Researching Cindy’s filmography, my eye landed on a late-90s hit action film starring Wesley Snipes. Yes, Cindy worked on Blade and about her experience she says “It was one of the first things I worked on when I started assisting Mark Isham. It was fun. Total grunt work.”
“It was the sound of a small, creepy women’s choir.”
Cindy’s hand was involved in working on The Crazies, a remake of the George Romero film. “Yeah, I’ve been involved in a number of horror projects.” Indeed, Cindy worked on The Conjuring series and The Mist.
What did Cindy’s work involve? “I sang [for The Conjuring]. It was the sound of a small, creepy women’s choir. Doing kind of dissonant sounds and murmuring. And then they used some of that for The Conjuring 2.”
Cindy has worked across every conceivable film genre. So what’s her favorite? “I love a variety. Comedies are always fun. Horror movies you get to have your players do interesting things. Everyone loves drama because you get to make beautiful themes. But if I had to pick one, it would be fantasy. Something like Once Upon A Time where the music can be larger than life.”
“I got so used to, ‘here’s your scene’ and that would guide what I would have to create.”
“More than once they’ve traveled to different realms and we got to create a sonic world for this realm. We went to the world of Jekyll and Hyde, this Victorian era with industrial and science stuff. We came up with sort of a baroque string quartet with industrial sounds.”
How does Cindy feel now that Once Upon A Time is over? “The first Friday without any work to do for the show was weird. But it was great fun. I was glad to be a part of it.”
What’s coming next for Cindy? “At this very moment, I’m writing a concert piece that I’m going to have performed with a live orchestra over the summer in the Czech Republic.”
“Usually it’s pretty fast and furious.”
There was a bit of a problem for Cindy and the current piece she’s writing. “The piece is for a deeper study of composing for Film and TV. I have to write a three-minute piece. But it’s about anything. I got so used to, ‘here’s your scene’ and that would guide what I would have to create.”
What’s the schedule like when working on a show like Once Upon A Time? “Usually it’s pretty fast and furious. We get picture and timing notes on a Tuesday morning. Then Mark Isham, myself and the team discusses which scenes each of us will do.”
Is there ever a scene that everyone wants to score? “Absolutely. But Mark is the boss, so he gets to pick.”
“We have a genius music editor who keeps track of all the music.”
The relentless pace for a TV production continues “We try to finish everything by Saturday night and get it to the orchestrators. Monday night we record and Tuesday we get the next episode.”
TV show characters often come with a musical theme which is reused from episode to episode when necessary. “We have a genius music editor who keeps track of all the music. He will figure out how much new music is required. We have seven seasons of evil Rumplestiltskin sounds, so we probably don’t need to make anything new for that.”
As always, I end with one question to help spread the love: Who is a composer you admire working today? “I really love John Powell’s work. I love the stuff he did on How To Train Your Dragon and his sort of adventure music. His score for the Bourne movies was a fresh way to do action. I’m really excited to see what he did with Solo too.”
The chemistry between the cast and a compelling narrative have setup HBO’s newest drama Succession up for long-term success.
While the network, which has been home to some of the best comedies and dramas of the past fifteen years, hasn’t pushed this show in ways we’ve grown accustomed to, there’s something different about this series. Shows like The Duece and Insecure stifled their ability to develop due to a limited narrative.
Succession (on Sunday’s at 10 pm EST on HBO) not only has laid the groundwork for a successful show, but the story also has limitless possibilities. This, of course, is enhanced by a cast who seemingly have developed a connection which would lead anyone to believe they’ve been together for years.
Alan Ruck, Kieran Culkin and Sarah Snook, photo credit: Craig Blankenhorn/HBO
The narrative in the first episode centers around a celebration for Logan Roy’s (Brian Cox) 80th birthday and a surprise announcement. Roy announces at the birthday that he’s no longer stepping down as CEO of his company (Waystar Royco), which instantly destroys his son Kendall (Jeremy Strong) who had assumed he’d be gaining control of his dad’s firm.
As all of this is unfolding, Kendall is trying to purchase a digital media company run by Lawrence (Rob Yang). Roy’s other children all start to come into the picture and are immediately put on the spot. Dad wants them to sign off on having their dad’s third wife (played by Hiam Abbass) join the trust. Roman (Kiernan Culkin), Shiv (Sarah Snook), Connor (Alan Ruck), and Kendall aren’t thrilled with the idea and discuss voting as a block to keep their step-mother out of the family business. However, a family tragedy may have dramatically altered things for the foreseeable future.
