How to Be in Character Without Really Trying
This panel has inspired me to create a “Unleash Your Inner Beyonce” workshop at east coast conventions. Essentially, this was hosted by Partners in Crime Photography, having had done photoshoots with them in the past, they are very fierce about getting characters to look like characters. Allow me to explain. There’s more to posing that to just looking pretty. For example, Sailor Jupiter is a tough cookie, she takes no prisoners. She has the power of lightning and her personality is just as strong. A critique the panel had is that not many cosplayers really show character in their cosplay photos. This was a workshop to help people gain confidence in being more like the character. We all stood up and said an attack phrase of what our character would say. In my case, “Mars Flame Sniper!” This panel allowed us to feel much more comfortable taking risks where certain poses may not look pretty or rehearsed, but rather, poses that are much more in the moment leaving a stronger and resounding impression. Now if only I could see my Cure Marine and Azusa photos from last Anime Expo…

Food Trucks
One of the downsides of Anime Expo being in LA is that there are hardly any grab and go places where you can get a meal for under $10. The food trucks came back! I stopped by the Mighty Boba truck about twice during the weekend. For about $10, I can get spicy popcorn chicken and jasmine tea. There were fewer food trucks from last year and we did not have the canopy set to keep people in the shade. I do like the food trucks for Anime Expo. However, because of the heat during the weekend and the need for some people to be at certain places at certain times, the wait can be long for food to arrive. I ended up waiting almost half an hour for my food to arrive. This could be solved by Anime Expo having more food trucks for 2014 and a general seating area so that people stay in the shade and eat.

Macguyver Power, Make Up!
Hosted by a professional make up artist, Makeup Macguyver described ways where you can use drug store make up and use it in cosplay. The artist had a live demonstration and was calling up volunteers in the audience. Methods of using drug store lipstick, liner, powders, etc in how to create effects on the face and body. We were given demonstrations on how to make scars and fake blood. While the artist used her own professional kit, it would have been nice if she used drug store make up from CVS or Walgreens to show how just as effective it is compared to a professional set up.

Entertainment Hall
This year, Anime Expo made the most out of West Hall. Instead of using it for main events or a registration holding room, Anime Expo created their first ever Entertainment Hall. There were photo studios set up by Cosplay Photographers where attendees can get a professional grade studio photo taken for free and posted on the Anime Expo facebook page. There were dioramas set up where cosplayers, lolitas, and anyone else can take photos under the cherry blossom trees, a Victorian mausoleum, Japanese classroom, abandoned spaceship, and an Evangelion cockpit. This was a very creative addition to Anime Expo. It shows that they do care about engaging cosplayers and attendees more into the convention. While I do love taking photos in South Hall, it can get overcrowded at times. The Entertainment Hall was a nice way to get nice photos without feeling sardined in. The only critique I had was the lighting, but otherwise, people were courteous and nice to wait their turn to take photos.

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