Both serious and sappy

[dancerjodi]

There's been a debate raging in the 501st legion yahoo group as to whether an Episode III Anakin post being called Vader, but pre wearing the suit would qualify as a 501st costume. The discussion has been NASTY. I tell you, these costumers can cause drama that puts goth or poly crowds to shame!

The discussion moved on to people talking about costuming to type or lack thereof. Some mentioned that the pre suit Anakin wouldn't be a good 501st costume since its a face showing one, and that people could look really bad if they didn't actually look like Anakin. This progressed to a discussion about really overweight people and costuming. Its gotten quite ugly.

One woman had a wonderful reply. Its just so sweet, the story brought me to tears. You go girl!

"Best thing about my weight is I had the chance to play Princess Fiona [From Shrek] last year. Last October I did a hospital visit with the Central California Garrison. I was taken to one little girls room and told she never allows anyone in costume into her room let alone near her. Of which her dad is
always sitting on the bed with her to protect her.

I stood at the door green face and all and asked if I could enter the
room. She said yes. I walked close to her and asked her what she was
watching and what she had on her walls. She had drew pictures of
Cinderella since she loved her. I then told her a story of someone I knew
sent a drawen picture to Cinderella and Cinderella sent an autograph back.
I told her that she should check into this since she loved Cinderella so
much. The young girl smiled. I asked then if I could get a photo with her
for me to take home to share with Shrek and Donkey she said yes. Yes asked
if her dad would move off the bed so I could sit down on the bed with her.

I am (as some would say) Fat and over weight. But because of this I gave a
young girl something that NO strom trooper nor Darth Vader could give her."

I wish people can step back and think about what's really important in all of this and let go of elitism. Myself, I always costume to type since I really need to be comfortable with a role before I dress/act it, but I'd never fault anyone else for not doing that. For example, I'd make a piss-poor Sailor Moon since I'm just not 'kiddish' enough for that. Or I'd make a very bad Galadriel since I'm just not that frouffy or delicate. The Rebs always seem to get the shaft versus the Imperials in terms of costumed coolness (which also ties into this Anakin costume debate issue), but last Sunday *I* was one of the few costumed people at the theater that the terrified little girls felt comfortable talking to or taking photos with. Different strokes and all that, I just don't understand why some people don't see it, and think that it has to be their way or its just wrong.

Comments

[tiamatlady]

Leia was one of the few characters who scared the piss out of me. She stood up to Vader, she was pretty impressive. I'd probably run and hide. While sticking "Kick me" signs on the TKs. *lol*

Of course, as a child I ran away from an R2 at a BK. He was scary, so I was a bit of a dork, even then.
*giggle*

Leia

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"Leia was one of the few characters who scared the piss out of me. She stood up to Vader, she was pretty impressive."

Which is why I like her :)

I think a lot of the really younger kids just think in terms of "good" and "bad" guys and don't put a lot of thought into the specifics. Also, what little girl doesn't like a princess? One of my lines on Sunday was asking every little girl in the place if they were also princesses - that went over really well :)

"Of course, as a child I ran away from an R2 at a BK"

There a lot of people (kids *and* adults) running away from our R2-R9 over the weekend - they just didn't expect him to move at them making noise :)

Re: Leia

[tiamatlady]

I'm thinking the silly R2 unit had a speaker. And it talked. Which freaked me out (as well as was plain out wrong) The guy doing the talking was a dorkface. *evil grin*

You're much less scary than Leia. More attitude wise like Endor Leia, dealing with the teddies. And being all Han Schmoopy

B needs a Han outfit. He gets to shoot first.

Re: Leia

[tk7602.livejournal.com]

similarly on the costuming to type thing... my build and hair are both ALL wrong for han, so i don't do it.

height aside, the closest to a "face character" i could do would be quigon, since he has the same head and facial hair as me.

Re: Leia

[tiamatlady]

Naw, I was thinking you'd be all wrong for Han.
But it would be EXTRA SPECIAL KYUTE!
*sappy grin*

You could be "Alternate Universe Han" but that would just a whole new set of problems.

Tia = Troublemaker. *evil grin*

Unless you're going out parading with a Darth Maul, there's no need for a Qui-Gon outfit. No really. REALLY!

