<\/a>Nessa coluna, eu trago a voc\u00eas depoimentos\u00a0daqueles que, de uma maneira ou de outra, se transformaram em \u201cprofissionais\u201d do cosplay. Para alguns, foi uma\u00a0atividade paralela, uma forma, muitas vezes, de custear os pr\u00f3prios trajes. Para outros, uma segunda vida fazendo aquilo que mais amam. Para outros, ainda, uma profiss\u00e3o \u00e0\u00a0qual se dedicam noite e dia.<\/p>\n

Kevin Leab Thong \u00e9 um cosmaker que realizou o grande sonho da maioria dos nerds. Ele conseguiu ingressar na ind\u00fastria de games, a ponto de se tornar community manager da CD Projekt RED na Fran\u00e7a, seu pa\u00eds natal.<\/p>\n

Kevin aceitou bater um papo comigo, no qual conversamos sobre a presen\u00e7a de cosplayers em empresas de videogames, as fronteiras entre cosmakers e figurinistas e seu trabalho em atividades filantr\u00f3picas.<\/p>\n

Confiram abaixo a entrevista<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Qual <\/strong>\u00e9<\/strong> a sua idade e h<\/strong>\u00e1<\/strong> quanto tempo trabalha com cosplay?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tenho 26 anos desde abril e tenho trabalhado com cosplay desde o meu primeiro cosplay (2011). Eu tive a sorte de ser notado.<\/p>\n

Voc<\/strong>\u00ea<\/strong> \u00e9<\/strong> um expert em confec<\/strong>\u00e7\u00e3<\/strong>o de figurinos e props. O que o motivou a se envolver com essa profiss<\/strong>\u00e3<\/strong>o.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meu pai e eu sempre adoramos assistir a v\u00eddoes de making of e bastidores de filmes e clipes. N\u00f3s amamos figurinos e decora\u00e7\u00f5es de set. Um dia ele me perguntou se eu queria fazer um traje com ele e aqui estou.<\/p>\n

Que tipos de trabalhos relacionados ao cosplay voc<\/strong>\u00ea<\/strong> j<\/strong>\u00e1<\/strong> realizou? Voc<\/strong>\u00ea<\/strong> aceita encomendas? Quem s<\/strong>\u00e3<\/strong>o seus clientes?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No momento, eu tenho trabalhado essencialmente com a CD Projekt S.A. em v\u00e1rios eventos desde o concurso de cosplay que eles organizaram. Eu tamb\u00e9m fiz alguns eventos para a EA Games e estou atualmente trabalhando em um projeto com a Amplitude Studio.<\/p>\n

Sobre encomendas, eu n\u00e3o tenho uma oficina decente ainda, ent\u00e3o eu n\u00e3o consigo trabalhar com isso da forma como eu gostaria, mas no futuro pr\u00f3ximo eu provavelmente come\u00e7arei a aceitar encomendas.<\/p>\n

Como voc\u00ea viu acima, meus clientes s\u00e3o majoritariamente companhias de games. Por\u00e9m, eu ainda estou aberto a outros clientes se eles precisam de mim.<\/p>\n

A prop\u00f3sito, eu n\u00e3o sou muito conhecido, ent\u00e3o eu contacto diretamente os est\u00fadios para conseguir os jobs \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Voc<\/strong>\u00ea<\/strong> \u00e9<\/strong> um community manager para a CD Projekt RED na Fran<\/strong>\u00e7<\/strong>a. Como voc<\/strong>\u00ea<\/strong> se envolveu com o est<\/strong>\u00fa<\/strong>dio? Teve rela<\/strong>\u00e7\u00e3<\/strong>o com os cosplays de personagens de The Witcher <\/em>que voc<\/strong>\u00ea<\/strong> fez?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eu consegui o emprego por meio de uma feliz sequ\u00eancia de eventos. O neg\u00f3cio \u00e9 que um de meus amigos, Thibault, e eu pedimos ao Marcin Momot (o community manager principal) alguns materiais de refer\u00eancia para fazer um cosplay 3 anos atr\u00e1s. De l\u00e1 para c\u00e1, nos continuamos em contato e nos tornamos amigos na internet.<\/p>\n

Um dia ele sugeriu o trabalho ao Thibault e a mim porque n\u00f3s sempre fomos ENORMES f\u00e3s de The Witcher<\/em> desde a \u00e9poca dos livros e muito mais depois do primeiro jogo. Portanto, meu job como cosplayer n\u00e3o tem rela\u00e7\u00e3o direta com meu contrato como community manager. \u00c9 algo a mais, e eles me pagam por ambos os empregos.<\/p>\n

