Califur and Fanime: The Good!

[furtech]

CALIFUR: ...



Just kidding-- I did enjoy seeing dustmeat again (and no-- I wasn't actively mac'ing on anyone at this con!), as well as a number of other people from out of the area (Dark Natasha, Crocuta, Brokken and Jonathan), as well as the wonderful Terrie and Glen! Plus, I was finally able to deliver some gifts that I'd been forgetting to get out for some time. Otherwise Califur was a waste of good judgement.



FANIME:
Lots of goodness! The main reason for attending was to re-create the Okami skit from the disastrous AX masquerade of last year (don't get me started). We wanted to perform a successful version of it, so arrangements were made to perform as a non-competitive group at Fanime.

Here's the video of the skit!

And we got a Lionel photoshoot! I can't believe what a fantastic job he did with the limits placed on him! One of the costumes (demon 9-tail fox) was HUGE and difficult to move; the shoot was in an alley only several feet wide, with fading light. And yet-- wow!





He was a true-grit photographer! Twisting and laying on the ground (nasty, filthy alley ground!) in order to get that perfect shot! Thanks again, Lionel!!!

The convention was huge this year! I heard a number close to 30,000 this year. In part this may be because of AX's move to the LA convention center-- not a great venue for cosplay and other anime fan-related activities. There was a plethora of cosplayers and the "SUGOI"'s were reduced to a white-noise roar. Fun! I'm also reversing my opinion of the San Jose convention center: it's not a bad venue if the con is large enough! Here's my favorite costume of the weekend (not worn by a friend): bunny girl-warrior! Great ears!

Comments

[waynekaa.livejournal.com]

Makes me wanna hit Califur RIGHT NAO XD
Don't forget, lionboogy did that shoot with his wonky eye! Even MORE incredible!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Too true! (<--about lionel!)

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

Sorry I couldn't see your skit, but I had to work. :p

One sticky issue for me though: we were left with WAY TOO LITTLE time for judges deliberations (20 min for 46 entries, all of whom we need to remind ourselves which were which?!?). All those performances SHOULD have been scheduled (by whomever was responsible) for the "half-time", to allow enough time for deliberations AND keep the audience entertained and in their seats to applaud the winners. Duh!

But nope, we had heavily rushed decisions (successful enough because we deliberated as much as possible DURING those pre-Masq. performances), even trying to judge costumes we had not had a chance to see ON people, AND the Masq. awards were hastily shoved at the winners in front of a practically empty house. How very unfair to all the participants, IMO.

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

And yeah, due to lack of hotel proximity, I'm giving AX a skip this year....

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

Nice photoshoot! :D :D :D

(And your performance is online somewhere, I hope?)

[furtech.livejournal.com]

There's a link in the post to the video. All credit in this case goes to Lionel on the results of the photoshoot-- above and beyond the call.

I heard the biggest problem at the masquerade was the Union rules-- and that they wanted the venue cleared earlier than was agreed to (11). That half-hour would have been enough for the awards. I feel really bad for the contestents: the awards are the highlight of all their work.

[http://users.livejournal.com/quietfire_/]

I wonder if you saw me I was at both cons as well. at Califur I had the big inflatable Lion and Tiger seen here
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e107/QuietFire/Califur%2008/2504323801_40341da045_o.jpg

And at Fanime I was had my QuietFire suit with me seen here in the center
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b222/silverwolfsorcerer/IMG_0004.jpg

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I saw the big inflatables at Califur-- neat! I -think- I saw you at Fanime, but that's a huge con...

[http://users.livejournal.com/quietfire_/]

Yeah Fanime is pretty friggen huge.

[czgoldedition.livejournal.com]

Those costumes are absolutely stunning!

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

That Califur picture was the biggest LOL of the day!

[dustmeat.livejournal.com]

That is a Viera bunny and it is very good. Oh and uh...who told you about the mac'ing question? ::grin::

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Meg-- I was sitting right behind you! Roz did tell me what your reaction was when this was pointed out to you and that made it all good!

You should move back to California-- you could hear the post-con dogwalk conversations: they're pretty juicy!

Okami

[kyogre56.livejournal.com]

I was at Fanime and saw your Okami skit. I was blown away and just wish i coulda seen some of your costumes close up. Amazing work, breathtaking really.