Costume-Con 40 (CC40): Science Fiction & Fantasy Masquerade Gallery and Rules

CC40-SF-27a: Valkyrie Warrior

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Competition Staff & Rules

Staff:

Director: James Hinsey
Master of Ceremonies: Thomas G. Atkinson
Presentation Judges: Bruce MacDermott, Sharon Sbarsky, and Rae Bradbury-Enslin
Presentation Judges’ Clerk: Unknown
Workmanship Judge(s): Miri Baker (Millimetric Cosplay)
Official Photos available: https://dccosplayphotoshoots.pixieset.com/costumecon40-documentaryphotography/

Entries and Awards:

CC40-SF-01: A-Salt on the Sensibilities
Category: Assembled | Division: Journeyman | Source: Hospitality Suite at CC37 in Salem | Designed By: Zan Rosin & Joni Dashoff | Made by: Zan Rosin, Joni Dashoff, Marci Huston, Sheila Iserman & with Tiara by Carol Salemi | Presented by: Ann Catelli, Zan Rosin, Iona Richardson, Sarah Richardson, Irene Harrison, Debi Chowdhury, Joni Dashoff, Mark Roth, and Abigail Welsher (Photo ID: DC Cosplay Photo Shoots | Event Date: 2022)

CC40-SF-02: Alice Unraveled
Category: Re-Creation | Division: Master/Craftsman | Source: The video game Alice: Madness Returns, designed by American McGee of Spicy Horse studio | Designed by: Marko “TheSketchGuy” Horvatin | Made by: Bethany Padron | Presented by: Kristen Moffitt | Workmanship Award(s): Honorable Mention – Excellence in Construction | Presentation Award(s): Judge’s Choice (Photo ID: DC Cosplay Photo Shoots | Event Date: 2022)

CC40-SF-05: Making Waves
Category: Re-Creation | Division: Master/Craftsman | Source: The December Diamonds “Rainbow” Merman Ornament available at fine holiday retailers. | Designed by: Kevin Roche | Made by: Kevin Roche | Presented by: Kevin Roche | Presentation Award(s): Most Ornamental – Master (Photo ID: DC Cosplay Photo Shoots | Event Date: 2022)

CC40-SF-07: Art Nouveau Merida
Category: Re-Creation | Division: Master/Craftsman | Source: Art by Hannah Alexander inspired by Disney/Pixar’s film Brave | Designed by: Erin Card / Hannah Alexander | Made by: Erin Card | Presented by: Erin Card | Workmanship Award(s): Honorable Mention – Excellence in Embellishment | Presentation Award(s): Most Elegant Re-Creation – Master (Photo ID: DC Cosplay Photo Shoots | Event Date: 2022)

CC40-SF-09: Primalities
Category: Original | Division: Master/Craftsman | Designed by: Lisa Ashton, Karen Schnaubelt, Leslie Johnston, Nora Mai, and Sally C. Fink | Made by: Lisa Ashton, Karen Schnaubelt, Leslie Johnston, Nora Mai, and Sally C. Fink | Presented by: Nora Mai, Leslie Johnston, Karen Schnaubelt, Sally C. Fink, and Lisa Ashton | Workmanship Award(s): Best in Show | Presentation Award(s): Best in Show (Photo ID: DC Cosplay Photo Shoots | Event Date: 2022)

CC40-SF-13: Save the Last Dance for Me
Category: Recreation and Original | Division: Master/Craftsman | Source: Re-Creation costume based on the film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and Original inspired by McGonagall’s life story from Pottermore.com | Designed by: Rae Lundquist | Made by: Rae Lundquist | Presented by: Rae Lundquist and Keith E. Nelson | Presentation Award(s): Judge’s Choice (Photo ID: DC Cosplay Photo Shoots | Event Date: 2022)

