Writing is not always glamourous.

Yesterday I managed one thousand words toward my current short story. With distractions and procrastination, I am happy with this accomplishment.  I hope the remaining five hundred word restriction will be enough to wrap it all up in a neat bow. It is not always easy to construct stories bound by a specific word limit. Usually, I let the characters write themselves. Sometimes they behave themselves and the story is completed in the allotted allowance. Sometimes not.

I have already heavily edited the first section of the story and culled  unnecessary dialogue and descriptions.   (Inner monologues can be useful sometimes). Some really badly constructed sentences are gone! They were useful, at the time, to get the plot idea on the page .. but hopefully they will never been seen by humam eyes again!  I edited yesterday's work and will review this section again with fresh eyes, possibly next week. Undoubtedly it will need more editing.

For now, I have just to wrap up the conclusion (already have basics on this), revisit two of the plot points and re-edit. I am sure I will need to lose some dialogue or possibly some description, depending on how long the conclusion is. We shall see. There is quite a bit more polishing left on this one. Hence I am now on the computer, transcribing some handwritten notes.

Today, I am taking a break and attending some May the Fourth Be With You celebrations.  We have all donned our Star Wars t-shirts (with a predilection for the Dark Side, it seems) and will be off to Burnside Library. Sean Williams is doing a reading. Maybe there will also be a little Free Comic Book Day shenanigans as well! After yesterday, I am feeling productive...

May the Force be with you.

Talent vs Popularity?

While spending way too much time on the computer (It was another hot day out), I was forwarded a link to this article: The Pursuit of Cosplay Fame. It is worth a read.

Just last weekend, some friends and I had been discussing a very similar topic in regards to cooking/talent and reality shows. Even  in 'cooking' competition shows, there are contestants (not so) subtly back stabbing and sewing seeds of disharmony, dissent and digusting lies, in some cases. (I watched an episode as an acquaintance loves  the show and recommended I watch it. I was hoping for some cooking tips and recipes... um... no). 

As a rule, I don't watch reality shows where contestants are 'voted off'. I can't stand the Machiavellian machinations and the bitching that that is associated with it. Unfortunately this seems to be engendering a culture of popularity contests vs admiration for ability or talent; this constant fodder from the television has the ability to reshape viewer thinking, over a period of time. Just like advertisements shape our buying and eating habits. Rather than being judged on  ability and talent, success is being judged by popularity instead, whether engineered or not.  This is not just in costuming... 

Before I go any further, I am letting you know that I am an old school costumer and the following is not a judgement on any costumers, but my personal outlook on costuming. Not everyone has the skills to make their own costume. They may buy it or have it made for them. I have no problem with that. As long, as they acknowledge the artist who made the costume. What is surprising, and a little disappointing,  in changing costuming practices, is the eye opener on how many costumers did not actually make any of their costumes, but claim they have. I feel for the tailor who made the costume should be acknowledged for their work; the model is lauded for how well it is worn. It is a bit like stealing the copyright of a artist or photographer by claiming the work. 

I digress.. sorry.. 

Talent and skill should be recognised! Some costumers are bloody brilliant at their work and their skills could rival professionals in theatre or film. But they don't get the time of day, by many, because they are not a perfect model, or don't have the numbers praising their blog. They should be judged on their skills, not just how popular they are, how many 'likes' or 'followers' they have or how drop-dead-gorgeous they are. If you truly like their work and skill, then they deserve your praise for costuming, whether they have better glamorous photos on the web or not. 

Next time you see someone in costume, don't just check out how sexy they look, how many groupies they have, how professional their photos look, how spiffy their website or blog is or whether you recognise the name or not. Check out their costume, the work involved and the skill required to make it - no matter what size they are, or how popular their character is. And please, don't criticize them because they don't live up to the media's expectation of 'beauty' or if they don't have the minimum requisite likes  that some consider the pinnacle of fame.

This also goes for artists or writers, in fandom or no.

Popularity is just a concept. Talent actually produces something. The popularity will fade, but their skills can only improve if they are fostered and encouraged.

Portrait of a convention

Today, is the second day of a pop culture convention here. Day 2 of taking more photos! I decided to try to restrict myself to only my prime 50mm lens so I could concentrate on composition and have the added bonus of a larger aperture; there would be a lot of people, in the background, and the smaller depth of focus meant that the subject would 'pop' with clarity, leaving a more unfocused background so the viewers' attention is less distracted. 

This lens also seems to be a favourite for portrait photography and I can see why. It has become my favourite, as I have mentioned in previous posts. As you may also be suspecting, I love getting in close and personal, with a lot of my photos. This lens is perfect for this. However, occasionally I want a full length shot, I have to take several (and then a few more) steps away from the subject. This is interesting as much that I have read, about this lens, usually mentions that the photographer has to be willing to step in closer for a shot. 

I have been attending SF conventions, since the 1980s. I love meeting up with friends, dressing up as my favourite characters (and the buzz and satisfaction of creating the costume myself). Secondary, but I cannot deny a big part, is meeting the actors that create my favourite characters. We used to attend fan cons, with any (usually little) profit being given to charity. We had fun and interesting panels, often with the GOH (guest of honour) participatining, discussions on scripts, characters, sometimes even philosophy and metaphysics! And the charity auction, often with momentos donated by the GOH. These days, the panels are now just 'talks' by the guests, with some questions. While entertaining, is not really the same intellectual fodder. (oops, that is sounding really old and grumpy)... I do miss those smaller, more personal conventions, I must admit. What I don't like now, is the commercialism of it all. Large lines that take hours to get to meet/see the actor for 3-5 seconds. 

Conventions have changed. I cannot do anything about that. I can just sigh heavily and reminisce about the past.  What I can do is try to find other things to enjoy about them. Yesterday, Richard Dean Anderson greeted us to the photo session, with open arms "Welcome to the Carlisles!" (my thought was how the... then realised our SGU uniforms had our names on them. Duh!) J G Hertzler (General Martok, Star Trek), in full Klingon regalia (it was so cool, I have always wanted a Klingon costume of that calibre!), passed us in the hall. I had my hair in a long braid. He stopped, smiled and asked it was my own hair. I confirmed the fact. He gently tugged it and told me about his sister used to have braids and he would pull them.  I have also found that the larger conventions can provide a smorgasbord of photo opportunities. So many people, so many costumes, so many colours! 

... and just occasionally a brilliant shot that I will treasure. Just like the new memories I collect.