Jeremy Strong and Brian Cox, photo credit: Craig Blankenhorn/HBO
Succession’s creator/showrunner Jesse Armstrong also wrote the first episode and did a lovely job laying down the groundwork for future episodes. Armstrong doesn’t reveal too much in the first episode, but gives us glimpses into who each member of the Roy family is. The scene which stood out most for me was the one with Roman (Culkin) taunting the 5th grader with a check for one million dollars if he could hit a home run during his dad’s birthday ball game. While each character isn’t fully realized at this point, it becomes crystal clear from the onset that the Roy family is driven by a passion for prestige which in their minds comes from power.
Adam McKay (The Big Short) who serves as both executive producer and director of the first episode, has an excellent feel for when the pacing should vary during the first episode. Any scene in the boardroom has a slightly rapid feel to it which heightens the tension of those moments. When the Roy’s are playing at the ballfield as part of their dad’s 80th birthday bash, there are some revealing moments which don’t seem rushed and it doing so reveal much about this twisted clan.
The strength in Succession doesn’t come from one individual’s performance, but the chemistry of the ensemble. In reality, this is far more important than having any one actor stand out because it’s the show’s who have this type of chemistry which last longer. The Deuce certainly had star power, but that was about it.
Remember, James Gandolfini and Will Arnett didn’t break out until they were cast in their respective shows. If the quality of the season doesn’t slip, it wouldn’t be shocking Succession becomes another breakout hit for HBO. Until then, let’s sit back and enjoy what’s hopefully to come.
The Whisper Wave 1 is an independent anthology comic compiled and illustrated by Jamie Jones, with stories written by Jones, Vita Ayala, Matthew Jones, Ryan Williams, Frank Barbiere, and Tres Dean.
Over the course of six short stories, we meet six different people who have taken on the mantle of The Whisper. Each is a story of heroics, but from very different angles, from warzones to dark and gritty city streets to a high tech future.
What’s great about The Whisper is that it reminds comic fans why they love comics. It shows off the range of the medium. It covers multiple genres while maintaining a constant through line. And, above all else, it’s inspirational. Again, these are stories of heroism, and by making The Whisper a mantle instead of a single person, Jones hammers home the point that anyone, at any time, in any place can be a hero. The mantle angle also shows how one person can inspire another to step up and be a hero.
There’s something for everyone in The Whisper. There’s something for the noir fan, for the sci-fi fan, and even the manga fan. This anthology celebrates comics in all forms, and each writer brings a palpable passion to their respective story.
While each chapter features a different writer, Jamie Jones draws, colors, and letters the entire book. His style is versatile; it works in all of these different genres without missing a beat. It’s almost hard to believe that a single artist did all of the stories; that’s how unique each chapter is. Even stories four and six – both of which step into crime/noir territory – feel distinct from each other.
But no matter the setting, Jones’ art is energetic. There’s real motion in the action, and real emotion in the quieter moments. His color work is extraordinary. From the bright and vibrant future of 2080, to the water colors of 1990 Kuwait, to the dark and muted city streets, every page of The Whisper pops in its own way. And again, Jones conveys strong emotion through his coloring, making you care about these characters that you only get to know in 5 to 8 pages at a time.
His lettering is also a huge part of generating tone and emotion throughout these stories. Each chapter is lettered differently, and each style puts you in the exact right head space from the first word. If it’s a more low-key story with a little brashness hiding just beneath the surface, the lettering conveys that. If it’s a 1980’s noir story, reminiscent of Sin City or Watchmen, the lettering coveys that. If it’s a big, bold manga-style punch fest, the lettering sure as hell conveys that. Lettering is one of the most powerful, yet subtle tools in a comic creators toolbox, and Jones seems to have a strong handle on it.
The Whisper is a celebration of all things comics, a reminder of what makes the medium so great. But most importantly – more than the subtext or the tributes – it’s so damn fun.
The Whisper Wave 1 will be available at Jamie’s booth at HeroesCon in June. You can also read it digitally and support Jamie’s work over on his Patreon page. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @ArtOfJamieJones.