CC40-SF-14: JSL Academy Graduation
Category: Original | Division: Master/Craftsman | Source: Current News | Designed by: Sharon Bass, Donald Eastlake, Jill Eastlake, Kevin Hewett, Rebecca Hewett, and Jennifer Skwarski | Made by: Sharon Bass, Donald Eastlake, Jill Eastlake, Kevin Hewett, Rebecca Hewett, and Jennifer Skwarski | Presented by: Donald Eastlake, Kevin Hewett, Jennifer Skwarski, Jill Eastlake, Rebecca Hewett, and Sharon Bass | Presentation Award(s): Most Humorous – Master (Photo ID: DC Cosplay Photo Shoots | Event Date: 2022)

CC40-SF-15: Sadric the 86th and His Empress
Category: Original | Division: Master/Craftsman | Designed by: Pierre E. Pettinger, Jr. and Sandy Pettinger | Made by: Pierre E. Pettinger, Jr. and Sandy Pettinger | Presented by: Pierre E. Pettinger, Jr. and Sandy Pettinger | Presentation Award(s): Judge’s Choice (Photo ID: DC Cosplay Photo Shoots |Event Date: 2022)

CC40-SF-16: Miss Minutes & Sailor Miss Minutes
Category: Re-Creation | Division: Master/Craftsman | Source: Marvel’s Loki series on Disney+ | Designed by: Robin Armstrong | Made by: Robin Armstrong | Presented by: Robin Armstrong with Greykell Dutton (Photo ID: DC Cosplay Photo Shoots | Event Date: 2022)

CC40-SF-20: Music of the Mash
Category: Re-Creation | Division: Master/Craftsman | Source: Phantom of the Opera musical and the song Monster Mash | Designed by: Jacqueline M. Ward, Catherine Leeson, and Mary Parulski | Made by: Jacqueline M. Ward, Catherine Leeson, and Mary Parulski | Presented by: Jacqueline M. Ward, Catherine Leeson, Eric Cannon, Mary Parulski, Steve Meserve, and Karen Siemens | Presentation Award(s): Best Mash-Up – Master (Photo ID: DC Cosplay Photo Shoots | Event Date: 2022)

CC40-SF-21: Two Little Goblins
Category: Original | Division: Journeyman | Designed by: Liz Scott and Laura Scott | Made by: Liz Scott and Laura Scott | Presented by: Liz Scott and Laura Scott | Presentation Award(s): Most Engaging Characterization – Journeyman (Photo ID: DC Cosplay Photo Shoots | Event Date: 2022)

CC40-SF-22: Queen Ravenna from Snow White and the Huntsman
Category: Re-Creation | Division: Journeyman | Source: The 2012 film Snow White and the Huntsman | Designed by: Colleen Atwood | Made by: Nile M. Wilson | Presented by: Nile M. Wilson | Workmanship Award(s): Best Mixed Media | Presentation Award(s): Best in Class – Journeyman | Other Award(s): Original Sewing & Quilt Expo Starter Package to Redeem for Classes (Photo ID: DC Cosplay Photo Shoots | Event Date: 2022)

CC40-SF-25: Magician Style
Category: Re-Creation | Division: Master/Craftsman | Source: Sakizo Illustrator | Designed by: Sakizo Illustrator | Made by: Sandra Bussière (La Corsetière) | Presented by: Sandra Bussière (La Corsetière) | Workmanship Award(s): Best in Class – Master | Presentation Award(s): Best Re-Creation – Master | Other Award(s): The SIWCG’s Dana Rae MacDermott Memorial Award (DRaMMA), The Chicagoland Costumers’ Guild Cement Overshoes (Photo ID: DC Cosplay Photo Shoots | Event Date: 2022)

CC40-SF-27: Valkyrie Warrior
Category: Original | Division: Journeyman | Designed by: Stitches and Sparkles | Made by: Stitches and Sparkles | Presented by: Stitches and Sparkles | Presentation Award(s): Most Wonderous Wings | Other Award(s): The SIWCG’s Dana Rae MacDermott Memorial Award (DRaMMA) (Photo ID: DC Cosplay Photo Shoots | Event Date: 2022)

CC40-SF-28: Chaos of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Category: Original | Division: Master/Craftsman | Designed by: Anastasia Holt and William Kennedy | Made by: Anastasia Holt and William Kennedy | Presented by: Anastasia Holt and William Kennedy | Workmanship Award(s): Best Original Design | Presentation Award(s): Best in Class – Master (Photo ID: DC Cosplay Photo Shoots | Event Date: 2022)

Rules:

Costume-Con 40 Science Fiction & Fantasy Masquerade

The Costume-Con 40 F&SF Masquerade celebrates creativity in our world, the worlds outside of us, and worlds yet to be explored. Want to be a renegade, a royal, a rogue, or an alien, a superhero, or your own original character? This is the place to do that! Bring your skills and imagination to the F&SF Masquerade.

