Red Dot Diva and Filmmaker Perry Lam to Discuss about Genre Films in Singapore

Do you love genre films, and wonder why they rare exist in Red Dot Island? Will the short lived TV series VR Man be the only local fictional superhero ever to be realised on screen?

Red Dot Diva and award-winning film-maker Perry Lam will attempt to answer these intriguing questions at a Facebook livestream entitled ENDANGERED SPECIES: GENRE FILMS IN SINGAPORE this Saturday, 26 September at 1 PM Singapore Time (GMT +8).

 

Currently based in Sydney, Australia, Perry Lam is passionate about genre films, and consumes blockbuster movies as well as relatively obscure ones. Some of these genre movies have provided inspiration for his short films, which have won awards in various film festivals. 

His student film BLACK RAT about a real-life crime-fighting vigilante in Sydney won Best Documentary at the Phoenix Comic Con 2016 Film Festival amongst several other achievements. His next film TONY, was a glimpse of post-apocalyptic world where humans have decided to live underground. The film was the winner for Annual Best Sci Fi at the Changing Face International Film Festival in Sydney 2018.

Perry's most recent film AFTER_LIFE was a made through the STOREYS initiative by IMDA. The poignant story about love and regret set just “10 minutes into the future”. AFTER_LIFE received positive reviews and it picked up the Annual Best Sci Fi award at this year’s Changing Face International Film Festival in Sydney. It was also recently translated and dubbed into Russian where it chalked up nearly 24,000 views on Youtube!!




Do grab a bucket of popcorn and join the discussion about the fate of genre films here, and whether like it or not, Jack Neo movies are all that Red Dot Islanders deserve.

DATE: 26 September 2020, Saturday

TIME: 1 PM, Singapore Time (GMT +8)

TO RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/320086799207366/

LIVESTREAM: www.facebook.com/reddotdiva/live


To watch some of Perry’s works - https://vimeo.com/perrylam29

Follow Perry on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/perrylam29

Watch AFTER_LIFE and other completed films in the “STOREYS” project here: https://www.storeys.video/watch-storeys

Red Dot Diva’s review of AFTER_LIFE - https://reddotdiva.blogspot.com/2020/04/singapore-short-movie-afterlife-perrylam.html

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If you have missed the other first two episodes of Live with Red Dot Diva, you can catch up by watching the livestreams at the links below:

Ep. 1 - Uncovering Unstable Universe: A Zine Launch with Joelyn Alexandra

Ep. 2 - Horrors, Both Real and Otherwise with Wayne Rée

Ep. 3 - A Dose of the Bright Side with Carlo Jose San Juan (MD)

Going Absolutely Bat-ty on Batman Day 2020

Nanananananana... It's Batman Day!!

Fans of Batman usually gather at local comic book shops to celebrate the superhero's birthday. He made his very first appearance ever in ‘‘Detective Comic’’ back in 1939. Since 2015, DC Comics has dedicated the third September of the year to be Batman Day.

Since many of us are still on lockdown, DC Comics has turned on the Bat-Signal on 19 September for an online celebration with the Dark Knight's international fans. There was a call for fans to build and share their own interpretation of the Bat-Signal, a DC Batman Virtual Run, a Batman Activity Kit for the family, and the best of all - free comics to read on DC's website!

No prizes for guessing who's Red Dot Diva's #1 favourite superhero either. Of course it is Mr Broody Genius Billionaire Playboy Philanthropist before Iron Man was Genius Billionaire Playboy Philanthropist, Caped Crusader ‘‘I'm Batman’’ himself.

She had a field day spotting some Bat-gems on social media, while happily fantasizing she was part of the Bat-family. Here are some of them:


BILL SIENKIEWICZ'S BATMAN DAY ART

The inimitable Bill Sienkiewicz does it again with a glorious sublime artwork for Batman Day that is inspired by Matt Reeve's movie ‘‘THE BATMAN’’.

It's #BatmanDay, dammit.@mattreevesLA pic.twitter.com/Sq1ZIdKgBO

— Bill Sienkiewicz (@sinKEVitch) September 19, 2020

Red Dot Diva's eyes are still bleeding because this is so beautiful. 