[electricsoup.livejournal.com]

you know, 90% of the reason i keep hedging on starting my star wars costumes, despite having all the materials for two of them, is that i'm still overweight.

comments like those are exactly why i haven't started. that sort of elitism is why i've reconsidered joining the 501st, despite being one of their biggest supporters for years :(

feel free to pass that along to them if you want. i'd rather they knew and realized that they exclude good people that way.

[tk7602.livejournal.com]

the people who are at the core of this issue don't care. they'd prefer people NOT join if they don't meet the ideal :-/

it's been really frustrating.

the NEG raised over $2700 for the jimmy fund, and the NER raised over $2000 for their charity. we both posted on the board, and got a total of *1* WOW, GREAT JOB!!! type post, since everyone was arguing over people being anakin.

it's great... they are fighting over whether or not the robes/face showing costume counts as vader. i replied in the thread and said... well, palpatine CALLS HIM VADER when he's in that costume, and for a good 25% of the movie he's in that outfit and is CALLED VADER. so how can some dork in a costuming club try to say that it doesn't count??????

*sigh*

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"comments like those are exactly why i haven't started. that sort of elitism is why i've reconsidered joining the 501st, despite being one of their biggest supporters for years :(

feel free to pass that along to them if you want. i'd rather they knew and realized that they exclude good people that way."

A lot of people have voiced that sentiment. We'll see what happens with it!

[silentq.livejournal.com]

Yikes, I didn't realise that costumers got all that bitchy. :/
I tend to feel most comfortable in costumes where I can get my hair to match, and find the right foot wear. :)
Which tangentially reminds me that I should dig my jawa costume out of the back of my closet and do the upgrades that I wanted to get done.

Costumers

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"Yikes, I didn't realise that costumers got all that bitchy. :/"

You have NO idea how bad it can be :)

"Which tangentially reminds me that I should dig my jawa costume out of the back of my closet and do the upgrades that I wanted to get done."

You can join the 501st with it - we've got one adult Jawa thus far (and a couple of 'honorary members' that are children of garrison members) :)

Re: Costumers

[silentq.livejournal.com]

Heh, after the comments I've seen about politics, I'm leery of jumping into the thick of things. :) Though, it sounds like you have a lot of fun doing 501st stuff, so now you've got me considering it...

Re: Costumers

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"Though, it sounds like you have a lot of fun doing 501st stuff, so now you've got me considering it..."

For the most part things in the New England Garrison are fine. Of course in any large group people will have their differences, but we are able to come together and get things done, have fun while doing it, and meet friends with similar interests.

Take a look at our website (501neg.com) at past events and future ones to see if you may be interested. Membership just requires a movie quality costume and some kind of participation (even just one event per year).

If you want I can talk offline more about it with you :)

Vader!

[cintyber.livejournal.com]

I still wanna be Vader before the mask!
I can be Mini-Vader like Mini me exactly the same just smaller and I have the hair for it right now!

[mixedborder.livejournal.com]

When I finished my Darth Sidious costume and went to that fan-film festival in Worcester, the 501st guys (except for you) didn't seem at all friendly or welcoming. That, and the political infighting, are why I haven't taken photos and submitted them for membership. Plus I'm afraid my brooch doesn't look professional enough, and I hate rejection.

501st

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"When I finished my Darth Sidious costume and went to that fan-film festival in Worcester, the 501st guys (except for you) didn't seem at all friendly or welcoming."

I wasn't at the Fan Film thing, but Brian was. From what I've heard the day was a mess and poorly organized, so a lot of the members were probably pretty annoyed about that (not to make excuses for bad behavior or anything - just to add a bit to it).

I know others that have gotten a similar cold reaction when showing up at events for the first time. Its too bad, because as a whole the group (the NEG at least) doesn't seem to be like that. True, not everyone will get along all of the time. In the end though we seem to pull together to put on some pretty amazing events.

I'm just dying to see the thing! I can't believe in all this time you haven't been able to come by a camera for it :)

Re: 501st

[mixedborder.livejournal.com]

Oh, I have a camera! What I don't have is someone to take the picture.

[developer.livejournal.com]

At least with poly drama someone is gettin' laid.

Goth drama still has no excuse expect that to be goth is to have drama.

