Director Steven Martinez has looked at dozens of videos about cosplay, and he’s not impressed. He and his team have carefully researched the history, lifestyles and industry behind cosplay, and what they have found is that the story is deeper than most films tend to suggest.
“I want a film that shows how cosplay affects people in their every-day lives,” Martinez says. “Their relationships, their outlooks on life. Because sometimes it’s just a hobby. But for some people it really changes everything.”
Although costuming at fan conventions has been popular since the 1940s, he says, its eruption into a multi-million-dollar industry is largely due to the fact that it has kept up with pop culture, forming an eclectic array of media representation from science fiction to anime and historical reenactment. It’s a way for very different people to engage in their passions. Martinez wants to talk to cosplayers across the U.S. and collect their stories. That is how “Days of Cosplay” was born. The documentary film project lead by Martinez is meant to show exactly what he and others fascinated by the cosplay phenomenon want to see — perspective. But that all depends on whether it gets funded.
His Miami-based team is launching a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter.com with the hopes that every-day Internet users will visit his page and donate money to make his dream a reality. The goal is set at $15,000.
“We need the money for equipment and travel expenses,” Martinez says. “Without that, we’re stuck. Otherwise, we know exactly what we’re doing.”
A feature of Kickstarter.com is that it only collects donation money once the campaign goal is met. Martinez must reach his goal by April 24 at 8 p.m. EST. or else none of the money pledged toward the project will go through. So far, a number of people have shown interest in the film in other ways. Some of them are skilled cosplayers and prop makers with stories of their own that they want to share. Others are simply passing the news along on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.
A local graphic designer and two musicians have volunteered to produce posters and a film score for the documentary once production starts. These contributions will be included among the many thank-you gifts that donors can receive when they pledge money toward “Days of Cosplay.”
“I’m really glad that so many people are as excited about the project as I am,” Martinez says. “It’s a team effort, definitely.” To fund the Kickstarter campaign, go to Kickstarter.com or visit DaysofCosplay.com for more information.
ABOUT STEVEN MARTINEZ
Martinez, 24, has been producing film projects for more than eight years. His works include music videos, short films, live concert recordings and wedding videos. He attended the University of Florida for lighting and design and Miami Dade College for film. He placed second at the University of Florida 2012 UFPA Film Festival in Gainesville, Fla. For more information about Steven Martinez, please visit DaysofCosplay.com.
