICON MOVEMENT.
COMICON MOVEMENT. >> WELL, IT'S REALLY
INTERESTING BECAUSE IN THE
PAST, WE'VE HAD THIS KIND OF
MENTAL PICTURE OF, YOU KNOW,
SOME GUY IN HIS MOTHER'S
BASEMENT PLAYING VIDEO GAMES OR
DND OR SOMETHING.
AND IT'S EXPLODED WITHIN THE
LAST FIVE TO TEN YEARS.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU AN ECONOMIC
IMPACT, THE LAST YEAR,
HOLLYWOOD, WORLDWIDE, THE MOVIE
INDUSTRY, MADE AROUND 30 TO $40
BILLION.
BILLION.
BILLION. THE WHOLE GAMING INDUSTRY,
WHICH INCLUDES, I'M GOING TO
INCLUDE THE COS PLAY AND THE
CONVENTIONS AND THE GAMING AND
EVERYTHING, THAT WHOLE INDUSTRY
MADE ABOUT $130 BILLION.
>> THAT'S AMAZING.
THAT'S FOUR TIMES AS MUCH.
>> YEAH, IT'S INCREDIBLE.
AND THE DEMAND FOR THIS IS JUST
GROWING EXPONENTIALLY.
GROWING EXPONENTIALLY. >> AND THE EXPERTISE THAT GOES
-- I MEAN YOUR COSTUMES, ALL OF
YOU GUYS, WHEN YOU GOT HERE
TODAY, I JUST THOUGHT I WAS
WOWED UP CLOSE.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR
COSTUME FIRST AND WE'LL
INTRODUCE SOME OF YOUR
PATRIOTS.
PATRIOTS.
PATRIOTS. >> I'LL STAND UP AND GIVE A --
>> THIS IS SO COOL.
>> WE'RE GIVING YOU THE FULL
LOOK HERE.
SO
SO THIS
SO THIS IS A GENERIC, WHAT THEY CALL A CYBER PUNK CHARACTER.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY THE
INSPIRATION CAME FROM THE GAME
THAT'S JUST COME OUT.
THERE'S A VERY POPULAR CYBER
PUNK GAME.
PUNK GAME. AND THERE'S A BUNCH OF MOVIES
THAT HAVE GONE AROUND THIS
FUTURISTIC CYBER PUNK.
SO I JUST THREW SOME --
TOGETHER SOME OF THE GENERIC
PIECES TO MAKE IT WITH THE
LIGHTED COLLAR.
LIGHTED COLLAR. AND THE GUN AND THE SPINE ON
THE BACK.
THE BACK.
THE BACK. >> SO YOU CAN TAKE THINGS THAT
YOU CAN FIND COMMERCIALLY,
RETAIL, AND JUST ADJUST THEM.
>> WELL, SOMETIMES.
LIKE THIS JACKET, THIS IS
ACTUALLY A PURCHASE AT
GOODWILL.
GOODWILL.
GOODWILL. AND I MODIFIED IT.
AND A LOT OF THE THINGS ARE
EITHER, LIKE THE SPINE, I
HANDMADE.
HANDMADE.
HANDMADE. SO WE CRAFTED IT.
I HAVE A COMPANY IN RENTON THAT
WE MAKE HIGH END CUSTOM
COSTUMES AND STUFF.
SO WE -- THIS IS ACTUALLY A
STANDARD NERF GUN.
WE GUTTED IT.
IT DOESN'T WORK.
IT'S WHAT THEY CALL CON SAFE.
NOBODY WILL GET HURT WITH IT.
BUT IT HAS LIGHTS AND IT'S
PAINTED REALLY COOL AND
EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING. AND THAT JUST STARTED OUT AS A
REGULAR NERF GUN.
>> BUT YOU WORKED ON IT.
AND NOW IT'S WHAT IT IS NOW.
LET'S SEE SOME OF THE OTHER
FOLKS WHO CAME THIS MORNING.
WE'LL HAVE OUR FIRST GUEST COME
OUT AND EXPLAIN WHO WE'RE
LOOKING AT AND WHAT IT
REPRESENTS AND HOW DO YOU DO
SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
CAP
CAPTAIN
CAPTAIN AMERICA DOESN'T NEED ANY INTRODUCTION.
ANY INTRODUCTION. BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL HAND
MAKE IT OR WORK WITH A
PROFESSIONAL COMPANY THAT WILL
MAKE IT ACCORDING TO THEIR
SPECIFICATIONS.
SPECIFICATIONS. AND THE SHIELD IS ACTUALLY
METAL.
METAL.