[slickgothgurl.livejournal.com]

oh, how trew!

[isolatory.livejournal.com]

Ah, but simple the answer is! You cannot be Vader unless you have a button on your chest that you can push to call your mother so she can come pick you up.

Vader

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"You cannot be Vader unless you have a button on your chest that you can push to call your mother so she can come pick you up."

*snickers* :)

[slickgothgurl.livejournal.com]

i know who princess fiona is...but the rest you speak of... :blank look:

Costumes

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"i know who princess fiona is...but the rest you speak of... :blank look"

Anakin (Hayden Christenson) = Darth Vader. Before he's in the suit Anakin is first a good guy/Jedi, then a bad guy/Vader, then he's completely physically destroyed and put in the Vader suit to keep him alive. The group is debating whether the pre-toasted Vader is "cannon" or not for membership in the group.

As for the others, Sailor Moon is from an Anime aptly named the same thing and looks like a little girl w/ a Japanese uniform. Galadriel is from Lord of the Rings (Blond/Waify elf).

Re: Costumes

[slickgothgurl.livejournal.com]

hahah! i don't know any of this! but then again, i'm not into SW (as you know) or anime or LOTR.

but why can't people just dress up as the vader before the black mask because they like it? i mean, do they have to be approved or something?

this is so foreign to me...

Re: Costumes

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"but why can't people just dress up as the vader before the black mask because they like it? i mean, do they have to be approved or
something?"

People can wear whatever they want anywhere. To be a member of the 501st you need to be:
-over 18
-have a movie cannon quality costume
-have a "bad guy" costume

The group is debating endlessley whether Anakin in regular Jedi clothes (versus the Vader suit) is a "bad guy". In the new movie the Emperor calls him vader in the Jedi suit, he does bad stuff int he Jedi suit . . . I'd call that a bad guy. Others in the group are debating it for various reasons.

Why is the group so strict? We get to do cool-kids things like escort celebrities, get free trips to Vegas and stuff like that because we work with Lucas Films for various events. Hence, a high quality standard. I agree that there has to be rules/standards. I think this is taking it a bit too far though . . .

Re: Costumes

[slickgothgurl.livejournal.com]

oh, wow...i didn't know all that.

and yes, i think this is taking it a bit far as well. but i'm just an outsider looking in (with admittedly NO real idea of what the dynamics of it are).

[pilot-babe.livejournal.com]

I love that woman's reply!!! That's what this silly hobby should be about.

A lot of this goes on with the MWG as well. Sad. I'm guilty of quitting organized costuming fandom myself because I'm sick of all the behind-the-scenes silliness that has been going on for far too long (well that and the fact that I never have time to devote to events the way I'd like *whine*).

I thought it was supposed to be about having fun, celebrating our shared fanpersoness, and most importantly doing good works and making kids (and adults) smile. Far too much lately it's turned into junior high level elitism and bickering. >:-< Maybe the people behind all the negative stuff that goes on in the different clubs were picked on all through school and this is their chance for some payback or something.

[kyrene.livejournal.com]

Vader has been established, as per canon, to have been Vader pre-mask. Therefore, Vader minus the mask is acceptable.

Not only that, but Vader is both incredibly hot with or without the mask. Hence, I cannot see why people are complaining. More hot people to costume as. Please, bring on the hotness, please. There isn't enough in the world.

Amen, pass the dark chocolate M&Ms....

Vader

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"Vader has been established, as per canon, to have been Vader pre-mask. Therefore, Vader minus the mask is acceptable."

A logical person would think it was that simple :) Emperor says "Vader Rise", therefore, he's vader pre suit!

"Not only that, but Vader is both incredibly hot with or without the mask."

Amen!

"Hence, I cannot see why people are complaining. More hot people to costume as. Please, bring on the hotness, please. There isn't enough in the world."

I think people fear that some will do that costume but not be hot in it due to other issues (not having Hayden's likeness)

Oi.

[fieryredhead.livejournal.com]

Gotta love the drama. Glad that you two are still sane.

:p

[ex-dead-man403.livejournal.com]

That's too bad about the drama - isn't the whole point just to dress up and have a blast? Life is too damn short to argue about whether Anakin qualifies as one side or the other, especially if someone can actually pull the look off!