What comics pros are saying about The Whisper:
“The Whisper is Jamie’s plastic spoon as he chisels his way from the talent-to-watch-out-for cell and into the realm of fan favorite.” – Michel Fiffe (COPRA, BLOODSTRIKE)
“The Whisper is full of energy, complete with genre shifts and a blend of art styles that surprise. The art, all by Jamie Jones, is remarkable. Whether it’s a light, water color approach, or a dark noir-esque field of shadows, it’s all wonderful to look at.” – John Arcudi (RUMBLE, BPRD)
“Often, comics with experimental formats hang all of their value on the experiment itself, but in The Whisper, Jamie Jones and collaborators use the innovative structure the way an accomplished jazz trio use a composition, using the framework as a playground to create comisc with true vitality.” – Phil Hester (GREEN ARROW, SHIPWRECK, THE WRETCH)
It’s taken quite a while, but the remake of Dario Argento’s giallo horror masterstroke Suspiria is finally here, courtesy of director Luca Guadagnino. Any hardcore fans of the original, or fans of the 70s aesthetic in general, should be pleased.
Check it out:
A young American ballet dancer travels to a prestigious dance academy in Europe, only to discover it is something far more sinister and supernatural. She becomes increasingly terrified after a series of gruesome murders ensue, and she slowly unravels the dark history of the academy.
This new Suspiria has the same grainy sheen and detached visuals that were prevalent in several 1977 horror films, in films like Rosemary’s Baby and The Omen, although the original Suspiria was soaked in technicolor nightmare visuals. My guess is, they’re holding back for the theater. Something always feels threatening in ’70s horror films, as if the camera is almost afraid to look. Guadagnino captures that vibe pretty well it seems.
Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton both starred in Guadagnino’s criminally underseen drama A Bigger Splash. Mia Goth and Chloë Grace Moretz join Johnson and Swinton here. Early previews were met with the right sort of disgust and fascination from critics and audience members – any surrealist horror film should have its handful of vehement detractors – and the release date has been pushed up from December to some time this fall.
Widows is the latest from director Steve McQueen, one of the 21st century’s most serious and somber auteurs, and it looks like he is shifting gears from heavy dramas like 12 Years a Slave and Shame in order to shoot a little action.
The plot for Widows is simple, but pretty brilliant, and as you can see in this trailer, this movie is absolutely loaded with talent. Check it out:
From Academy Award®-winning director Steve McQueen (“12 Years a Slave”) and co-writer and bestselling author Gillian Flynn (“Gone Girl”) comes a blistering, modern-day thriller set against the backdrop of crime, passion, and corruption. “Widows” is the story of four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands’ criminal activities. Set in contemporary Chicago, amid a time of turmoil, tensions build when Veronica (Oscar® winner Viola Davis), Alice (Elizabeth Debicki), Linda (Michelle Rodriguez) and Belle (Cynthia Erivo) take their fate into their own hands and conspire to forge a future on their own terms. “Widows” also stars Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, Daniel Kaluuya, Lukas Haas and Brian Tyree Henry.
I love everything about this trailer, the vibe, the intensity, and the unbelievable cast. It’s nice to see Steve McQueen steer away from his grief porn films, although those have been pretty great so far. Widows opens November 16.
If you are like us, you are no doubt still upset over the cancellation news of the incredible Ash vs. Evil Dead and the announcement that Bruce Campbell is retiring the role of Ash. Well, a little bit of good news comes via Dynamite Entertainment, that the company, in conjunction with Lynnvander Studios, will adapt an Evil Dead-themed tabletop board game.
That’s right, the studio responsible for games like Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Board Game, Dragon Ball Z: The Board Game Saga and The Terminator: The Official Board Game and DE’s Re-Animator comic miniseries, will be bringing us Army of Darkness: The Board Game, in honor of the third installment in the Evil Dead film franchise.
The game will task players with taking on, “the role of unlikely hero Ash Williams, the chainsaw-wielding, time traveling S-Mart employee. In this multiplayer game, Ash and his allies will lead an army of medieval knights against a horde of unliving Deadite zombies.”
Dynamite CEO Nick Barrucci released a statement regarding the game saying, “Army of Darkness was the first license we signed at Dynamite and it still holds a very special place in our hearts. So we couldn’t think of a better, more exciting brand, to use for our first miniatures game. We can’t wait to show tabletop gamers and horror fans what we have planned!”
The powers-that-be plan to include numerous highly-detailed miniature figures and all will be supplemented with expansions, accessories and other add-on pieces.
We can’t wait to play this game, but what do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
Lastly, If anyone from Starz is reading this: We would love an AvED spinoff starring both Kelly, Dana DeLorenzo, and Ray Santiago’s Pablo, characters (wink-wink!).