METAL. >>
METAL. >> I HELD THAT THIS MORNING.
AND I THOUGHT THAT THING IS
GOING TO LAST FOREVER.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE INTO THIS,
THAT'S A PERMANENT PIECE.
AND CHARLES HAS WORKED
DILIGENTLY ON MATCHING THE
ACTUAL SCREEN MOVIE PRESENCE SO
IN A WHEN YOU SEE THEM IN
PRESENCE, IT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE
CAPTAIN AMERICA ON THE MARVEL
MOVIE.
MOVIE.
MOVIE. >>
MOVIE. >> RIGHT, IT'S SUCH A GREAT
HELMET TOO.
HELMET TOO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT.
WOW.
WOW. WE
WOW. WE FOUND -- [ LAUGHTER ]. SORRY
I DIDN'T MEAN TO GIGGLE.
>> HE'S DONE A LOT OF
RENAISSANCE FAIRS AND A LOT OF
OTHER EVENTS LIKE THAT.
THIS IS SUCH AN ENDERRING, YOU
MIGHT SAY ENDERRING?
BUT HE IS SO GREAT WITH KIDS.
AND WE FOUND THEY WILL
INTERACT WITH KIDS AND CHASE
HIM AROUND AND HAVE FUN WITH
THAT.
THAT.
THAT. THIS IS ALL HAND CRAFTED THAT
HE'S CREATED HERE.
EVERYTHING FROM HIS HAMMER ALL
THE WAY TO THE SKINS AND THE
BREAST PLATE AND THE BOOTS,
IT'S ALL BEEN HAND CRAFTED FROM
SCRAP MATERIALS.
SCRAP MATERIALS. LIKE LEATHERS AND MATERIALS AND
BELTS AND BUCKLES AND
EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING. >> THAT'S AMAZING THE SKULL FOR
THE BELT BUCKLE.
AND THEY'RE HANGING DOWN FROM
HIS FURS AS WELL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT'S AWESOME.
THAT'S AWESOME. COMPLETELY AWESOME.
COMPLETELY AWESOME. >> OH LOOK AT HER.
THIS IS TINKER BELL.
SHE HAND MAKES ALL OF HER OWN
COSTUMES.
IT'S
IT'S ALL
IT'S ALL A LATEX MATERIAL. THIS IS A KID'S FAVORITE.
KIDS LOVE TO SEE THE FAIRY TALE
AND THE PRINCESSES AND
EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING. THESE ARE ARE ALWAYS A BIG HIT
AT ANY OF THE CONVENTIONS FOR
LITTLE KIDS.
LITTLE KIDS. THEY JUST LOVE ALL THE
PRINCESSES AND FAIRIES.
>> BECAUSE IT COMES ALIVE.
AND THEY CAN GO WITH A BELIEF
THAT THIS IS REAL.
>> SHE DOES AN AMAZING JOB OF
BRINGING TINKER BELL TO LIFE.
>> YOU LOOK GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO TALENTED.
SO TALENTED. ALL RIGHT.
SO
SO THIS
SO THIS IS JEANNIE. AND JEANNIE IS IN A COSTUME
THAT YOU MIGHT SEE AT A
RENAISSANCE FAIR OR AT A HIVE
ACTION ROLE-PLAYING.
ACTION ROLE-PLAYING. WHAT THEY CALL LARPING.
LIVE ACTION ROLL PLAYING.
THEY'LL TAKE A WHOLE WEEKEND
AND PLAY IN THIS LIVE ACTION
ROLE.
ROLE.
ROLE. HER
ROLE. HER CHARACTERS NAME IS MAVE.
AND SHE'S A SINGER/ENTERTAINER
IN THESE ENVIRONMENTS.
SHE'S ALL HAND CRAFTED.
SHE'S PULLED THE PIECES
TOGETHER FROM THE LEATHER
JACKETS TO MODIFYING IT.
AND THE SKIRT AND THE
ACCESSORIES ON THE BELTS AND
EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING. AND IT'S EVOLVING SOMETIMES.
SOMETIMES IT'S LIKE I WANT TO
ADD THIS TO IT AND ADD THIS TO
IT AND YOU'LL MODIFY IT AND
MAKE IT BETTER AS YOU GO ALONG
TO ENHANCE YOUR CHARACTER.
AND IT'S NOT A ONE TIME THING.
SHE'LL WEAR THIS MANY TIMES.
>> AND MAYBE CHANGE OUT THE
PIECES.
PIECES.
PIECES. I
PIECES. I NOTICED IN BACK SHE HAS
BANNED OF BANDANA.
