Cosplayer Interview

Cosplayer Of The Week: Preston Todaro AKA Preston Cosplay

Leo Nocedo : HOW DID YOU DISCOVER COSPLAYING?
Preston Todaro : Always enjoyed wearing costumes for fun, a friend suggested attending a comic convention.
Leo Nocedo : WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST COSPLAY?
Preston Todaro : Clark Kent/ Superman
Leo Nocedo : WHAT ARE YOUR NEXT 3 COSPLAY PLANS?
Preston Todaro : The Mandalorian, Classic Punisher Marvel Comics, Trevor Belmont from Netflix Castlevania
Leo Nocedo : HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A COSPLAY CONTEST?
Preston Todaro : Yes, we enter cosplay contests on a regular basis, mostly Junior divisions.
Leo Nocedo : DO YOU PREFER SEWING, ARMOR MAKING, OR WIG WORKING?
Preston Todaro : We have sewn entire costumes and have also done a full armor build. Most are a combination of
both.
Leo Nocedo : DO YOU PREFER TO DO PHOTOSHOOTS AT CONS OR AT SPECIFIC LOCATIONS?
Preston Todaro :  Mostly at cons where we can easily gather with other cosplayers.
Leo Nocedo : IS THERE A TYPE OF CHARACTER YOU COSPLAY FREQUENTLY?
Preston Todaro : We frequently cosplay characters from the Star Wars universe, Super heroes Marvel and DC, and
characters from Japanese Animation.
Leo Nocedo : DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITE COSPLAYERS?
Jessie Melero, Marco Mazz, Volmax Cosplay
Leo Nocedo : WHATS THE MOST DETAILED COSPLAY YOU’VE EVER DONE?
Preston Todaro : Our Iron Man mark 1 suit / Tony Stark build.
Leo Nocedo : WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 3 CRAFTSMANSHIP TIPS?
Preston Todaro : Always apply glue to both surfaces, prime well before painting, buy a little extra materiel you may
need it
Leo Nocedo : WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COSPLAY YOU’VE DONE?
Preston Todaro : Thor Ragnarok from the MCU
Leo Nocedo : WHAT IS YOUR WORST COSPLAY “HORROR” STORY?
Preston Todaro : Deciding to wear one cosplay to a convention and then running into a another cosplayer whose
outfit would have complemented the cosplay you didn’t wear perfectly.

Leo Nocedo : WHATS YOUR FUNNIEST COSPLAY STORY?
Preston Todaro : We were in the junior division of the TBCC cosplay contest last year. When the judges announced
our cosplay (Iron Man Mark 1) as the winner, another cosplayer (an adult) with the same cosplay
came marching out and celebrating his win. The judge repeated that this was the junior division, and
that they wanted the little Iron Man. He then sulked back offstage. Ironically the other cosplayer
went on to win the adult division.
Leo Nocedo : WHAT’S THE BEST IN-CHARACTER INTERACTION YOU’VE EVER HAD?
Preston Todaro : We were wearing our Thor Ragnarok cosplay when we met Jeff Goldblum and announced we
brought him a contender.
Leo Nocedo : HAVE YOU EVER COSPLAYED WITH A FAMILY MEMBER?
Preston Todaro : MY Mom and Dad are usually too busy as my assistants, but we have a few group ideas on the work
table.
Leo Nocedo : WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COSPLAY PHOTO OF YOURSELF?
Preston Todaro : Hard to pic a favorite. Each one represents a fun memory.
Leo Nocedo : WHAT ARE YOUR GO TO STORES FOR COSPLAY MATERIALS / FULL COSPLAYS?
Preston Todaro : We like Joannes for their selection of fabrics.
Leo Nocedo : DO YOU PREFER TO BUY PRE-STYLED WIGS OR STYLE YOUR OWN?
Preston Todaro : We have never used wigs, although we have grown or cut our hair for specific cosplays.
Leo Nocedo : HAVE YOU EVER HAD SOMEONE MISTAKE YOU FOR A DIFFERENT CHARACTER?
Preston Todaro : Several people have mistaken the Mark 1 Iron Man suit for the Iron Giant.
Leo Nocedo : LIST ALL THE COSPLAYS YOU’VE DONE.
Preston Todaro : Jedi Master, Luke Skywalker, Starkiller Galen Merrik (Star Wars) Clark Kent/Superman, Robin (DC
comics) The Punisher, Thor Ragnarok, Tony Stark/ Iron Man Mark 1 (Marvel Comics) Goku, Vegeta
pink shirt, Kid Goku (Dragonball) Storm shadow (GIJOE) Hiccup (Train your Dragon) Branch (Trolls)
Leo Nocedo : WHATS THE BIGGEST CON YOU’VE COSPLAYED AT?
Preston Todaro : Megacon Orlando
Leo Nocedo : DO YOU PREFER COSPLAYING CHARACTERS WITH PROPS, OR CHARACTERS THAT YOU DON’T
NEED TO CARRY A PROP AROUND ALL DAY?
Preston Todaro : We love a good prop to accent our cosplays. And if I get tired, Dad will carry it and me too.
Leo Nocedo : HAVE YOU EVER LOST A COSPLAY PIECE AT A CON?
Preston Todaro :  A piece has slipped off before but my entourage is there to pick it up.
Leo Nocedo : HAVE YOU EVER BOUGHT A COSPLAY PIECE AT A CON?

Preston Todaro :  Not a piece of the cosplay, but we often buy the POP figurine that matches our cosplay.
Leo Nocedo : DO YOU PREFER TO COSPLAY SOLO OR IN A GROUP?
Preston Todaro :  All of our cosplays are designed to be stand alone, but we love gathering with our fellow cosplayers.
Leo Nocedo : IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO MEET YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE COSPLAYER, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
TO THEM?
Preston Todaro : We did meet Yaya Han a few times and thanked her for putting out lines that make our builds look
so good.
Leo Nocedo : HAVE YOU EVER DONE A COSPLAY PANEL?
Preston Todaro : Participated in many from the audience.
Leo Nocedo : DO YOU PREFER TO BUY OR MAKE COSPLAYS?

Preston Todaro : My father custom builds all the pieces of my cosplays and I pay him in smiles.
Leo Nocedo : IF YOU COULD TELL YOUR PAST SELF ANYTHING ABOUT COSPLAY, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
Preston Todaro : Begin it sooner.
Leo Nocedo : WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE DREAM COSPLAY?
Preston Todaro :  We have many dream builds. They are waiting for our skills to increase and for me to grow bigger.
Leo Nocedo : WHAT’S THE MOST DIFFICULT COSPLAY YOU’VE EVER DONE?
Preston Todaro : Iron Man was the hardest so far. It has lots of details and we had to size it down to a childs frame,
while keeping the weight down and mobility flexible.
Leo Nocedo : WHATS THE MOST DIFFICULT CHARACTER MAKEUP YOU’VE DONE?
Preston Todaro :  We are novices when it comes to makeup. WE have dabbled with adding facial hair and adding a
few cuts and scars.
Leo Nocedo : WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION MAKES A COSPLAYER A “PRO” COSPLAYER?
Preston Todaro : A ”PRO” cosplayer has to have put their dues in. Put actual work into their builds, attended the cons
in the trenches and built up a fan base. After all that if they have value to other cosplayers, con
organizers and attendees they can seek compensation for their skills.
Leo Nocedo : WHAT IS FAVORITE PART OF COSPLAYING?
Preston Todaro : When cosplaying, what we wear on the outside helps others see what is often hidden inside us.
Leo Nocedo : WHO CAN COSPLAY?
Preston Todaro : Everyone despite age, race, gender, size or quality of costume.

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