In the not so distant past, movies like Upgrade – the new hyper violent sci-fi action thriller from Leigh Wannell and starring Logan Marshall-Green – had a firm grip on their little corner of the multiplexes. The 1990s were chock full of these mid-tier action thrillers, blending genres and showcasing a muscular grit and grime; these films have been squeezed out of cinemas for the most part and funneled into On Demand and streaming platforms, one of many moderately-budgeted, adult-oriented casualties of mass franchise filmmaking.
Upgrade has a certain video on demand vibe to it, but not because it is some inferior product. It may very well be one of the most compelling and involving action pictures of the year, but rarely does this sort of movie find any room in between Disney products. It’s a miracle Upgrade is on the big screen, and any fans of the “elevated B-movie” should reward it with their time.
Logan Marshall-Green has steadily been carving out his own path as an actor, out from under the “The Guy Who Looks Like Tom Hardy But Isn’t Tom Hardy” stigma, with terrific work in The Invitation and the short-lived Cinemax noir series Quarry. Green plays Grey Trace (hint hint), an auto mechanic in a near future world where surveillance technology, automation, and all those sorts of robotic nightmares we see floating around social media from time to time have become commonplace. Grey is an analog man, working with his hands on classic cars for eccentric clients, a tough gig made possible by his hard-working corporate wife, Ahsa (Melanie Vallejo).
After Grey and Asha deliver one of these classic cars to Eron (Harrison Gilbertson), a socially-detached computer genius who just-so-happens to be his client, there is a tragedy. Grey is left paralyzed and seeking revenge, and Eron has the technology he needs to find those responsible. It is STEM, basically a nickel-sized computer with legs, resembling a roach, which can connect to Grey’s severed spine and begin sending information to his body once again. Not only will STEM allow Grey to walk, it comes fully equipped with an operating system and internal communication that only Grey can hear. This OS can analyze video footage, find leads, and do all the research to find the band of brutal hitmen; and Wannell’s film smartly examines the conflict and the dangers of a sentient program embedded in a person’s mind.
STEM can take over Grey’s body and is a strong, agile, elite fighting machine, impervious to just about any affront as Grey begins digging into the seediest spots of the nondescript metropolis. The juxtaposition between STEM kicking ass and Grey’s horrified looks as he watches everything close up add some wonderful macabre humor, and the physical acting from Green in these moments is something wholly original and pretty amazing when considering the sort of dexterity and balance of athleticism he is executing. He makes us believe in this absurd scenario, which is the mark of an actor who fits so comfortably into these sort of genre pictures. These films succeed almost entirely on the back of their hero and how well he can convince us what we are seeing is real – at least in this heightened world.
The problem many of these genre films run into is the feeling they are on autopilot, and their predictable plot lines ultimately die on a vine of staleness and uninspired direction. It is easy to see which way this story is headed, but the road it takes to its ultimate destination is paved with ingenuity and some stunningly neo-noir cinematography and art direction.
Upgrade is set mostly at night, bathed in reflections of steel technology and harsh neon lights. The characters don’t stop down to let us know just what year it is, or what all of the tech does, because we don’t need that. Wannell’s screenplay is efficient and fat free, and the film approaches the sort of near future with a ripe mixture of high-concept design and street-level authenticity. The advancements of these characters, villains with computers in their eyes and shotguns in their arms, is fresh and exciting, but also low-key and believable. The whole film is a walk along this kind of razor’s edge between absurdity and high-minded science fiction, and Wannell is game for the challenge.
Perhaps Upgrade is the tip of a new spear at multiplexes. Later this summer we have The Meg, a Giant Shark Movie, hitting theaters later this summer. Then there is the offbeat action comedy Hotel Artemis this month. If these films find their audience – and there is the rub – then they might just find their place again. But they have to be smart, and they have ti be unashamed of what they are. Upgrade knows precisely what it is, and just like the operating system inside Grey’s head, it executes with stunning efficiency.
Hereditary is the latest art-house horror picture from A24 films, one that’s being deemed the “scariest movie in decades.”
The film is written and directed by Ari Aster, and stars Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, Gabriel Byrne, and Ann Dowd.
After her mother dies, Annie (Collette) and her family begin to experience strange things. As events progress, old family secrets are revealed, and Annie learns that nothing in her life has been as it seemed.