>> SHE DOES A GREAT JOB ON THE
MAKEUP.
MAKEUP.
MAKEUP. THE CHARACTERS AND PEOPLE,
SOMETIMES THEY'RE THEIR OWN
MAKEUP ARTISTS, HAIR STYLISTS,
YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO WORK
WITH METAL AND MATERIALS AND
SEWING AND PAINTING AND
WEATHERING.
WEATHERING. AND THE LIST GOES ON.
IT'S QUITE EXTENSIVE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GREAT LOOK.
GREAT LOOK. AND HERE WE GO.
I
I LOVE
I LOVE IT. >> STAR WARS FAVORITE.
>> HI GUYS.
>> THESE ARE ALWAYS A BIG HIT.
THEY'RE DRESSED UP AT EWOK AND
RAY.
RAY.
RAY. A
RAY. A LOT OF TIMES ON THE STAR
WARS, THEY'RE THE MOST STRICT
AS FAR AS BEING SCREEN
ACCURATE.
ACCURATE.
ACCURATE. WHICH IS REALLY COOL TO WATCH
HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT THEY
PUT IN TO BEING EXACT.
SO THE HEIGHT AND THE CLOTHES
YOU WEAR AND THE TYPE OF BELT.
AND THIS HAS ALL BEEN HAND
CRAFTED FROM SCRATCH.
THEY BUILT IT THEMSELVES.
AND WALK COMICON.
AND THEY JUST HAVE A BLAST.
AND THE KIDS LOVE SEEING ALL
THE STAR WARS CHARACTERS.
>> YES, IT'S AWESOME.
AND THEY'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD
JOB OF EXACTLY MATCHING.
THAT'S GREAT.
THAT'S GREAT. >> EVEN ON A LITTLE LEVEL.
>> EXACTLY.
>> EXACTLY. IF YOU'RE MAKING YOUR OWN, YOU
CAN MAKE IT EXACTLY FOR YOU.
>> IT FITS YOU PERFECTLY.
>> THANK YOU TWO VERY MUCH.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
I
I THINK
I THINK WE HAVE ONE MORE? >> I BELIEVE.
>> I HEAR SOME STUFF HAPPENING.
THERE YOU GO.
WOW.
WOW.
WOW. SO
WOW. SO TOBIAS HERE.
A STEAM PUNK.
ALAA, LARPING CHARACTER.
IT'S DELIGHTFUL TO WATCH HIM
INTERACT WITH PEOPLE.
AND ON THOSE STILTS, IT'S
AMAZING.
AMAZING.
AMAZING. HE DOES A GREAT JOB.
ALL HAND CRAFTED.
YOU NOTICE THE BRASS WORK AND
LEATHER WORK ON HIS ARMS.
HIS ARMOR, ALL HAND CRAFTED.
AND HE'S A MASTER AT WORKING
WITH LEATHERS AND METALS.
AND IT FITS RIGHT IN WITH THAT
WHOLE GENERA OF STEAM PUNK.
>> IT JUST BRINGS TO MIND SO
MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
PANELS AND BOOTHS AND ALL THE
TYPICAL THINGS THAT WE EXPECT
AT A COMICON.
WHAT ABOUT THE VIP GUESTS ?
>> WE HAVE SOME FUN VIP GUESTS.
WE HAVE SOME GOOD VOICE ACTORS.
IF ANYONE IS INTO VIDEO GAMES
LIKE OVER WATCH.
WE HAVE VOICE ACTORS COMING
FROM THERE.
FROM THERE. WE HAVE RUSSEL HODGKINSON WHO
WAS DOC ON THE SHOW Z NATION.
HE'S GOING TO BE THERE.
WE HAVE A SCATTERING OF VIP
GUESTS.
GUESTS.
GUESTS. IF PEOPLE WANT TO COME AND GET
AUTOGRAPHS.
AUTOGRAPHS. MY FAVORITE VIP GUESTS ALL THE
SCIENTISTS.
SCIENTISTS. SO WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL THE
SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCIENCE
FICTION.
FICTION.
FICTION. WE'VE BROUGHT IN SOME OF THE
TOP MINDS AROUND THE UNITED
STATES TO ACTUALLY PUT PANELS
ON ABOUT SPACE EXPLORATION,
BRAIN SCIENCE.
BRAIN SCIENCE. VIRTUAL REALITY.
VIRTUAL REALITY. AUGMENTED REALITY AND STUFF
LIKE THAT.
LIKE THAT. >> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FUN AND
LEARN STUFF.
LEARN STUFF. THANK YOU