To enter the F&SF Masquerade you must be a member of Costume-Con 40, as must any additional participants. You can register your membership for the convention here: https://costume-con40.org/shop/ to be taken to our Marketplace.

If you have any questions, please contact: [Removed].

The rules for the F&SF Masquerade generally follow the International Costumers’ Guild Guidelines for Ensuring Fair Competition. You may read them here: http://costume.org/wp/icg-guidelines-ensuring-fair-competition/. While our rules are similar to those for other masquerades, they are not identical. When in doubt, ask the Masquerade Director.

Masquerade Entrants Sign-up.

All entries are highly encouraged to sign-up before CC40 so we can be best prepared for tech rehearsals, even if you only think you’ll have a costume completed in time. There will be at-con sign-up as well. You will be able to update or change your information until the on-site F&SF Masquerade Sign-up Table closes.

At the convention, entrants must check-in at the F&SF Masquerade Sign-up Table. Each entrant (every person who will be on stage) must sign a Masquerade Release which you can download from the Sign-up form.

Entries in all Genre, Categories, and Skill Levels will be eligible for Best in Show awards for both Presentation and Workmanship.

The sign-up form is now available here.

Genre

For example: Anime, Fantasy, Science Fiction, etc. Fill this in to assist the Judges to fairly evaluate your costume.

Competition Categories

Re-Creation – a costume whose design is copied from a movie, video, television series, art, comics, theatrical presentation, book illustration, sculpture or other medium, showing at least one good view of the costume. Re-creation costumes are duplicates or design adaptations of the published design or work of someone other than the entrant. Re-creation costumes require documentation of source. A picture is a must and possibly a written description or sculptural piece which may accompany your registration forms and/or be turned in at the Masquerade Sign-up Table when checking in. Both the Workmanship and Presentation Judges will have access to this documentation.

Original – a costume inspired by a science fiction, fantasy, mythological, anime, alternate history, or other original source, but whose design is the creation of the entrant. Documentation about your costume, how you made it, and any other information is welcome and will be reviewed by the Workmanship Judges. Presentation Judges may review the documentation should they request it.  Entries based upon descriptions in books, online articles and such are not re-creations as there is no visual source for the entry. These entries will be considered in the Original Design category, and will have been “inspired by” the source material.

Assembled – a costume assembled from an assortment of pieces from different suppliers; when those suppliers were not all costume resources, you may use the “Assembled by” line on the Masquerade Sign-up form to indicate you did that. For instance, if you purchased some parts from a consignment shop, some from a donation store, and some from a costume shop, that would be considered an “assembled” costume. These costumes can be in competition for Presentation.

Competition Skill Levels

Skill levels are intended to ensure that both inexperienced and experienced costumers have a reasonably equal chance to win awards.

Young Fan: This level is limited to entrants younger than 13 years old (born after April 3, 2009) who are not part of an adult entry. It will be divided between entries made by a young fan and entries made by an adult that a young fan presents.

Novice: The Novice level is for beginners to costuming. You may consider yourself a Novice if:

this is your first Masquerade, or
you have not won any award previously in a Masquerade competition.

Journeyman: The Journeyman level is an intermediate level to allow further development of costuming skills. You should consider yourself a Journeyman if you have:

won an award as a novice at any regional competition, or
won an award at the Novice level in a Costume-Con F&SF, Worldcon or Anime North Masquerade.

Master/Craftsman: This is an open level. Anyone may enter. You must enter at this level if you are not eligible to enter as a Young Fan or at the Novice or Journeyman levels. You should consider yourself a Master/Craftsman if you have:

won three awards at the Journeyman level, or
won an award at the Master level, or
won Best in Show; or
have a costume Laurel, or
are a professional. Professional is defined as someone who earns a majority of their income from fashion or costume, including university faculty members.

