Cosplay Call 2022

Submit your cosplays to the 3rd Geek/Art CONfluence comic con, organized through Syracuse University!

This year we hope to have the CON be both in-person and online, and hope to have both in-person and online components to the cosplay contest as well. If Covid conditions change we will switch the in-person contest to a live Zoom event, only. The CON is March 27, 2022.

Submissions for the online cosplay contest are now closed.

We recommend that participants for the in-person cosplay contest sign up in advance, but we also welcome contestants to join the day of the CON.

The winners for both the online and in-person contests will be revealed during the CON on March 27.

See our Judges at the end of this page!

ONLINE CONTEST DETAILS

We have two separate online categories: Photos and Videos. Submissions for both are now closed.

Online photos and videos will be posted here for everyone to see! We will also play a slideshow of the online photos and videos during the CON’s Zoom.

Photo Category:

Include:
• your name and/or cosplay name
• the name of your character
• the show/game/comic etc. that the character is from–also note if your costume is a particular version
• one photo that shows your full body/costume, from head to feet
– You may send up to 4 additional photos to show details or show how parts of your costume move (for instance: picture with wings open and picture with wings closed)
– You may send up to 4 additional photos to show details or show how parts of your costume move (for instance: picture with wings open and picture with wings closed)
• a reference image of your character, unless your cosplay is an original character
• a brief textual description for each photo or image provided, including your reference image

Video Category:

Videos can be skits/dances/whatever, with a single person or multiple people.

Videos must be 1 minute or less and family friendly. Yes, that’s short. Less is more, pack in the greatness!

Include:
• your name and/or cosplay name
• the name of your character
• the show/game/comic etc. that the character is from–also note if your costume is a particular version or costume for the character
• a reference image of your character, unless your cosplay is an original character
• a brief textual description of your reference image
• a brief textual description to accompany your video link, summarizing key features of video
• a link to your video
– Don’t email the actual video. Email Chris a link to your video on Youtube, Dropbox, Google Drive, TikTok, etc. Videos that include someone else’s work (for instance TikToks where you react to someone else’s original video) MUST INCLUDE the original person’s name/username etc. so as to give them credit. Please be sure that your video has English subtitles, whenever possible.

IN-PERSON CONTEST DETAILS

The in-person contest will be held during the CON in the Shaffer Art Building on the Syracuse University campus on March 27. We will also broadcast it live on Zoom.

Anything that looks like a weapon must be kept under wraps except in the actual cosplay contest room. Standard “safe weapon” rules apply–nothing that can actually shoot, nothing that would hurt somebody if we whacked or poked them with it. We reserve the right to temporarily confiscate any accessories that we deem to be too dangerous, solely on our judgement, and will return them after the show.

Masks must be worn as a deterrent against Covid-19 while inside, according to Syracuse University policy.

We recommend you send in the following (using the form above) before March 27, but you can also show up as a contestant the day of the CON and give us this information in person:
• your name and/or cosplay name
• the name of your character a particular version or costume for the character
• the show/game/comic etc. that the character is from–also note if your costume is a particular version or costume for the character
• a reference image of your character, unless your cosplay is an original character
• a brief textual description for any image(s) that you provide

GENERAL RULES AND TIPS

Costumes can be from any genre, including original characters and mash-ups.

You must have made/altered at least 75% of your costume, unless it is a Closet Cosplay, in which case please label it as a Closet Cosplay.

You cannot submit the same costume in more than one category. You may, however, participate in more than one category if you enter different costumes in each category.

We recommend taking pictures/videos in GOOD LIGHTING and with GOOD FOCUS!

All images/videos that we receive will be publicly posted on http://www.geekartconfluence.com and other social media platforms. We will also photograph all participants at the in-person contest. By submitting your images/videos to us, or by allowing us to photograph you, you are granting us permission to post those images or videos publicly on these and other sites, and to use them as publicity and documentation for the CON this year and in future years.

We reserve the right to refuse cosplays that are offensive in nature, based on our judgment.

Once again, please include textual descriptions of your images, and subtitles on your videos, so they can be appreciated by an inclusive audience.

TL;DR: apply through this Google Form!

PRIZES

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories. All prizes will be announced online and in person during the CON on March 27.

Online Photos:

Grand Prize, $100; Judges’ Choice awards, $50 each.

Online Videos:

Grand Prize, $100; Judges’ Choice awards: $50 each.

In-Person Photos:

Grand Prize, $100; Judges’ Choice awards: $50 each.

Audience’s Choice:

In the week before the CON, anyone can vote on social media for their favorite Online Photo and Online Video.

In the week after the CON, we’ll post images of all the in-person cosplays, and anyone can then vote on social media for their favorite In-Person cosplay.

We will award an Audience Choice prize of $50 for the cosplays with the most votes in each of those three categories.

ONLINE CONTEST JUDGES

Jay/Jazmine Cosplays

Jay is a nonbinary femizenting cosplayer who was Assigned-Male-at-Birth and uses she/her pronouns.

