Spores Productions: from cosplay to fan filmmaking
Authors: Blazquez, J. and Olesen, G.
Editors: Close, S. and Stein, L.E.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 9781032717364
Abstract:In 2021, two cosplayers, Abi Le Guilcher and Nieke Tebeest, met for a photoshoot with a freelance photographer. Since the plan was to make some cosplay video tests, they thought it would be a good idea to call some fellow cosplayers to come along. They did not expect that a simple meetup would lead them to produce a 27-minute fan film adaptation of the videogame franchise “The Last of Us” with more than 20 other people. The movie, Project Spores: All We Lost, was released on YouTube on the 19th of February 2022, nearly a year before the official TV series premiered on HBO. It could have all ended as a one-off experience but, instead, the group of cosplayers continued working together under the label Spores Productions, setting up crowdfunding campaigns in order to fund the making of more “cosplay fan films”, while providing opportunities to others for joining their projects.
This chapter explores how cosplay have impacted fan filmmaking in Spore Productions. The text delves into the role of these cosplay fan filmmakers as positive gatekeepers, prioritizing inclusivity, diversity, and affectivity in the casting process as well as the transferrable skills needed to carry out their projects.
Source: Manual