Cosplay kings and queens get creative for Sci-Fi on the Rock

At Sci-Fi on the Rock, you never know who, or what, will walk down the aisle next.

For many, attending the convention in costume is the only way to go. People dress as aliens, super heroes, characters from major films and original creature creations. And the best costumes have been under construction for months.

A few weeks ago, a costume-making workshop was held at Memorial University. Dozens of cosplayers (costume players) crammed in with sewing machines, heat guns, drills and floor mats. Lots and lots of floor mats.

How it's made

Gary Murrin and Hamilton Cornish are veteran cosplayers who will be guest speakers at this year's SFOTR convention —They are also past winners of the George Street Mardi Gras costume contest.

Their creations are eye-popping, in size, realism and detail. But the most interesting aspect may be their choice of construction material.

"Basically, EVA foam is just floor mats. Children's floor mats." said Cornish. "We'll take it and basically cut it and shape it to make our different creations."

"It's very easy to cut, it's very easy to stick it together." said Murrin. "We can use the knives we have, wood burning tools, to give the various textures we need to achieve."

To see their work up close, watch the video above.

'I can't hang out ... I'm sewing'

Lily Andersen is another cosplay veteran, who works with a more advanced material called worbla. It's a thermoplastic, meaning it can be heated and molded to a person's body, creating a costume that fits like a bespoke suit.

Andersen has been working all month on her costume for this year's Sci-Fi on the Rock. But she said there's a big reward once the convention begins.

"Having the gratification of putting so much time into something, and then people being blown away and wanting photos and videos, it just makes all the hard work really worth it." Andersen said.

Even people making more conventional costumes are investing a ton of time. Rebecca Spurrell spent most of the workshop sewing her Rocket Raccoon costume (a beloved character from Guardians of the Galaxy). She said the con-crunch — the weeks leading up to a sci-fi convention — has largely taken over her life.

"Especially now that there's only a few weeks, all of my free time is spent on sewing and cutting out fabric and gluing. I basically just text all of my friends and tell them I can't hang out with them because I'm sewing!" Spurrell said.

But like Murrin, Cornish and Andersen, Spurrell said the reward is in the looks on people's faces when she dons her finished costume at Sci-Fi on the Rock.

"Especially when little kids recognize you, they get so excited about costumes and it makes me feel so good." Spurrell said.

CBCNL will have extensive coverage of Sci-Fi on the Rock, from Friday to Sunday. For more great videos, subscribe to the CBCNL YouTube channel.