There’s no dancing around it: this is movie is a slow burn. Barring one or two moments, most of the paranormal scary stuff doesn’t happen until its second half, and – honestly – it’s kind of a drag to get there. There’s one major moment that breaks up this monotony and adds some serious tension, and it’s a great scene. Maybe the best in the whole movie. But then everything seems to slow down again until the seance angle comes into play.
To its credit, Hereditary knows what it’s doing. First off, we need all of this family drama in order for the finale to pay off the way it does. And second, even though not a lot of “horror” stuff happens during the first half, it still feels like a horror movie. HUGE credit goes to Aster as well as his cinematographer and editors, because the tone of this film is on point. They use a slew of techniques, like long takes and quick, jarring cuts, to keep their audience on edge. The viewer is never allowed to get comfortable; you’re always a little freaked out, feeling like something is about to happen.
So Hereditary is still a really good horror movie, especially in its second half. The final act of this movie is downright horrifying in the best way. They don’t use any cheap tricks either – this is pure, genuine terror right here. It just would have been nice if the runtime was cut down a bit to make it all a little tighter.
Toni Collette brings so much emotion to her role, and in turn evokes so much of the emotion from the audience, she deserves an award. The rest of the cast brings their respective A-games as well. There’s no performance in Hereditary where you’ll just say, “they were OK.” The actors truly carry this film, even through the slow parts, and Collette leads the charge.
Hereditary is definitely a film horror fans – and film fans in general – will want to see. Though a bit long and a little slow, it’s still a terrifying ride that doesn’t sacrifice brains for cheap scares. This is a movie that requires rewatching, both for analytical purposes and so you can wrap your head around the insanity that you just watched.
Excellent chemistry, fantastic pacing, and superior writing are just some of the reasons why Teachers continues to be one of the best comedies on television.
What’s remarkable about this show is how each season, they find ways to freshen up a rather simple concept with entertaining and relatable story angles. Teachers strikes an impressive balance between capturing both the lunacy of working in a classroom with the compassion educators exude on a daily basis. Network comedies strive to reach the level of writing found on this show and routinely fail. However, there are many more factors which contribute to the overall success of Teachers.
Usually, this would be where we’d give a brief synopsis of the season, but that would amount to some spoilers. What I can say is that it’s the dawn of a new year at Fillmore Elementary and Ms. Cannon (Catlin Barlow), Ms. Snap (Katy Colloton), Ms. Watson (Kate Lambert), Ms. Feldman (Cate Freedman), Ms. Bennigan (Katie O’Brien), and Mrs. Adler (Kathryn Renée Thomas) are getting ready for a new school year, but change is in the air. What immediately stood out in the three episodes provided by TV Land was the slight shift in tone this season.
The first two seasons indeed walked the line between frivolity and risque without sacrificing the heart of the show. Season three appears to be where the cast crosses that line, but still doesn’t sacrifice what’s made the show so successful. There’s certainly much to explore on the risque side of things just between Ms. Snap’s dating life, Ms. Watson’s budding relationship with the former principal Toby Pearson (Tim Bagley), and of course, Ms. Bennigan relationship with “Hot Dad” (Ryan Caltagirone).
However, Teachers certainly doesn’t shy away handling tough topics. For example, in season two, they wrote an episode tackling the struggle that woman have with whether to return to work after having a child. In season three, they once again are addressing tough issues such as the anxiety new parents have before a child is born and how to discuss puberty with someone who is going through it. Nothing ever comes across as “lessons” and has a realistic tone, which makes these moments resonate with the audience.
The chemistry on the show is the thread which binds this show together. The years of performing together on stage indeed show off on screen as each member of the Katydids (the improv group which they formed and developed the show from) plays off one another with such ease that it makes those comedic beats resonate loudly. Bagley fits right with the others adding another layer to this smorgasbord of hilarity. If Pearson’s part continues to grow this season, we might see some proposal by the end of the season (just a little speculation on my part and nothing more).
Overall, the pace of the show hasn’t relented, and the writing is tighter than ever. One of the best episodes ever of Teachers will come in the 2nd episode involving lice with a sure pop cultural twist that will have everyone talking (if you’ve seen the trailer then you already know what it is). If anyone hasn’t seen TV Land’s best comedy, then I recommend quickly binge-watching the first two seasons before season three.
Why deprive yourself of one the best comedies on television especially not it appears things are getting quite tantalizing.
