Hello everyone! Welcome to the Colossalcon East Craftsmanship Competition Information page! We are so thrilled to have you join us. I know so many of you are excited to sign up and get more information on our cosplay contest. And we are happy to introduce our cosplay contest rules and guidelines for this year.
Overview
On Friday and Saturday of the convention, contestants will have the opportunity to meet with our panel of judges to discuss their build and review their work for the competition. This is done behind closed doors and is not open to the public.
Awards will then be given out during the Masquerade event.
You and/or your whole group must have a valid Colossalcon East registration to compete.
Skill Divisions
A division is simply your placement and competition level. We advise all entrants to enter at the divisions/skill level they feel comfortable at within reason (see below).
Novice Division: This division is intended for those new to making their own costumes or performing on stage and have yet to compete much, if at all.
No more than 1 major award won previously at a comparable-sized convention or larger for their costumes or performances. These include “Best Of” awards (“Best Overall” or “Best in Class”) only. At your discretion, “Placed Award” (such as a 2nd or 3rd place award) and Honorable Mentions or Judges Awards, do not have to be considered.
Journeyman Division: This division is intended for those who are more experienced with creating their own costumes or performing on stage.
No more than 2 major awards won previously at a comparable-sized convention or larger for their costumes or performances. These include “Best Of” awards (“Best Overall” or “Best in Class”) only. At your discretion, “Placed Award” (such as a 2nd or 3rd place award) and Honorable Mentions or Judges Awards, do not have to be considered.
Master Division: This division is intended for those who have advanced experience with creating their own costumes or performing on stage.
More than 3 major awards won previously at a comparable-sized convention or larger for their costumes or performances. These include “Best Of” awards (“Best Overall” or “Best in Class”) only. At your discretion, “Placed Award” (such as a 2nd or 3rd place award) and Honorable Mentions or Judges Awards, do not have to be considered.
Note: The Cosplay Staff has the right to place a competitor in an appropriate division at their discretion.
Video Requirements
The Video Submission is Optional.
Contestants are welcome to submit a short video, showcasing their progress, process, and pets for the judges to review. No extra points are given for a video submission. This is just an optional thing that can help showcase all of your hard work and build process.
Video Length: MAX 5 minutes. Videos that exceed this time will be subject to disqualification. Videos must be uploaded as an unlisted video on YouTube and a link provided on your entry form. We will not be taking raw file formats.
Format Shot (for Cell Phones): Please make sure you are holding the phone horizontally/landscape/sideways and film as such. Filming should be in a well-lit area with a simple background so as not to distract from you and your costume.
Audio: Please make sure your audio is clear and easy to understand. Voiceovers are recommended while showing your costume, but not mandatory.
Must Include the following:
-Reference shot of the character being portrayed (front and back if possible)
-Front shot of you in full costume.
-Left and Right side shot
-Back shot
-detail close-ups of elements
-wig details (if applies)
-prop 360 and close-ups (if applies)
-SLOW 360-degree turn in full costume
-Three “action”/”in character” poses
This video is your opportunity to discuss your construction in detail with our judges. Tell the judges everything about how you made your costume.
Things you should talk about include:
-fabric choices
-construction methods
-any special methods you used to get around a problem in designing the costume.
We want to hear about every technique, fabric, and process you used to create your project. Please include progress pictures if you have them as all of our judges would love to see your construction.
Feel free to get creative with how you present your costume to us. You will not be judged on how flashy your video will be, but getting creative with it can make the process a little fun.
ADVICE FROM THE DIRECTORS
Start from the top of your costume and work your way down. This way, you can hit all the key points on your costume and walk through your details.
We ask that you do not include any SFX that could alter your costume in any way. Text, lower thirds, or any kind of graphics showing information about the costume are completely fine and encouraged if you can.
Judging
On the day of your judging, contestants will be required to meet with the judges in full competition costume. This will be done through scheduled timeslots that will be assigned at a later date. You will have the option of selecting your day and timeframe. If you have a preference, please include it in the notes, but note that we cannot accommodate everyone’s requests.
A photo will be taken with your entry number on it for reference by our photo team The judging session will last for 5 minutes and will be timed by a staff member. Your time begins when you start speaking to the judges. (This does not include your photo time.)
After Judging
After you have completed your judging, you will receive a badge for the Masquerade if you have chosen to walk during the fashion show. This is your backstage pass to get into the green room. You will be given instructions on where you need to report for the show. The judges will hold onto your build books until that evening once the judging is complete. You can collect your book in the green room that evening. We will lay them out on a table in the green room for you to collect.
If you opt to just watch the masquerade and not walk during our fashion show, we ask that you still come to the green room before the event so that you may collect your build book and then be shown to your seats for the masquerade by a staff member.
Sportsmanship In Cosplay Events
At numerous events across the country, displays of poor or unsportsmanlike behavior have been rampant. Like any competition, some will win, and others will not. At Colossalcon East, any and all displays of Poor Sportsmanship will not be tolerated.
Feedback sessions will be available with judges on Sunday for all judged events, and you may discuss your questions there. However, this is not the time or place to blame the judges for your loss. You may ask for constructive criticism and feedback. But if you are not prepared for any type of constructive feedback, this may not be the panel for you.
AI-Generated Images and Audio
Colossalcon East does not support the usage of AI-generated music, video, and images. Usage of these things for any of our cosplay contests is not permitted, and usage of said things will result in disqualification.
Just remember: anything submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
Stage information:
Stage Size: 24′ wide x 18′ deep
Catwalk Size: 6′ x 16′ bump
LED Wall Dimensions: For any performance wanting or requiring an interactive backdrop, the LED wall will be available. The wall is 8’x15′ with a 16×9 ratio and 1080p resolution.
For any questions, please check our FAQ and/or reach out to the cosplay team using the Contact Form.