PCC Photo Shoots!

A few weeks ago, we teased sponsoring group photo shoots at Planet Comicon.  Here are just some of the fabulous results that our photographers produced.

 

 

Photographers Credits:

Russ Matthews Photography
Brian Bartlett
Megan Follett – Be Vivacious
Kelly Luck
Jonny Hackett – No. 9 Photography
Paige Houghton

Planet Comicon Gallery!

When we asked our members what their favorite photos were from Planet Comicon, they responded with immeasurable enthusiasm!  Check out all the amazing photos that our cosplayers, photographers, and all around nerds picked out for your viewing pleasure.

 

Credits (in no particular order)

Jess Jones, Dustin Evans, Frank Jenks, Eric Collins, Brian Bartlett, Allen Jones, Ian Turner, Kevin Austin, Kory Burch, Andrew Tritz, Nick Schale, Susan Easter, Chris Dorsey, Dennis Butt, Devin Carter, Debra Wilson, Jonny Hackett, Steamworks & Shadows, Monika Lee, Talyn Helman, Lycaon Meyer, Duff Ricter, Alexis McGraw, Nicole Hill, Nikki Marshall, Brooke Ryan, Amber Bingham, Paige Houghton, Joshua Caito, Sabrina Hargis, Maurice Person, Nicole Henderson, Michelle Gordon, Jill Stewart, Melissa Wheeler, Russ Matthews, Rachel Dow, Nina Griffith, Neal Haze, Jessica Meditz-Porter, Katrina Rice, Jhatonna Turner, Justin Stiles, Justin Wilson, Ultra Girls Cosplay, Alyssa Di Paolo, Nina Lee, Douglas Epps, I love Bacon, Sheila Brandon-Allen, Nicole Hill, Amber Roper, Ali Smith, Bradley Beeghley, Ryan Couture, Amanda Brown, Chelsea McElroy, Lillith Ann, Megan Follett, Julie Thomas, Casey McBroom, Whitney Withers, Lisha Tetuan, Jacob Disberger, James Gorden, Ron Coleman, Mike Steinmetz, Jason Turner, Micheal Rich, Alyssa Lewis, Kenny Price, Jon Czerwinski, Abby Darkstar, Rougewench Cosplay

Honoring Nimoy at PCC

Greetings, Cosplayers!

I am here to announce a change in the planned group photo shoot for Planet Comicon on Sunday, March 15th. In honor of the late Leonard Nimoy, best known for Mr. Spock on Star Trek, we are adding Trek to the group photo shoot. So, if you have a Star Trek costume, get your pointed ears and phasers ready so we can salute one of the greats.

The shoot is scheduled for 2:00PM on Sunday, March 15th. We welcome all people in Star Wars and Star Trek costumes.

And of course, live long and prosper. \\\///

PCC Group Photo Shoots

Our third booth announcement this week is our large group photo shoots!

Each day of the convention, we’ll be sponsoring a large group photo opportunity complete with fancy photographers and inclusive themes!  Are you a Joker looking for a Harley? Or maybe a Mario looking for a Luigi? Here’s your chance to get those photo ops!

 

Friday, 1 pm, The Cantina: Superheroes and Villains!  – If you are there to save the day or take over the world, then you’ll fit this theme.  It doesn’t matter if you’re Marvel or DC, big screen or small, this is a shoot you should be in! Featuring Megan Follett!

Saturday, 1 pm, The Cantina: Videogames! – Bust out your Master Chief, Commander Shephards, and Assassins galore for this shoot dedicated to the 8 bit and beyond!

Sunday, 2 pm, The Cantina: Star Wars/Star Trek! – Whether you’re battling the Empire or exploring the Final Frontier, you should definitely stop by to get your picture with the best of them! Featuring Jonny Hackett!

 

These photo shoots are open for any photographer and all cosplayers FITTING THE THEME.  It’s funny to be the Deadpool in the Star Wars shoot, but it’s also a good way to get escorted out by security! Don’t be that guy! BUT! Don’t be afraid to join if you’re a mashup character (Disney Jedi) or a character with a twist (Steampunk Batman).  All of those are welcome!

For each shoot, there will be one photographer directing the overall group photo. This will only take a couple of shots, so getting there on time will give everyone a chance to mingle afterward.  The rest of the shoot will be open for any cosplayers to connect with photographers and vice versa!

Podcast Ep. 14 – “Star Trek: To Boldly Podcast”

This week, we boldly go where this podcast has never gone before, Star Trek. I’m joined for this extra long podcast with veteran guests Brad, Eric, Frank (our latest Member of the Week), and Zach as we talk Star Trek movies, TV series, the JJ-verse, conventions, cosplay, and our favorite things about Gene Roddenberry’s universe. It’s full of transporters, Riker beards, KHAAANNNNs, and pointed ears. So, its time to make it so, sit back with some earl grey tea and set phasers to stun.