Conventions continue to garner popularity, regardless of the type of event, cons have become a massive fish-bowl gathering of comic fans, gamers and cosplayers. The comic book industry was down slightly last year, though having still sold nearly 84 million books and turning in roughly $287 million. The cosplay medium, however, has skyrocketed to become a billion-dollar industry. To give you an idea, just in America, shoppers spent close to $3.4 billion on costumes in 2017. Hey, people really like dressing up, even if it’s just for one day.
Now, there are people out there that do this for a living and travel, both regionally and abroad, to show off their skills and love for dressing up. Don’t assume cosplay is just about costumes and sexy outfits, because you are sadly mistaken. Plus, you know what they say about people that assume. It is hard work, an art, a hobby and, in some cases, a full-time job. Cosplay has grown up. For an increasing number of people, this creative pursuit is a way of life.
Today, cosplayers have also adapted to the digital era, using their personalities and branching out to help others create masterpieces as well, whether via online video tutorials, social media or books. We managed to make our way through a flood of cosplayers to catch up with six personalities while at Megacon in Orlando, Fla., last week to get schooled in the art of cosplay, but really just to say hello. So, if you are not familiar with them already, see below to get to know LeeAnna Vamp, Raychul Moore, Jessica Nigri, Alyson Tabbitha, Joanie Brosas and Mark Robards.
MFR: What would you suggest for an aspiring cosplayer?
JB: “Just start. Begin with understanding who you are and what you like about yourself, because people are always going to tell you what they don’t like about you, but if you like yourself first, that’s most important. Cosplay for you. Don’t cosplay for compliments or attention, but for yourself. That’s when you will have the most fun doing it.”
MFR: Did you always have aspirations of becoming a cosplayer or was it something you fell into?
JB: “It was a little bit of both. I think every little girl dreams of making a career out of playing dress up. When I was younger I wanted to be a model, which is kind of similar, but I didn’t realize you could do it and be nerdy doing it. I started with modeling and integrated cosplay in, so I’m very lucky.”
MFR: Where do you see your career heading?
JB: “I’m just kind of going where life takes me right now. I’m at a peak right now where I’m really happy with what I do, so I want to do it for as long as I can. One day, I’m not going to be as cute, but maybe I can be a hot grandma, or something (laughs).”
JB: “Dynamite initially contacted me to do a Vampirella #2 variant cover and then they asked me how I felt about the Red Sonja character. I was like, ‘I’ve always wanted to cosplay her! That would be awesome!’, so that worked out well. I ended up dying my hair to the red that it is now and I have essentially become that character. I love both of these characters though, because they are super sexy and kick butt.”
MFR: What character are you extremely fond of that you have portrayed?
JB: “There is a character that I absolutely love, but I’m not very good at cosplaying it because I don’t feel like I’m doing her justice, and that is Uhura from Star Trek. She is so inspirational and revolutionary, just the way that a woman should be. She was strong in so many ways, as well as a woman of color, in a time, the 1960s, when women weren’t really encouraged to be so. My favorite ones to do right now, though, would have to be Vampirella and Data, from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Those are some of my favorites to do.”
MFR: We know you game. So which came first for you, cosplaying or gaming?
RM: “I was absolutely a gamer first. I think it has a big influence in getting into cosplaying. Gaming characters are among some of my favorites to cosplay, but being a gamer is definitely at the core of me cosplaying.”
MFR: Would you say your fans are more gamer-centric or more on the cosplaying side?
RM: “It depends. I usually get people telling me that they know me from YouTube or Twitch, but it is never really specified. I don’t know if they want a picture because they enjoy my gaming streams or because of my outfit, but I’m always happy to help (laughs).”
MFR: What is your favorite videogame and what is your favorite to play right now?
RM: “I have two favorite games of all time, because I can’t choose between them. Bioshock and Borderlands. Even now, with Bioshock, the game is so amazing and all these years have passed, and it is still such a groundbreaking game. It’s perfection. My favorite game to play right now is Guild Wars. I’ll always come back to that game. I’ll usually take a break for a bit, usually a few months, and then fall into an absolute GW binge for like six months. It’s the best MMO (Massive Multiplayer Online).”
MFR: Any humble beginnings in propelling you to this point in your career?
RM: “I started off my career in videogame journalism and now I’m a cosplayer and gamer. My career just goes as I go. It’s fun and I’m definitely taking it a day-at-a-time, but I want to keep this going as long as I can. Later on, when I’m much older, I’d love to open an animal rescue shelter. I have two dogs and I’d say that, after gaming, animals are my second passion. I’d love to do more to help all animals.”