Group entries should compete at the level of the group’s most experienced member who is an essential element of the entry. If in doubt, consult with the Masquerade Director.

An entrant, including a Young Fan, may enter at a more advanced level than the one for which they qualify. However, an entrant who then wins at that level may not subsequently compete at a lower level (see rules for the Masquerade you are entering as those rules may vary). If in doubt over the level at which to compete, consult with the Masquerade Director.

Awards

Workmanship:

Workmanship judging will take place in the Masquerade Green Room, generally before the show starts. These Judges will talk to you, and will want to see the best parts of your costume, up close and personal. Please let these Judges know specifically what you are most proud of in your costume and/or props, and be sure to tell them how you made your costume.

Please provide sufficient documentation for the Workmanship Judges to fairly and impartially evaluate your work. The Judges will have a limited amount of time to review your work and your documentation, so please, don’t write a novel. Printed photos, sketches, screenshots, and short written descriptions of your work are encouraged. Photos and any other documentation will be returned to you after the show or the next day at the SF&F Masquerade Sign-up Table Desk.

Often entrants may choose to have only parts of their costume judged, such as a staff, vest, or hat. If in doubt, visit with the Workmanship Judges anyway. Even if you’re not impressed with the work on your costume or props, they may very well be. Leave it to their judgment as to whether your work is special in the context of this competition.

Presentation:

The Presentation judges will be looking at your costume from the audience’s point of view. They will look at the costume itself and makeup, in addition to how well it works with the music, script, and blocking or choreography that you use on stage. Even a mediocre costume can win an award if it is presented well, and sometimes a great costume is passed over for lack of a coherent or entertaining presentation. Remember, funny is good, shorter is better, and short and funny or exciting is best!

Presentation Rules (F&SF Masquerade)

All the general stage presentation rules for Costume-Con 40 masquerades apply.

There will be no microphones available to entrants; the only person permitted to speak from the stage is the Master of Ceremonies (MC). The MC will be happy to work with you in reading a short script or to interact with you during your presentation. We prefer to format all scripts to the preference of our MC. The easiest thing will be for you to email your script ahead of your rehearsal to [Removed] Alterations may be made up until the actual rehearsal. Any changes after your rehearsal must be approved both by the MC and the Masquerade Director. Absolutely no changes will be accepted after one half hour before the show starts.

Each entrant may appear only once on stage. You may enter another costume, but it must be on another Costume-Con 40 member’s body.

The F&SF Masquerade is rated PG-13; there may be children in the audience. No flagrant nudity; there must be some display of skill in creating and executing a design. The Judges will not award what Mother Nature created. Remember, no costume is no costume.

Costumes that have won major awards (excluding Honorable Mention) for presentation or workmanship at previous Animé North, Costume-Con, or Worldcon competitions are ineligible to compete for an award, but may appear Out of Competition. Commercially made full costumes, purchased or rented, may be shown only Out of Competition. Exceptions for Assembled costumes require that the entry be significantly different than just changing minor pieces of the costume for competition.

There is no prohibition against presenting costumes that have been worn in the halls before the show.

The Masquerade Director has the full authority to eliminate anyone from the Masquerade on the grounds of bad taste, danger to self and/or others, violation of the above rules, or any other reason deemed sufficient. There is no appeal. Offers of cash and/or chocolate and/or libations will not help.

If you feel any or all of these rules don’t apply to you, you are wrong. If you feel you need an exception, you must convince the Masquerade Director long before the masquerade. Offers of cash and/or chocolate and/or libations will not help here either.

Tech Rehearsal

Entrants will be required to attend a tech rehearsal. This is an opportunity for the stage manager and the tech crew to work with you to assure that sound and lighting support your presentation. Entrants who do not participate in the tech rehearsal may not appear in the masquerade.

You need not wear costumes for the tech rehearsal; however, you should wear the shoes you will use for your presentation and any parts of your costume that will impede your movement or vision, or both. Please bring a part of the costume that represents its dominant color(s) for a lighting check.