Na sua experi<\/strong>\u00ea<\/strong>ncia, qu<\/strong>\u00e3<\/strong>o abertos s<\/strong>\u00e3<\/strong>o os est<\/strong>\u00fa<\/strong>dios de videogame para contratar cosplayers e outros f<\/strong>\u00e3<\/strong>s? Como o processo geralmente come<\/strong>\u00e7<\/strong>a? Cosplayers e cosmakers geralmente s<\/strong>\u00e3<\/strong>o contratados pelas companhias se conseguem chamar a aten<\/strong>\u00e7\u00e3<\/strong>o ou tomam a iniciativa eles pr<\/strong>\u00f3<\/strong>prios?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Est\u00fadios de games v\u00e3o ver seu trabalho cedo ou tarde, mas o problema \u00e9 que existem muitos f\u00e3s e muitas cria\u00e7\u00f5es de f\u00e3s. Cosplay \u00e9 apenas uma entre tantas \u201cfanarts\u201d.<\/p>\n

A melhor coisa a se fazer, na minha opini\u00e3o, \u00e9 contat\u00e1-los diretamente e s\u00f3 dizer \u201cEi, eu fa\u00e7o cosplays. Eu fiz isso e aquilo. Voc\u00ea est\u00e1 interessado?\u201d Eles s\u00e3o iguais \u00e0 gente, entusiasmados e humanos. Eles n\u00e3o v\u00e3o morder, ent\u00e3o n\u00e3o h\u00e1 nada a perder tentando.<\/p>\n

O processo sempre come\u00e7a com um contrato ou mesmo com um contrato de confidencialidade, se n\u00e3o existir contrato. Provavelmente significa que voc\u00ea n\u00e3o ser\u00e1 pago pelo seu trabalho…<\/p>\n

Num<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>editorial recente<\/strong><\/a>, a Hayley Williams do Kotaku disse que trabalhos remunerados de cosplay em conven\u00e7\u00f5es s\u00e3o minados por cosplayers dispostos a trabalhar de gra\u00e7a, assim como pela mentalidade de que cosplay deve ser feito por amor, n\u00e3o por dinheiro. Voc\u00ea concorda com esse diagn\u00f3stico? Se sim, voc\u00ea v\u00ea alguma solu\u00e7\u00e3o?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eu acho que cosplay \u00e9 um bom hobby, mas quando voc\u00ea tem o dever de representar empresas ou marcas registradas, ent\u00e3o voc\u00ea est\u00e1 trabalhando. Para mim, todo trabalho, n\u00e3o importa qual, deve ser remunerado. Eu n\u00e3o acho que jobs de cosplay s\u00e3o prejudicados por cosplayers dispostos a trabalhar de gra\u00e7a. Empresas pagam por qualidade (talvez nem tanto quando deveriam, mas pagam). Se eles n\u00e3o pagarem, ent\u00e3o escolher\u00e3o algum cosplayer que fa\u00e7a de gra\u00e7a e a qualidade refletir\u00e1 isso. \u00c9 uma escolha.<\/p>\n

De qualquer forma, n\u00f3s n\u00e3o podemos ficar irritados com as pessoas que apenas querem ser conhecidas. \u00c9 problema delas.<\/p>\n

Meu primeiro trabalho como cosplayer n\u00e3o foi pago. Eu queria receber, mas eles n\u00e3o me pagaram (brindes n\u00e3o s\u00e3o pagamento). No entanto, ele me ajudou a ser mais bem visto e a adquirir uma imagem mais s\u00e9ria para as empresas.<\/p>\n

Sempre existir\u00e3o pessoas que trabalhar\u00e3o de gra\u00e7a s\u00f3 porque s\u00e3o f\u00e3s, ou porque se sentem honradas de serem uma pe\u00e7a no maquin\u00e1rio. Isto nos motiva a ser mais competitivos e a aprender novas coisas para nos tornarmos mais talentosos. Eu acho que \u00e9 bom pressionar as pessoas a serem melhores em seus trabalhos\/hobbies, ou mesmo na vida. Ent\u00e3o, se eles quiserem trabalhar de gra\u00e7a, conforme-se com isso e tente fazer melhor.<\/p>\n