MFR: What is it like to deal with fans on a daily basis, whether at cons or online?
RM: “It is incredibly humbling. It means the world to me. I don’t think I would have gotten to where I am today if it wasn’t for them. They have helped me reach my goals and achieve my dreams. I’ve never had a bad interaction with a fan. They have been just great to me and so supportive.”
MFR: How did you kickstart this career in cosplaying?
MR: “I’ve always been a big nerd, from the time I was a kid. I would come to shows to buy art because I’m a collector. I’d see the cosplayers and just tell myself that I wanted to do that so bad. In 2014, I did Christian Bale’s The Dark Knight. I couldn’t move like, four feet. People were surrounding me. It was just an absolute adrenaline rush. That experience motivated me to up my cosplaying game. In 2016, after Deadpool came out, I did that character. A lot of what I wear is above my skillset, but for the most part, I build all of the costumes. Sometimes it takes me months to find the pieces I need to complete each one because I’m a stickler for accuracy. This weekend I did the costume from Deadpool 2 and it took me almost a year to complete it. Smaller pieces, I’ll do myself, I also do my own painting, but parts of my costumes come from all over the world. I’ve ordered things from Mexico, Russia, countries in Europe, and obviously, here in the States.”
MFR: Do you have a character that you absolutely love portraying?
MFR: Considering you do a few gaming versions of Batman, do you game, yourself?
MR: “Yeah, I’m a console gamer. I am a major God of War fan and I usually always come back to the Arkham Series. I’m not so much an RPG (Role Playing Game) fan as I am for FPS (First Person Shooter) and hack-and-slash titles.”
MFR: What do you do outside of cosplaying, gaming and collecting Con art?
MR: “I am a regional director of operations for a supermarket chain. It’s funny, because some of my employees know my ‘alter-ego’. I come to work and I have a bit of an A-type personality, but the ones that know what I do, know that is not so. They’ve seen my Instagram account (laughs).”
MFR: You love portraying Batman and you love doing Deadpool. So, are you a DC guy or a Marvel guy and what characters would you like to do that you haven’t done?
MR: “I’m a fan of both. It might sound like a cliche, but it’s the truth. From the 1970s, when I was a kid, comic books have been my world. That was my world. I remember losing myself and it didn’t matter whether it was a Batman comic or a Spider-Man comic. Even back then, I was a huge Black Panther fan and I loved Silver Surfer and guys like Green Arrow, Flash, Green Lantern. I wish I could cosplay the Surfer, but it would be really hard to do. I’ve never been much of a Superman fan, believe it or not. Which I guess is weird (laughs). I am going to do Moon Knight eventually though. Yeah, if I do it, it has to be done right. I want it to be legit. My hope with cosplay like that, and when I do stuff like Red Hood and Deadpool, that if you see me in an ally, you’re going to turn around and go the other way (laughs).”
MFR: Where did ‘Vamp’ come from, how did you get to this point in your career?
Vamp: “I’m LeeAnna Vamp. Vamp is my last name. So, that’s where that came from (laughs). I actually got started as a fan. I used to come to conventions to be a nerd, buy comics and check stuff out. I actually met my husband at a Con and, it was crazy, we had been at so many of the same ones, at the same time, but never met each other prior. Our love for attending is something that we bonded over. We then started a show called I Love Nerd Girls and, if you couldn’t attend the conventions, you could catch up on things you missed that you maybe wanted to see. Yeah, I just saw these people in amazing costumes at San Diego Comic Con, which is basically Halloween in July. I wanted to do that, year round, and that was it. I started and absolutely fell in love with it.”
Vamp: “So, BFF is my kids puppet show. My husband and I are Halloween freaks and we both love puppets. Specifically, The Muppets. We grew up with them. We wanted to do something where ‘Halloween meets The Muppets’ and all of it is actually from his brain. He created all the characters on piece of paper, years ago, and we just got into it and started coming up with a concept and everything just kind of came together. He initially thought it would be something we’d do in a comic book or graphic novel, but at a convention, we met the guy who voiced Kermit the Frog. We hung out, really hit it off and thought to ourselves that this could really happen and it did. His family is now some really good friends of ours.”
MFR: Do you always get the ‘Elvira and The Muppets’ mashup comparisons for BFF?
Vamp: “Yeah, I do. It’s because I’m the only human on the show, but it’s that kind of, creepy-cute. You can watch the show no matter what age you are because there is humor for both adults and children, but it is still kid-friendly. We’re in the safe zone (laughs).”
