Welcome to the Callous Blog!GTMACCON 2011 - My Report
Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Sunday, October 23, 2011 Under: News, Announcements, Events
I'm a relative newbie when it comes to the cosplaying culture. However, last October 22nd, 2011, I was immersed in it more than I have ever been in the past. The first-ever Games Toys Manga Anime Cosplay Comics Convention (GTMACCON, pronounced "jee-tee-mah-con") event decided to do something different and feature a cosplaying competition that showcased only indie comic characters created by Filipino artists.
I admired the vision of GTMACCON founder Kit Perez and Andrew Villar of Ambush Comics and the thought of Dr. Rianne alongside costumed superheroes and crimefighters was an intriguing one. It would be like Charlie Brown placed next to Batman or Son Gokou! I then presented my cartoony comic strip characters from Callous Comics to the cosplaying world.
Cosplayer Veronica Vergara
I admired the vision of GTMACCON founder Kit Perez and Andrew Villar of Ambush Comics and the thought of Dr. Rianne alongside costumed superheroes and crimefighters was an intriguing one. It would be like Charlie Brown placed next to Batman or Son Gokou! I then presented my cartoony comic strip characters from Callous Comics to the cosplaying world.
Cosplayer Veronica Vergara
My memory was good enough to recall a young cosplayer who purchased Callous Comics before and thankfully she was interested to play Dr. Rianne! So Veronica Vergara and I began our preparations for the contest. The costume was easy enough. Scrubs, white lab coat, stethoscope, done! But she had the idea of having a Cal Duck plush doll as well. I asked around if anyone would be able to make one but no one I knew could. So I decided to get myself a Donald Duck plushie and give it a makeover!
Nurse, pass the glue gun please...
Cal Duck!
Nurse, pass the glue gun please...
Cal Duck!
The week leading up to GTMACCON was a busy one with preparations and daily routine that I didn't even have time to draw comics! Finally, the day of the event arrived and it was my first time to see Nica as Dr. Rianne. I thought she looked great! Those who were familiar with Callous Comics instantly recognized her! Of course, it helped that she had a Guardian Duck with her.
Dr. Rianne Nicah and Cal Duck... cosplayed!
Nica and I representing Callous Comics!
(upper photo from Kit Perez)
Indie comic artists had an area to exhibit their books. Also pictured here is Gio Paredes who does Kalayaan
With fellow comic artists Mel Casipit, Paul Michael Ignacio, Gio Paredes, Ramil Antonio Ibay, and Gener Pedrina
Also with GTMACCON founder Kit Perez, BeL San Juan (the wife!), Nica Vergara, and Cal Duck
(photo from Kit Perez)
Hiding behind a guitar amplifier, I was ready to play puppeteer to Cal Duck while speaking his lines
Rianne and Cal Duck LIVE! (photo from Mel Casipit)
Bravo!
All the cosplay contest participants!
Is there a doctor in the house? The Webcomic Doctor amidst superpowered greats, mystical beings, and supernatural hunters. I guess every now and then they could use some medical help! (photo from Kit Perez)
Dr. Rianne Nicah and Cal Duck... cosplayed!
Nica and I representing Callous Comics!
(upper photo from Kit Perez)
Indie comic artists had an area to exhibit their books. Also pictured here is Gio Paredes who does Kalayaan
With fellow comic artists Mel Casipit, Paul Michael Ignacio, Gio Paredes, Ramil Antonio Ibay, and Gener Pedrina
Also with GTMACCON founder Kit Perez, BeL San Juan (the wife!), Nica Vergara, and Cal Duck
(photo from Kit Perez)
One thing Nica and I were a bit ill-prepared for was the participants' presentation. We had five minutes to do a little skit with our characters. Most had a full-on elaborate action scenes where their characters fought villains of some sort. It was great to watch! Then it was our turn.
Dialogue is a vital component of Callous Comics, so I decided to show Rianne and Cal's first meeting on stage with Nica. My wife, BeL, and I did live voice overs (she spoke for Rianne and I for Cal Duck) while I did meager puppeteer work behind a guitar amplifier. Nica apparently did well acting out the dialogue as Rianne (I couldn't tell, I was hiding behind a speaker)!
Dialogue is a vital component of Callous Comics, so I decided to show Rianne and Cal's first meeting on stage with Nica. My wife, BeL, and I did live voice overs (she spoke for Rianne and I for Cal Duck) while I did meager puppeteer work behind a guitar amplifier. Nica apparently did well acting out the dialogue as Rianne (I couldn't tell, I was hiding behind a speaker)!
Hiding behind a guitar amplifier, I was ready to play puppeteer to Cal Duck while speaking his lines
Rianne and Cal Duck LIVE! (photo from Mel Casipit)
Bravo!
All the cosplay contest participants!
Is there a doctor in the house? The Webcomic Doctor amidst superpowered greats, mystical beings, and supernatural hunters. I guess every now and then they could use some medical help! (photo from Kit Perez)
The Participants:
1st Place - Boy Ipis
2nd Place - Kalayaan
3rd Place - Trese
In the end, I had a great time! I learned a lot from my cosplayer, Nica, as well, as she provided some interesting insights on the cosplaying world and philosophy.
It's incredibly heartwarming that so much affection is being given to the local indie comic community. Hopefully there'll be more contests and events showcasing such characters and series and that GTMACCON will grow bigger each year!
Thank you so much to Kit Perez, Andrew Villar, and everyone who attended and participated! It was a wonderful opportunity and a delight to be a participant!
But wait, there's more! See more pics from the event and Cal Duck schmoozing with other cosplayers!
Update (October 25, 2011):
Gener Pedriña was nice enough to post a video of the Callous Comics entry. Enjoy!
- Gio Paredes' Kalayaan
- Freely Abrigo's Kapitan Tog
- Paul Michael Ignacio and Gilbert Monsanto's Boy Ipis
- Mel Casipit's Prince Eric
- Gener Pedriña’s Narra
- Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo’s Trese
- Matt Jabanette’s Kapayapaan
- Carlo Jose San Juan's Callous Comics
- Jeff Benz’ Junior
- Ray Adrian Necor Magbanua's Luzviminda
- Ramil A. Ibay's Maso
1st Place - Boy Ipis
2nd Place - Kalayaan
3rd Place - Trese
In the end, I had a great time! I learned a lot from my cosplayer, Nica, as well, as she provided some interesting insights on the cosplaying world and philosophy.
It's incredibly heartwarming that so much affection is being given to the local indie comic community. Hopefully there'll be more contests and events showcasing such characters and series and that GTMACCON will grow bigger each year!
Thank you so much to Kit Perez, Andrew Villar, and everyone who attended and participated! It was a wonderful opportunity and a delight to be a participant!
But wait, there's more! See more pics from the event and Cal Duck schmoozing with other cosplayers!
Update (October 25, 2011):
Gener Pedriña was nice enough to post a video of the Callous Comics entry. Enjoy!
In : News, Announcements, Events
Tags: gtmaccon cosplay costume play cosplaying indie komik comic characters filipino
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Caz is a practicing licensed physician, professional voice actor/talent, writer, and cartoonist. He has been working on the Callous comic strip since 1996, winning several of The LaSallian's Silver Quill awards for his work. He has written several published short stories.
He currently lives in the Philippines with his wife and two children.