BATMAN TEASER FOR THE SNYDER CUT

Zack Snyder, who is currently busy working on the Snyder Cut of the ‘‘JUSTICE LEAGUE’’ movie together with HBO Max, has also offered fans a closer look of Batfleck and his suit.

The director has also shared his astute thoughts about Batman and what the character means to the fans.

Batman is all of us… he is our rage at injustice… he stands alone, as we all wish we could, in the face of a corrupt system which wishes to oppress and exploit… he is that broken child, searching the dark alleys of the human soul to bring balance to the world. #BatmanDay pic.twitter.com/X20jolqqtZ

— Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) September 19, 2020

Ever since Batfleck appeared in the DC movie universe, most fans have considered Ben Affleck's interpretation to be the best of all time. This sentiment is shared by Zack Snyder as well, who has referred to Batfleck as the 'Best Batman'. So, Red Dot Diva is eager to see what are the new scenes featuring Batfleck in the Justice League's Snyder Cut, which will premiere on HBO in 2021. (Although, ... *in whispered tones*... Red Dot Diva actually thinks Lego Batman is the 'Best Batman'.)


BATMAN ARTWORK AND FAN ART

Artists and fans from all over the world have been posting their Batman artwork to show their love for the World's Greatest Detective, and here are some of the fun or lovely ones that Red Dot Diva particularly enjoyed.

A nice sexy one of The Bat and his Batman PJs by freelance artist Victor Regis, who hails from Brazil:

Trying to not break tradition, so Happy #BatmanDay 👁️👄👁️ pic.twitter.com/WLXmhGeIrA

— vic regis ✨ (@TheDamnThinGuy) September 19, 2020

This adorable one of the Bat-family by Liz from Russia:

it's dressing up us bat-dad party! 🦇
happy #BatmanDay! #batfamily pic.twitter.com/ZyR7K2MogI

— liz I stan conner kent 🕶♥️🦆 (@huyandere) September 19, 2020

Oh, and Adam West, the iconic actor who portrayed Batman in the 1960s' TV series also shares his birthday with this year's Batman Day! Eisner Award-winning creator Francesco Francavilla creates an artwork for this special double-celebration:

Remembering the great ADAM WEST on his birthday which is coinciding this year with #BatmanDay - how fitting! Cheers, Adam, wherever you are, I hope you are enjoying a bomb-shaped cake and a 🥂 pic.twitter.com/WVjPHzYZTO

— Francesco Francavilla (@f_francavilla) September 19, 2020

An elegant take on Batman by Italian comic book writer and artist Enrico Marini:

HAPPY BATMAN DAY 🦇 pic.twitter.com/Qscy0BDJWh

— Enrico Marini (@Marini_Comics) September 19, 2020

FREE DIGITAL BATMAN COMICS TO READ




As part of the Batman Day celebration, DC Comics presented fans with free Batman comics to read - BATMAN: CURSE OF THE WHITE KNIGHT #1 by writer/ artist Sean Murphy, BATMAN: THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE #1 written by producers of the original animated TV series Paul Dini and Alan Burnett, with art by Ty Templeton and BATMAN TALES: ONCE UPON A CRIME by Derek Fridolfs and Dustin Nguyen.

Red Dot Diva read all three of the comics and found that she enjoyed BATMAN: CURSE OF THE WHITE KNIGHT #1 the most. The Joker has escaped from Arkham Asylum and knows of an ancient secret about the history of the Waynes. He recruits Azrael to expose this truth so that Gotham will be shaken at its core.

Sean Murphy fuses imagery and words with such skill that you are drawn into the enigmatic mystery of the Wayne ancestry and its ties to Gotham. The story is both mythic and mystery, including good ol' sleuthing by Bruce Wayne with the help of the Bat family. Red Dot Diva is definitely tempted to pre-order the graphic novel which compiles issue #1 to #8.

BATMAN: THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE #1 was classic cartoony fun, with Batman fighting a giant robot and finding out who was behind the destructive mechanised creature. Lex suddenly appears in Gotham, so of course something is afoot!

As for BATMAN TALES: ONCE UPON A CRIME, the graphic novel consists of four stories. The one made available for free was a special edition taking readers on a dopey trip into a Wonderland created by supervillian Tetch. By some accident, Alfred stumbles through the looking glass, finds the Bat-family captured for the Mad Hatter's tea part, and tries to save them!