MFR: Out of all the cosplayers here, you seem to be the only one that embraces the 80s culture. Would you say that era plays a big influence in what you do?
Vamp: “Oh, one-hundred percent. I was born in the late 80s and, unfortunately, missed a lot of the early part of the decade when a lot of really cool stuff happened. Fortunately, I had great parents that exposed me to all that stuff. People usually tell me that I’m not old enough, but I tell them that my parents raised me right. The trend in pop culture is that ‘what is cool is what was cool’ and that is something that I love. I don’t do what is popular, I do what I love.”
MFR: Where do you see your career heading from here?
Vamp: “I kind of fell into cosplay, by accident. When I started, I feel like this wasn’t really a world that existed. I never really thought it would become what it is now. Cosplay has become a job, but it is still something I do because I love it. It is more of a hobby. I do a ton of other things though. I act, model, I have my own shows, my husband and I have our own clothing line. I don’t know what the future holds, but I’ve done a good amount of acting and hosting, so I’d really love to do more movies. That is my goal and the road that I’m currently on.”
MFR: Care to shed some light as to how you got your start in cosplaying?
AT: “I absolutely fell into it (laughs). I just loved getting dressed up for Halloween and for movie premieres and special events. I had friends that frequented conventions and they asked me to start coming with them. I saw a great opportunity to be able to dress up, as an adult and not be judged! My interpretation of Captain Jack Sparrow went viral and people kept asking me if I had a cosplay page because they wanted to follow my work. So, I fell into it unexpectedly, but I’m so happy I did.”
MFR: You have consistently had one of the longest lines all weekend. What does it mean to you that you have so many devoted fans now?
AT: “I don’t know. It means so much. I’m so humbled. I can’t believe people love my work so much that they’re willing to wait in line for so long, just to meet me! I really look forward to all their hugs. I love to see them at conventions. I really do.”
MFR: Do you have a favorite character that you love to portray?
AT: “My favorite character that I do is Edward Scissorhands, because, growing up, it was one of my favorite movies. I love him a lot. He’s kind of this misfit, thrown into this world with all these new people. I can relate because I was homeschooled and didn’t go out much. When I became an adult, I was in awe of this world, like Edward was when he left the house, and all the beauty in it, but you also realize that some people are not always going to be nice. You want to be everyone’s friend, but sometimes it doesn’t work out like that.”
MFR: What character would you love to do that you haven’t had the chance to do yet?
AT: “What I really want to do next is Jareth, the Goblin King, from Labyrinth. I’d also really love to do the giant beast, Ludo, as well, but that is very ambitious. I need to get to that level first.”
MFR: Was cosplaying something that you always wanted to do?
JN: “I kind of got my start by accident. I’ve always been a nerd and really into anime and survival horror, like Resident Evil. My friend bought me tickets to SDCC one year and I went as a sexy Pikachu, because I heard people dressed up. It took off from there. It was insane! I have never looked back, but I’m really lucky it happened. I have no idea how I got to this point. I’m just enjoying the ride while I’m here.”
MFR: Where do you see your career heading?
JN: “Oh, shoot. I don’t know (laughs)! I’ve always told myself that, if I ever don’t enjoy doing something anymore, then I’m out. But I genuinely love this so much, I have to stay in it. I am so attached to this job and the people I meet are so great. So, yeah, I’m staying for a bit (laughs)!”
MFR: Are there any hobbies outside of cosplay you enjoy?
JN: “I love hiking. I also love to make mini fairy houses and bring them to parks and stuff. The kids all go nuts. I love it. I can’t wait to be an old lady, put them all in trees and stuff and weird them out. I also enjoy anime and video games. True story, I used to want to be a forensic scientist, back in the day, so that I could poke at dead people. Maybe one day, I’ll go back to school, and finish up and do that (laughs).”
MFR: What is your favorite character to do or do you have a general theme you enjoy doing?
JN: “Yeah, I’m fond of all my dragons that I do. I don’t wear them all the time, but they are my most-favorite costumes to wear. They’re the ones that I have definitely poured my soul into and I feel like people can see that.”
MFR: What is the weirdest scenario you have encountered at a convention?
JN: “Oh. Yeah, I can’t tell you that one (laughs).”
————————
Make sure to check out our official 2018 Megacon Facebook album before you leave, which features sights and cosplay from all four days. If you see yourself, play tag and let us know!