Engage!

 

Podcast Credits

Host
Derreck Mayer

Special Guest
Bradley Beeghley
Eric Collins
Frank Jenks
Zach Story

Editing

Derreck Mayer

Producers
Rachel Stewart
Derreck Mayer

And a special thanks to the Johnson County Resource Library and Gene Roddenberry. May you all Live Long and Prosper.

KCCP Member of the Week: Frank Jenks

This week, the KCCP is proudly featuring cosplayer Frank Jenks.  As a hobbyist cosplayer, Frank has been able to find opportunities using his skills to modify and improve costumes and props alike.  He’s also been able to take his love of sci-fi, Star Trek especially, and incorporate it into his cosplay work.   

How did you get into cosplay?
Quite by accident. I asked a girlfriend of mine to get me a simple Star Trek t-shirt for Christmas and, much to my surprise, she got me a simple Halloween uniform instead. At first, being shy and shelf conscious, I thought I can never wear a geeky thing like this in public but I later changed my mind. I’ve always had my fellow Trek friends say I looked like McCoy but I really never took it seriously. When I wore it to my first Planet Comicon a couple years ago, the response was very awesome. Since then I’ve got some of the props, improved the uniform, and found more opportunities to wear it. It’s a great opportunity to meet other Star Trek fans and show support for what you love. I don’t really consider myself a serious cosplayer; I just do it for the fandom. It’s like waving some giant flag saying “I love Star Trek.”

How many characters are you currently cosplaying and what are they?
Just the two: the new and older McCoys. I’ve been entertaining ideas of doing a more traditional super hero costume such as Spiderman, Batman, or 80’s Wolverine. You know something that would make charity work with the kids possible. I’m also thinking of a Hitchhikers Guide Arthur Dent complete with bathrobe, cup of tea, towel, and bewildered look on my face. Maybe even topping the whole thing of with raspberry pi powered guidebook playing videos of the BBC TV show from the 80’s. I loved the animated guide excerpts from that short lived show.

What’s your favorite cosplay you’ve done so far and why?
I haven’t done many so it would have to be my default TOS McCoy. The response from people is the real kicker. Anywhere from little girls that run up to me with the action figures to average, every day Joes that only just barely know the show but the costume just takes them back to when they used to watch it with their parents.

What’s your favorite way to craft?
I’m not one for the arts and crafts side of things. I usually buy them outright or modify them slightly. I’ve always been more of fixing things and making them work than making them look good. I just don’t have an eye for those sort of things.

What’s your favorite crafting item to work with and why?
A soldering iron, I guess. Tinkering with LED projects or sound boards. I’m one of those few guys who loves the smell of solder. I guess you can say I’m more of a prop kinda guy. I’m drawn intrinsically towards the tech and flashy lights.

What are your cosplay goals?
I don’t have much free time on the side but I do what I can. I just do this as a way of waving the flag and reminding people of how fun Star Trek is. I’d like to also get more involved with charity eventually, maybe if I get a more mainstream character going. I’d also like to dabble more in the robotics and animatronics side of things. The practical side of me is always looking for ways to tie the fun stuff to real world applications. Maybe someday building a Nomad prop from TOS and having it fully functional. Mixing my fandom with real world technology excites me.

What’s your dream cosplay and why?
Well, I guess anything I admire and that is way out of my reach. I suppose I love the cyber-punk style of Robocop. I mean, he was Iron Man way before Iron Man was cool. Something about that obnoxious amount of technology sewn in with humanity I just love. If you got a gadget, plug it in me, cyborg future here I come.

What advice would you give someone who wants to get into cosplay?
Follow in the footsteps of others. There is no need to reinvent the wheel just yet. Start off by googling, and then refining your search and googling again. All the info you need is at your fingertips. All you need is the willingness to go out there and go do it and your own flare. Most importantly, attitude.  Go boldly, my friends.

What other interests do you have outside of cosplay?
I love physical fitness. I work out 3 to 4 times a week lifting weights and jogging. I love the runners’ high and the feeling you get after a workout. I also do a little yoga and there is something about it that I find appealing. I’m also an avid reader. Reading anything I can get my hands on but preferring science fiction, philosophy, and history. It makes me a force to be reckoned with at Trivial Pursuit. That’s right, ladies, Trivial Pursuit. Meow. I also can really dig a great essay and other obscure works. When I’m not doing this, I’m either playing computer games like Left 4 Dead and TF2 or out volunteering.  Gotta keep busy; a moving target is hard to hit.

If you could have dinner with one fictional character, who would it be and why?
Pizza the Hut from Space Balls. I see myself in a romantic setting with him. Charming him with my wit and slowly getting him drunk from the wine. All the while gently eating pieces of him, a pepperoni here, a slice there. You see he would be way too drunk and distracted to notice. And before you know it, he would be all gone, in my belly. Sorry; it’s time for lunch and I’m distracted.