Voc<\/strong>\u00ea<\/strong> j<\/strong>\u00e1<\/strong> trabalhou com cosplay for a da cena <\/strong>\u201c<\/strong>geek<\/strong>\u201d<\/strong>, propriamente dita (ex: em eventos corporativos, festas infantis, iniciativas filantr<\/strong>\u00f3<\/strong>picas, campanhas de publicidade)?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alguns de meus amigos, todos cosplayers e cosmakers talentosos, est\u00e3o atualmente envolvidos em um calend\u00e1rio cosplay para arrecadar dinheiro para caridade. Eu fa\u00e7o parte do projeto. Chama-se Cosplay for Life<\/a> \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

E quanto a confec<\/strong>\u00e7\u00e3<\/strong>o? Voc<\/strong>\u00ea<\/strong> j<\/strong>\u00e1<\/strong> trajes e props para outros p<\/strong>\u00fa<\/strong>blicos? (reenactment <\/em>hist<\/strong>\u00f3<\/strong>rico, LARPG, etc?)<\/strong><\/p>\n

N\u00e3o, mas parece muito divertido! Eu j\u00e1 fiz algumas armas e acess\u00f3rios para meus cosplays, mas nunca para esse tipo de coisa.<\/p>\n

Voc<\/strong>\u00ea<\/strong> participa de concursos de cosplay? Qu<\/strong>\u00e3<\/strong>o importante <\/strong>\u00e9<\/strong> o circuito de concursos na vida de um cosplayer?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eu n\u00e3o sou muito ligado nisso, ent\u00e3o s\u00f3 posso dizer que existem dois tipos de cosplayers entre meus amigos que gostam de participar de concursos.<\/p>\n

Os primeiros s\u00e3o aqueles que participam porque gostam de competi\u00e7\u00e3o e querem mostrar seu melhor e tentar ganhar.<\/p>\n

Os segundos s\u00e3o os que s\u00f3 querem fazer um bom cosplay e participar para ter um bom palco para mostrar seus trajes, compartilhar seu amor ao cosplay com os outros e ter boas mem\u00f3rias.<\/p>\n

Cosplays frequentemente s\u00e3o mencionados em discuss\u00f5es sobre direitos autorais. Em tese, character designs <\/em>s\u00e3o propriedade de seus respectivos est\u00fadios\/editoras, e qualquer lucro sobre eles \u00e9 vetado a terceiros. Voc\u00ea j\u00e1 teve ou testemunhou algum problema em rela\u00e7\u00e3o a isso? Voc\u00ea acredita que isso possa ser um fator limitante para o crescimento da profiss\u00e3o?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Essa foi uma das minhas maiores quest\u00f5es no come\u00e7o, mas eu nunca tive nenhum problema por causa disso. Eu tamb\u00e9m n\u00e3o acho que isto limitar\u00e1 pessoas a fazerem o que elas querem. Quando voc\u00ea faz props s\u00f3 para voc\u00ea e n\u00e3o ganha nada com isso, voc\u00ea nunca ter\u00e1 problemas.<\/p>\n

Cosmakers que vendem seus trabalhos provavelmente s\u00e3o mais afetados por copyright. Eu realmente n\u00e3o sei, desculpa.<\/p>\n

Como voc\u00ea v\u00eae o futuro profissional do cosplay? Voc\u00ea acreditam que o mercado esteja crescendo ou diminuindo?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eu n\u00e3o estou preocupado sobre o seu futuro. Eu quero trabalhar como um figurinista profissional no cinema\/teatro ou na ind\u00fastria de games. Se o cosplay puder me ajudar, ent\u00e3o eu continuarei, aprenderei novas coisas e me tornarei mais competente para alcan\u00e7ar esse objetivo.<\/p>\n

Eu acho que a diferen\u00e7a entre \u201ccosplayer\u201d e figurinista \u00e9 bem sutil. O cosplayer faz o role play<\/em> ou a parte de \u201cmodelo\u201d que o figurinista n\u00e3o faz.<\/p>\n

Cosplay profissional tem mais a ver com a carreira de modelo e em usar sua imagem para promover coisas, embora tamb\u00e9m envolva todo o processo de confec\u00e7\u00e3o.<\/p>\n

Ent\u00e3o, na minha opini\u00e3o, o mercado continuar\u00e1 a crescer lentamente como qualquer outro emprego, e a ind\u00fastria de games o est\u00e1 incentivando a isso muito bem.<\/p>\n

A maioria dos cosplayers usa pseud\u00f4nimos. Voc\u00ea pode me falar um pouco sobre este h\u00e1bito? Voc\u00ea sabe qual \u00e9 a origem da pr\u00e1tica?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Haha! Eu n\u00e3o sei porque as pessoas usam apelidos ou de onde surgiu o h\u00e1bito. Provavelmente foi para proteger sua identidade quando voc\u00ea s\u00f3 quer compartilhar sua paix\u00e3o na internet.<\/p>\n

