JENN MARVEL - COSPLAY WITH A KICK

My back hurts. My mind is a mess. And a small little voice at the back of my elbow is telling me never to drink vodka and washing-up liquid, ever-ever again. Still. These things don't really matter all that much within the scheme of things. Hell no. My marvelous mate Jenn matters. That's what. Here. Check this out to see why.





1) What are your own origins, Jennifer? Plus what path did you take in life before you got to where you are today?   When I was 7 years old I decided I wanted to work on cartoons / the film industry -- mainly animation -- for Disney movies, because back then everything was hand drawn. So I followed the path of the artist.

I always excelled in art and drawing in school. Then I went to Wexford school for the arts for high school. There I took over 18 art classes building up my portfolio to continue on my path. I then went to Durham College and was there for 4 years taking 3D Animation and Digital Production.

In my second year of college my fiance and I had a beautiful baby boy who has changed my life forever. I love him with all my heart. He is 6 now. 

Going to school, and taking care of a baby, was very-very difficult, but I never gave up. In my 3rd year I met a professor by the name of Peter Hudecki, who inspired me and taught me I was an amazing story teller. I then decided i wanted to go into Compositing / VFX. I applied to the 1st year VFX post grad program at Seneca @ york.

Just before I graduated I got a gig for a Indie filmed called Good Satan. Then once I graduated I started working at Stereotech / Eyeon Software. There I worked on films such as 'Harry Potter', 'Hugo', 'Annonymous', 'Journey 2: The Mysterious Island', 'Immortals', and 'Dolphin Tale'. I then got an amazing opportunity to work at 'Image Engine' in Vancouver. Their claim to fame is 'District 9', I couldn't pass it up.

So I went there and I worked on Elysium. When I came back to Toronto I worked at 'Intelligent Creatures' on a film shot in Canada, 'A Dark Truth'. After that I moved on to 'Acme Digital Pictures' where I worked on the science channel show 'Dark Matters Twisted but True'. When the show ended I went back to 'Intelligent Creatures' where I worked there on 'Orphan Black', 'First Martian War', 'The Husband', 'Ice Soldiers' and 'Stage Fright'. I am currently working for 'Keyframe Digital productions' on various projects like 'Lost Girl', 'Warehouse 13' and 'Ghosts of the Pacific'.

I love what I do.

2) What are the most persistent comments you've received from your fans?   The most persistent comments from fans usually are compliments on my work. Umm... I get a lot of requests for different costumes but for the most part all my fans are very respectful and very positive. I get a lot of requests for tutorials or how to make things.

3) What is your ‘regular’ job? And does it in any way shape or form aide you as a Cosplayer?   I am a visual effects artist. I work on Feature film and television shows. More specifically I am a Compositor. So basically if you aren't familiar with the term, I take elements both live action and CG (computer generated) images / video and assemble them together seamlessly  -- for example 'green screen'. I make the "movie magic" happen, digitally on the computer.

Some shows I have worked on range from 'Harry Potter: The Deathly Hallows pt 1', 'Elysium', 'Journey 2: The Mysterious Island', 'Anonymous', 'Orphan Black', 'Lost Girl' and 'Warehouse 13'. I am also currently a content creator for for the geek website Geek Portal on Facebook.

4) How did your friends, family, and work colleagues first react to the news that you were a model?   Most of my Friends are cosplayers, so it isn't a big shock. Usually when my friends / family/ co-workers find out, they either have no idea what it is or they think its very cool. I've had a few people laugh or make a joke but not in a negative way. My family supports me a lot, they think what I do is really cool and are very supportive of the things I do, in all aspects of life.

5) How do you decide what Cosplay costume to wear for a convention? And who makes them?   I have a huge cosplay wish list, so usually, depending on what is up next on my list, what I decide on wearing. OR depending on which of my friends are going we plan out together what we are wearing. For example, at 'Fan Expo', we had a huge Marvel heroes shoot planned. So my friends and I did X-Men characters.

Other times the weather is a factor -- whether the event is inside or outside. How big the event is, whether or not I want to wear something comfy, or something that is harder to move around in. How many people are at the event, don't want to wear something with huge wings or big props in large crowds of people.

I make all my own costumes. There may be an occasion I might commission something if i don't have time. Or I buy things like boots or gloves. I am not great at sewing so depending on what costume I am making will depend what I make from scratch and what I buy and reuse to create costumes. I am very crafty and resourceful when I make costumes. I use a lot of hot glue and foam in a lot of my cosplays.

6) What have you learnt about yourself whilst being a Cosplay model? And were their any unforeseen obstacles you had to contend with?   Something I have learned about myself is that I am role model. I never thought I would have other people look up to me, or be so interested in the things I do. The biggest thing I have had to overcome, is being comfortable with my body. Being someone who isn't a size 2 and being self conscious about it was probably the hardest thing I have struggled with and still do from time to time.

7) What was the best / worst convention you ever attended?   The best convention I have been to this year is a tie between Niagara Comic Con, and Ottawa Comic Con. Ottawa was the furthest convention in Canada I've been to so it was a fun little trip and a really good experience. No lines. No big crowds. I enjoyed being able to see celebs with out having to wait in a long line up. Niagara was extra special for me because I got the chance to meet Jason David Frank (Tommy from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers).

The worst was 'Fan expo'. It was just too much, too crowded. Panels weren't planned out very good. I got there and I felt like I just wanted to go home. I never even made it over to the north building. It was crazy hectic and I didn't enjoy myself.

8) What would be your dream Cosplay gig and outfit?   My dream costume... hmmm.... that is tough. I think it would be something with armor -- very detailed like 'Raiden MGS', 'Iron Woman'(rescue). Or a Disney princess. I've never done anything overly girly, so it would be a nice change from the superheroes / villains I usually cosplay as.

Dream gig, would be traveling somewhere outside Canada. I get pro passes to big conventions in the US, like SDCC, E3 NYCC to name a few. But because the film industry work schedule keeps me really busy I haven't been able to actually attend yet. One day I will.

9) Has their ever been an outfit you just did not like wearing? And if so, why?   I generally don't wear things I don't like or aren't comfortable with, but this past 'Fan Expo' I was wearing a Halo helmet with a painted halo armor bodysuit, and the helmet was very hot -- and it was a nightmare -- the visor kept fogging up it was crazy.

I think that has been the only time I have worn something I didn't feel comfortable wearing. Since I make all of my costumes I generally make them comfortable and to my liking.

10) Do you have a credo you live by?   Ha! This is probably really silly, but its from the movie Galaxy quest "Never give up, Never surrender".  Which to me means, 'never give up and never back down from something, see things through to the end no matter how difficult it can be or become'.

No. That's not silly. Right, folks? So when you have the chance please check out Jenn's marvelous facebook, twitter, and instagram pages. Go on. Click-Click. You won't be sorry that you did.