The default lighting will be stage dark, lights rise on entry, fade to black at exit; other patterns may be arranged with tech.

General Stage Presentation Rules for Costume-Con 40

Safety

Safety is our paramount concern. There will be absolutely no flame, fires, sparks, or other fire hazards on stage. This is a legal requirement and is strictly enforced. Other special effects must be clearly described to the Masquerade Director and to the stage manager and tech crew at the tech rehearsal in order for us to determine that they are (1) legal and (2) safe. Strobe lighting, for example, has the potential to be harmful to members of the audience. Smoke or fog machines could set off the fire alarms.

The Stage Crew will be stationed in the wings at both the stage entry and the stage exit to help you up and down the stairs, move props on and off stage, and catch you if you stumble. You need to let us know how much assistance you need, especially if your vision is obscured by a mask or by not wearing your glasses, or if your costume limits your range of movement. The more assistance you need, the earlier you should let us know (preferably at the Registration Desk for your Masquerade).

There also will be a marked safety zone at the back of the stage and crew members at the front and sides of the stage to try to stop you from stepping off the stage by mistake. If you step into the safety zone, the crew will immediately halt your presentation and shout “STOP”. If you hear someone shout “Stop!” during your presentation, do so; you are in immediate danger of falling off the stage! However, if you dance, run, hop, skip, or jump so fast that the stage crew cannot stop you, you are responsible for your own safety.

Backstage can be a dangerous place. Follow crew directions and keep away from the electrical equipment. Small children must be under the supervision and control of a responsible adult at all times (both backstage and on stage).

Stage Presentation

Your presentation should be no more than 60 seconds on stage. If you have several participants on stage you may be allowed up to 90 seconds. Please email to discuss with the F&SF Masquerade Director if you think your presentation will be longer. The F&SF Masquerade Director has final approval.

If your entry includes displaying a weapon, the appropriate Masquerade Director must clear it and your routine ahead of time in order to ascertain that it will not harm other entrants, the Judges, or the audience. No sharp edges or points will be permitted. Before and after the show, weapons must be carried to and from the Green Room in secure wrappings and must be peace bonded.

Weapons that shoot or eject projectiles will not be permitted. If you intend to point a weapon at other members of your entry or at the Judges or audience, you must demonstrate in advance to the Masquerade Director that the weapon DOES NOT WORK.

Entrants may not use substances, including makeup or costume elements that could turn rancid or be smeared on or stain other costumes. This is generally known as the “No Peanut Butter” rule. All parts of your costumes must leave with you.

Entrants may not throw anything at the audience.

Costumes needing electric power must be self-contained – no extension cords.

No live animals (other than guide animals) may be used in any Masquerade.

We discourage the use of radio-controlled or other wireless devices as part of an entry. We do not know what sort of interference will exist in the hall during the show. It would be unfortunate to base your entry on something that doesn’t work when you are on stage.

Following each presentation, a Stage Crew member will make a single pass across the stage to remove small items (such as small props cast-off cloaks or cover-ups) left there by the entrant. If multiple items are left behind, or if the item is heavy, large, or requires special handling, the entrant should provide sufficient roadies to remove all props left on stage in a single pass. Items must be easily removed by hand – there is no time to wash or sweep the stage during a show!

Entrants should surprise the audience. NEVER surprise the Masquerade Director, the MC, the Tech Director, tech crew, and the Stage Crew. No exceptions to the “never surprise the crew” rule will be permitted and entrants who attempt to do so will be disqualified. If you are planning something unusual or unique, please inform the Masquerade Director well in advance of the masquerade.

Presentation Audio

Even if you are doing just a simple walk-on (e.g.: come on stage, make a couple of turns so that all parts of your costume can be seen, walk off), PLEASE bring recorded music that complements your costume! This can be in the form of a commercially produced CD or an audio file on USB or CD media. Do not assume that the tech crew has access to the internet (we don’t) or can download music files from your phone (we cannot!).

We strongly recommend you bring two copies of your media – one copy to give to the tech crew and a second copy for yourself in case of emergency. Each should be clearly labeled with your name and costume title, along with any additional instructions such as track number to be played for a commercial CD. We will make every effort to return your media to you after the show is over – see the tech crew immediately after the show or the Masquerade Desk the next day.