Voc\u00ea utiliza (ou j\u00e1 utilizou) algum pseud\u00f4nimo?<\/strong><\/p>\n

O meu \u00e9 apenas meu nick em videogames… Eu s\u00f3 o criei para ser reconhecido atr\u00e1s da tela.<\/p>\n

Se voc\u00ea tivesse de dar uma dica para algu\u00e9m que deseja come\u00e7ar a trabalhar com cosplay, qual ela seria?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Apenas tente. A parte mais dif\u00edcil \u00e9 se motivar a come\u00e7ar. Quando voc\u00ea tiver feito isso, voc\u00ea ver\u00e1 que n\u00e3o \u00e9 t\u00e3o dif\u00edcil.<\/p>\n

E voc\u00ea?\u00a0Trabalha ou trabalhou com cosplay e tem uma hist\u00f3ria interessante para contar? Entre em contato com a p\u00e1gina<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Kevin Leab Thong is a cosplayer and costume maker that accomplished one of geeks’ most coveted dreams. He\u00a0landed jobs with the gaming industry, and even became a community manager for CD Projekt RED in his home country of France.<\/p>\n

Kevin took the time to have a little chat with me. In it, we talked about the involvement of cosplayers with game companies, the threshold between cosplayers and costume makers and his cosplay related work in\u00a0charity.<\/p>\n

You can read the full interview below:<\/p>\n

How old are you and how long have you been working with cosplay?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am 26 since April and I have worked with cosplay since my very first cosplay (2011). I was lucky enough to be noticed.<\/p>\n

You<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>re an expert in costume and propmaking. What prompted you to get involved with this m<\/strong>\u00e9<\/strong>tier?<\/strong><\/p>\n

My father and I have always loved to watch making ofs and behind the scenes from movies and clips. We love costumes and decorations on set. One day he asked me if I wanted to make a costume with him and here I am.<\/p>\n

What sort of cosplay related jobs have you performed? Do you accept commissions? Who are your clients?<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the moment, I have essentially worked with CD Projekt S.A. on many events since the cosplay contest which they organized. I also did some events for EA Games and I am currently working on a project with Amplitude Studio.<\/p>\n

About commissions, I do not have a decent workshop yet so I cannot work on it as I would like to but in a near future I will probably accept commissions. As you read before, my clients are mainly video game companies. I am still opened to other clients if they need something from me. I am not very well known by the way so I contact directly by myself the studios to get some jobs. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

You<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>re a community manager for CD Projekt RED in France. How did you end up involved with the studio? Was it related to your work cosplaying <\/strong>The Witcher<\/em><\/strong> characters?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have got the job through a fortunate chain of circumstances. The thing is that one of my friends Thibault and I asked to Marcin Momot the main Community Manager some samples to make a costume 3 years ago and since we stayed in touch and became friends over internet. One day he proposed the job to Thibault and I because we have been HUGE fans of The Witcher since the books and more after the first game. So my cosplay work is not related to my community manager\u2019s contract. It is something plus, and they paid me for both jobs.<\/p>\n

In your experience, how open are videogame studios to hiring cosplayers and other fans? How does the process usually begins? Are cosplayers and crafters contacted by the companies if they make an impression, or is it the other way around?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Video games studios will see your work someday for sure, but the problem is that there are so many fans and so many fan creations, and cosplay is just a part of those \u201cfanarts\u201d. The best thing to do, in my opinion is to contact them directly by yourself and just say \u201cHey, I make costumes. I did that and this. Are you interested?\u201d. They are just like us, passionate and human. They will not bite, so there is nothing to lose by trying.<\/p>\n

The process begins always with a contract or even NDA (nondisclosure agreement) if there is no contract. It probably means that you will not be paid for your work…<\/p>\n

In a recent op-ed,<\/a>\u00a0Kotaku<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s Hayley Williams argued that paid cosplay jobs at conventions are hampered by cosplayers willing to work for free, as well as by the mentality that one should cosplay out of love, not profit. Do you agree with her point? If so, do you see any solutions?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I think cosplay is a good hobby, but when you are charged with representing companies or trademarks, then you are working. To me, each work, no matter what, should be paid. I do not think that the cosplay jobs are hampered by cosplayers willing to work for free. Companies will pay for great quality (maybe sometimes not as much as they should be but they will pay) if they do not then they will pick free cosplayer and the quality which goes with it. It is their choice.<\/p>\n

