Introduce yourself.
My names Alex Drastal, I'm from San Diego California and I currently reside in LA. I currently do Cosplay and acting for a living.
What made you start cosplaying? And how long have you been into it?
I've wanted to cosplay since I was a kid and I wore costumes all the time and even to cons but it was usually my Halloween costume. My GF got me into cosplaying last year, because she did it and finally gave me a great excuse to start for real.
What kind of cosplayer do you consider yourself?
I try to take characters I see and bring them into the real world so I tray and make them as live action as possible. But I also do silly stuff and things but I try to be very much if you were to see a live action version I wanna make that.
Do you find things about the characters you cosplay that are similar to yourself?
I do and don't I've done characters much like me and others very much not I will say I try to do characters that i look like or that I can make my self look like. for example I don't usually try to do younger characters because I'm almost 30, so usually I try to do the older or mid age characters unless its a Genderbend, then stuff is more interpretational.
Where do you find inspiration for your original characters?
Original characters are usually I find a fabulous garment on sale at a thrift store or something and I build a character around that one item. It's usually a coat or something that's a big part of the outfit, but it could also be a hat or anything really. I just like being creative, but sometimes the hardest point is finding a theme or a place to start, but once I do then I just go for it haha.
My names Alex Drastal, I'm from San Diego California and I currently reside in LA. I currently do Cosplay and acting for a living.
What made you start cosplaying? And how long have you been into it?
I've wanted to cosplay since I was a kid and I wore costumes all the time and even to cons but it was usually my Halloween costume. My GF got me into cosplaying last year, because she did it and finally gave me a great excuse to start for real.
What kind of cosplayer do you consider yourself?
I try to take characters I see and bring them into the real world so I tray and make them as live action as possible. But I also do silly stuff and things but I try to be very much if you were to see a live action version I wanna make that.
Do you find things about the characters you cosplay that are similar to yourself?
I do and don't I've done characters much like me and others very much not I will say I try to do characters that i look like or that I can make my self look like. for example I don't usually try to do younger characters because I'm almost 30, so usually I try to do the older or mid age characters unless its a Genderbend, then stuff is more interpretational.
Where do you find inspiration for your original characters?
Original characters are usually I find a fabulous garment on sale at a thrift store or something and I build a character around that one item. It's usually a coat or something that's a big part of the outfit, but it could also be a hat or anything really. I just like being creative, but sometimes the hardest point is finding a theme or a place to start, but once I do then I just go for it haha.
What is your fav cosplay project? Why?
Stain was my favorite because it was the first cosplay I pretty much made all of it and my GF helped a little. It's also one of my favorite characters and one of my most popular cosplays.
Do you think it's important to be "in character"?
I like to be, but I'm never always in it I go in and out. I like doing it because it not only makes you look more like the character but I think people love to see their favorite characters come to life. Also I love being characters and it's a great acting tool. But I don't think its necessary to cosplay its just what I like.
What cosplays are you planning on doing (or redoing) in the future?
God this list is forever changing haha stuff I think I'm gonna do I don't and others come out of now where and I do them. I do want to do more DBZ, My Hero, and Disney as well as much more well just have to see what end up coming out first 😛
Are there any cosplayers that you really admire?
I admire Leon Chiro, the man's always working and loves his fans and really does what he can to make them happy and makes people smile wherever he goes and that's what I wanna do.
Have you learned more about yourself since you started cosplaying? If you have, what did you learn?
I learned that I can stay up for 3 days before I need sleep working on some last minute cosplays before a con.
Homemade cosplay or bought/commissioned cosplay?
I prefer to make as much as I can some things you gotta buy but then you re purpose. Plenty of people buy stuff and that's ok, it's just my preference to make stuff. It makes me feel more accomplished. Commissioning is great too, because it supports other creators.
Stain was my favorite because it was the first cosplay I pretty much made all of it and my GF helped a little. It's also one of my favorite characters and one of my most popular cosplays.
Do you think it's important to be "in character"?
I like to be, but I'm never always in it I go in and out. I like doing it because it not only makes you look more like the character but I think people love to see their favorite characters come to life. Also I love being characters and it's a great acting tool. But I don't think its necessary to cosplay its just what I like.
What cosplays are you planning on doing (or redoing) in the future?
God this list is forever changing haha stuff I think I'm gonna do I don't and others come out of now where and I do them. I do want to do more DBZ, My Hero, and Disney as well as much more well just have to see what end up coming out first 😛
Are there any cosplayers that you really admire?
I admire Leon Chiro, the man's always working and loves his fans and really does what he can to make them happy and makes people smile wherever he goes and that's what I wanna do.
Have you learned more about yourself since you started cosplaying? If you have, what did you learn?
I learned that I can stay up for 3 days before I need sleep working on some last minute cosplays before a con.
Homemade cosplay or bought/commissioned cosplay?
I prefer to make as much as I can some things you gotta buy but then you re purpose. Plenty of people buy stuff and that's ok, it's just my preference to make stuff. It makes me feel more accomplished. Commissioning is great too, because it supports other creators.
How are your photoshoots organized and set up? Do you work with many photographers, or only a few in particular?
I usually work with a few that I know because they are consistent and they know what kind of shots i like. But I do occasionally get cool random shots from cons and stuff.
Besides cosplaying, what do you like doing most in real life?
I love playing D&D and doing real life Sword fighting.
Favorite book and/or movie?
favorite movie is "Kingdom of heaven", favorite book is the third "Lord of the rings".
What's your workout routine?
Honestly its never the same I change things up all the time but I do a lot of lifting and circuit training.
Short message to our readers.
Just that you're never to old, fat skinny unskilled or whatever thing you think is preventing you from cosplay to Cosplay. Anyone can do it and its all about fun. Some of us do it for a living and that's a little different because I have to please an audience not only my self. Cosplay is about fun and being a character you love, so as long as you like what you're wearing and think it's cool then you don't need the approval of anyone else. Don't judge your cosplay on how many likes you get, judge it on how many people you made smile while in it and how much fun you your self had wearing it!
I usually work with a few that I know because they are consistent and they know what kind of shots i like. But I do occasionally get cool random shots from cons and stuff.
Besides cosplaying, what do you like doing most in real life?
I love playing D&D and doing real life Sword fighting.
Favorite book and/or movie?
favorite movie is "Kingdom of heaven", favorite book is the third "Lord of the rings".
What's your workout routine?
Honestly its never the same I change things up all the time but I do a lot of lifting and circuit training.
Short message to our readers.
Just that you're never to old, fat skinny unskilled or whatever thing you think is preventing you from cosplay to Cosplay. Anyone can do it and its all about fun. Some of us do it for a living and that's a little different because I have to please an audience not only my self. Cosplay is about fun and being a character you love, so as long as you like what you're wearing and think it's cool then you don't need the approval of anyone else. Don't judge your cosplay on how many likes you get, judge it on how many people you made smile while in it and how much fun you your self had wearing it!