Sound files should be in the top level directory on USB media so we can find it easily. Ideally, there should be only one file on the USB drive and the file name should include your name and your entry name. Sound files on CD media should be burned as Audio CDs with a single track. Be certain to test the Audio CD, as we have experienced problems with some CD burners in the past.

If you are using only a music track from a commercial CD, the tech crew will typically start at the beginning of the track you select and fade out when you reach your time limit or exit the stage. If this works for you, nothing else is required. If you are using any other portion of a musical track, please bring in a previously edited version with your preferred starting point.

There will be no microphones available to entrants; the only person permitted to speak from the stage is the Master of Ceremonies (MC). You must PRE-RECORD all your presentation speech dialog, music and sound effects, or provide a simple music file for less complex presentations. The MC will be happy to work with you in reading a short script or to interact with you during your presentation but longer narrations should be recorded as described below.

Music Formats:

Uncompressed CD-quality (.wav) is preferred, if the source is available in that format, such as captured off a CD, otherwise leave it alone and bring what you have. If you are converting it from YouTube, make sure the original video is of high quality (such as from the official site) and use a conversion site that supports higher bit rates such as https://www.onlinevideoconverter.com/mp3-converter. If you are editing it yourself, even if you import an MP3 as your main music, edit it as a .wav and export it as uncompressed .wav. Capture any vocal / voice overs as .wav. This way your voice over will sound best. When you save the resulting mix from your editing program, save it as a .wav (uncompressed) format. If you have any questions, please contact us at tech@costume-con40.org. We will be glad to help!

Note: we really cannot accept taking a track off your phone, music player, or iDevice. Phones alas are best for listening, but not best for exporting.

Green Room

Come to the Green Room when it opens officially (approximately two hours before curtain time). Check in with the person at the check-in table. You will learn your number in the running order and will be assigned to a den of entries just before and/or after you, where you will be in the care of a Den Parent. Go to your Den, introduce yourself to the Den Parent assigned to you and take a seat. Please stay with your Den until it is time to go on stage.

Your costume must be completed before you get to the Green Room. No sewing, gluing, soldering, welding, other construction work or extensive make-up work may take place in the Green Room except the final assembly of large costumes and props or unexpected repairs. If you need anything, let the Den Parent assigned to you know. We plan to provide light refreshments and to have a staffed repair table should a costume need repairs. The repair table provides glue, safety pins, needles and thread, tools, basic makeup, and so forth. It is for last-minute repairs only.

Your Den Parent will see that your photo is taken by the Official Masquerade Photographer and by the photographer taking reference photos for the Judges. We expect that official photos will be available for purchase by you and other convention members, possibly the next day. Your Den Parent also will get you to the stage at the right time and in the correct order.

Your Den Parent will also accompany you to the Workmanship Judges should you choose to compete for Workmanship. We encourage everyone to go by and talk with the Workmanship Judges.

The Green Room and backstage area are intended for entrants, roadies, and masquerade staff only. Entrants are asked not to invite other friends or family into the Green Room. However, a parent or guardian of Young Fan entrants are required to accompany their children in the Green Room.

Photography

Official Photography: The Official Masquerade Photographer will photograph your costume(s) before the show starts. This is not optional.

Fan Photography: Fan photography may take place from the audience during the show, using available light (NO FLASH). For the safety of those on stage, use of flash photography during the show is strictly prohibited. The Masquerade Director will stop the show and have the house lights turned on until those using flash have been ejected from the hall. In addition, there probably will be an on-stage “photo run” for fan photographers after the last entry’s presentation (while the Judges are deliberating); if so, your participation would be optional.

Tips for a Successful Masquerade

Before the show, get some sleep!

Before the show, please eat. If you want to faint after you’ve been on stage, fine; however, we don’t want you to pass out from hunger or low blood sugar in the Green Room or on stage.

Before the show – rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.

Remember, this is a costume show, not a talent competition. Never bore the audience.

Don’t forget to enjoy yourself. Have fun!

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