By the way, we cannot be mad at people who just want to be known. It is their problem.<\/p>\n

My first job as a cosplayer was not paid, I wanted to but they did not pay me (goodies is not a kind of payment) but it helped me to be better considerated and get a more serious image for companies. There will be always people who will work for free just because they are fans or feel honored to be a little part of the gear. It pushes us to be more competitive and learn more skills to be more talented. I think it is a good thing to push people to be better in their jobs\/hobbies even life whatever. So, if they want to work for free then let them, just deal with it and try to be\/do better.<\/p>\n

Have you ever worked with cosplay outside the <\/strong>\u201c<\/strong>geek scene<\/strong>\u201d<\/strong> properly speaking (eg.: in corporate events, children<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s parties, philantropic initiatives, marketing stunts)?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have some friends also talented cosplayers and props makers who are currently working on a cosplay calendar to make money for charity. I am a little part of it. It is called Cosplay For Life<\/a>\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

What about costume and propmaking? Have you ever crafted items for other audiences (historical reenactors, LARPers, etc)?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not at all but it could be fun and entertaining! I have made some weapons and accessories for my costumes but never for things like this.<\/p>\n

Do you participate in cosplay contests? How big a part of a cosplayer<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s life are the hobby<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s contest cycles?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am not into it, so I can just say that there are two types among my friends who like to do contests.<\/p>\n

First the one who participate because she\/he likes competition and want to be at her\/his best and try to win it.<\/p>\n

Secondly the one who just want to make a good costume and participate just to have a good stage to show their costume and share her\/his love of cosplay to people and get good memories.<\/p>\n

Cosplay is often mentioned in discussions about copyright law. In principle, character and costume designs belong to their respective IP holders, and any sort of for profit activity involving them is forbidden. Have you ever had or have you ever witnessed any issues concerning copyright? Do you believe this is might be a limiting factor to the growth of cosplay as a profession?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was one of my big question at the begining but I never get any issues because of that. I do not think that it will limit people to make what they want either.<\/p>\n

When you make props just for yourself and you do not gain any benefits from it, then you will never have any problems.<\/p>\n

Props makers who sell their work are probably more touched by copyrights, I don\u2019t really know sorry.<\/p>\n

How do you see the future of professional cosplay? Do you believe the field is shrinking or expanding?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am not worried about its future. I want to work as a professional costume maker in cinema\/theater or in the video game industry. If cosplay can help me, then I will continue and learn new things and be more competent to reach that goal. I think the links between \u201ccosplayer\u201d and costume maker are really thin. The cosplayer does the \u201crole playing\u201d or modeling part that the costume maker do not. Professional cosplay is more like modeling and promote stuff with your image but it still has the whole process of costume making. So, in my opinion it will just continue to slowly grow up like any other new jobs and the video game industry is pushing it very well.<\/p>\n

Most cosplayers use aliases. Can you talk a little bit about this practice? Do you know where it came from?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Haha! I do not know why people are using nicknames and where it came from but at the begining it probably to protect your identity when you just want to share your passion on internet.<\/p>\n

Do you have an alias? How did you choose it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mine (Tanner) is just my nickname in video games\u2026 I have made it just to be recognized behind my screen.<\/p>\n

If you were to give one tip for someone who wants to start working with cosplay, what would it be?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just have a try. The hardest part is to push yourself to start and when it will be done you will understand that it was not that hard.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nessa coluna, eu trago a voc\u00eas depoimentos\u00a0daqueles que, de uma maneira ou de outra, se transformaram em \u201cprofissionais\u201d do cosplay. Para alguns, foi uma\u00a0atividade paralela, uma forma, muitas vezes, de custear os pr\u00f3prios trajes. Para outros, uma segunda vida fazendo aquilo que mais amam. Para outros, ainda, uma profiss\u00e3o \u00e0\u00a0qual se dedicam noite e dia. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9235,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[12,14,580],"tags":[98,126,211,322],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.finisgeekis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/kevin.jpg?fit=1438%2C954&ssl=1","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9rUzW-2oR","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.finisgeekis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9229"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.finisgeekis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.finisgeekis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.finisgeekis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.finisgeekis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9229"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.finisgeekis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9229\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21289,"href":"https:\/\/www.finisgeekis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9229\/revisions\/21289"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.finisgeekis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9235"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.finisgeekis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9229"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.finisgeekis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9229"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.finisgeekis.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9229"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}