Originally from North Pole, Alaska, she joined the U.S. Navy after high school to become a broadcast journalist. She was assigned overseas in Spain, Iceland, Japan, and Afghanistan; aboard two ships; and as a drill instructor at Navy Boot Camp. Retiring after 20 years of honorable service in 2015, she continued to serve by teaching military broadcasters for the Department of Defense for five more years.

Under the stage name ‘Jazmine Cosplays,’ Jay has been cosplaying since Awesome Con 2016, shortly after she decided to begin her gender transition. She likes to portray strong, independent women like Samus Aran from Metroid, Jean Grey from X-men, and Silk from Spider-Man. She works with talented designers, tailors, wig stylers, prop makers, and make-up artists to create her looks, then presents them at conventions and online. She is happy to have received tons of positive support from the cosplay, LGBTQ, and geek communities.

“Never let anyone tell you who you can or cannot cosplay,” Jay says. “No matter the gender, height, age, or skin color: Cosplay what you love, and love what you cosplay.”

Jay is wearing a cosplay of Elastigirl's classic red and white costume from the Incredibles. She is leaning against a wall with her hands on her hips and her ankles crossed.

Jay is wearing a cosplay of Jean Grey's 1990s blue and yellow X-men uniform from the comic and animated series. She has one hand to her temple and one hand reaching toward the camera, as if reading your mind.

Jay is wearing a cosplay of Samus Aran's blue Zero Suit from the Metroid game series. She is holding a paralyzer pistol in one hand and making a fist with the other, while a baby metroid rests on her shoulder.

Wendell Smith, Sr./Scorpking Costuming

Wendell Smith, Sr. is a former active duty Marine turned cosplayer, actor and producer. He graduated from Coppin State College, well today it’s called Coppin State University. He also attended Howard University, for a MA in Public History, with side certification work in Women’s Studies.

Smith has been blessed to appear on the cover of the Cosplay Variant comic books, Black Panther #7. He’s a favorite of Smith’s, and he currently cosplays many different versions of T’Challa and his father T’Chaka. He is a budding actor who has acted in roles as an extra, as well as a few principal characters.

In the world of Cosplay, Smith has done numerous characters, but has an affinity for his portrayals of Thanos, Apocalypse, Black Panther, Kitt Pryde, and his Sith characters.

He has been honored to have judged multiple costume contests at various cons over the past 10 years. Smith won best male villain for his own Sith creation at the Baltimore ComicCon.

When not called by name, Smith is known as Scorpking Costuming. He has been making many of his own costumes over the past 11 years. Costuming is a fun outlet for him. Cosplay is something that has become a part of his life.

Sir Agreus, the very wealthy Puck and love interest from Carnival Row

Grogu has always been under Mandalorian protection.

IN-PERSON CONTENT JUDGES

Kate McKay/Andromeda’s Alchemy

Kate McKay has been judging cosplay contests for the last 9 years at some of the largest conventions in Central New York. This year, she has taken on the role of Cosplay Director for Nococon, a convention in Watertown that will be happening in June. She takes pride in not only assessing cosplayers, but encouraging others to try out cosplay, and her enthusiasm for it is infectious. When she isn’t judging contests, she has entered and won cosplay contests for her own work. Kate is also one of the coordinators for Syracuse Cosplayers, a large group dedicated to promoting community and growth of cosplay around all of New York. Kate owns and operates Andromeda’s Alchemy, where she specializes in costumes and other fabric arts. Her commission work spans a wide spectrum of clientele, ranging from dance studios to large nonprofit groups. She takes pride in not only her work, but her dedication to the cosplay community. Kate believes there is room for everyone, and she truly means everyone, to be a cosplayer in their own way.

James P. McCampbell

Freelance illustrator James P. McCampbell was born in Toledo, Ohio in 1978. His mother majored in fine art and his father studied and worked professionally as journalist for various newspapers. From their professions he developed a love of the visual arts and the written word. Later in junior high school he was exposed to comic books/graphic novels.

Since then he has been an avid collector of comic books (as well as music albums and various films). This comic book influence has had a profound of effect on his art, which carried over to his art studies at Onondaga Community College and briefly at a Syracuse University.

Among James’s many mentors he has received critical support and instruction from the late local painter Michael Moody, cartoonist Frank Camuso and prolific comic book inker/artist Randy Elliott.

Today he works as a freelance illustrator (with occasional graphic design work).

His art frequently pays tribute to the aesthetic of contemporary comic book art (with a focus on fan art and occasional commission work). Other important influences are alternative rock/experimental music , video games and horror and sci-fi cinema.

James P. McCampbell has had work formally shown in Syracuse at the Everson Museum, The Syracuse Poster Project, The Syracuse International Film Festival, various horror film events at the Palace Theatre on James Street, RetroGameCon, The Syracuse Jazz Fest and through poster and flier designs done in collaboration with the non-profit organization known as The 100 Black Men of Syracuse.

He also makes many appearances at local unjuried art shows, comic book conventions and video game tournaments.