One of the DC news flash this week was the news that Matt Reeves' ‘‘THE BATMAN’’ has returned to production after the recent coronavirus scare. Red Dot Diva's friend Atty writes about Robert 'Battinson' and the widely anticipated movie in her blog. You can read her article here - https://thisisatiqah.wordpress.com/2020/09/12/robert-pattinson-is-the-batman


So, how did your Batman Day go? Hopefully, fans will be able the meet with each other for a proper in-person celebration in 2021!

The Garden of Evening Mists Movie Premieres on HBO Asia and HBO Go, 13 September 2020

Those of us who were fortunate enough to have met our grandparents might have heard tales of how life was like in Malaya during World War II. It was a harrowing time, particularly during the Japanese Occupation where thousands of civilians died from the atrocities of war.

Many of the World War II survivors would have already passed away by now. Red Dot Diva's own maternal grandmother, who was a young girl at that time, died last year at the age of 94. The only way generations born during or after the war could imagine how it was like then, was either through oral storytelling, books or movies which depicted that era.

One of the most nuanced and beautifully told story about World War II in Malaya and its aftermath is the critically-acclaimed novel “THE GARDEN OF EVENING MISTS” by Malaysian writer, Tan Twan Eng. The book has been adapted to a movie by Astro Shaw and HBO Asia, with support from the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) in association with CJ Entertainment.

The Golden Horse Award winning film was screened here in January 2020, but if you missed it at the theatres, you can now catch it on HBO Asia and HBO Go when it premieres this Sunday, 13 September. Filmed in Malaysia, the 2-hour film is directed by award-winning Tom Lin from Taiwan, with a screenplay adaptation by Scottish BAFTA-winning Richard Smith.

Bringing the book's main character and narrator to life is Malaysian actress Sinje Lee (“The Eye”) as Teoh Yun Ling. Joining her, is a star-studded international cast that includes Japanese actor Hiroshi Abe (“After the Storm”), British actors David Oakes (“Cold Skin”) and Julian Sands (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”), and Scottish actor John Hannah (“The Mummy”). Taiwanese actress Sylvia Chang (“Love Education”) also plays the role of Teoh Yun Ling in a different era.

In “THE GARDEN OF EVENING MISTS”, three different timelines weave back and forth as Teoh Yun Ling, the sole survivor of a World War II internment camp, attempts to seek solace in the misty hills of Cameron Highlands. Hidden in the rolling landscape, she discovers Yugiri, the only Japanese garden in Malaya, owned by Nakamura Aritomo (Hiroshi Abe), who was once the gardener of the Emperor of Japan. Yun Ling requests to be his apprentice, which he reluctantly accepts. Her beloved sister had died in the camp, and Yun Ling wanted to build a garden in memory of her.

While working on her garden, Yun Ling inevitably revisits her past. How did she manage to survive the imprisonment but her sister did not? She also becomes entwined in a love affair with the mysterious Aritomo. Meanwhile, the guerrilla war called the Malayan Emergency, gets bloodier as communist terrorists plague the farmers and miners, while Malaysian nationalists try to gain independence for the country from British colonial rule.

Watch the trailer for “THE GARDEN OF EVENING MISTS”:



“THE GARDEN OF EVENING MISTS” consists of dialogue in English, Mandarin, Japanese and Bahasa Malaysia. You can watch the movie on streaming service HBO GO, or on HBO (Starhub TV 601, Singtel TV 420) on Sunday, 13 September at 10pm. HBO GO is available via Astro, StarHub, Singtel and meWatch or at https://www.hbogoasia.com.

Diva Previews the SACRED GUARDIANS Comic - It's Soul Food for South-East Asians!

Holy Bak Kut Teh! The prequel comic to the local tokusatsu SACRED GUARDIAN SINGA project will be having its launch tomorrow, 12 September 2020 on local leading publisher AsiaPac Book's Facebook page!

The virtual launch party for the comic entitled SACRED GUARDIANS will begin at 3 PM. Writer Aydeel Djoeharie and artist Alan Bay will be appearing at the livestream (moderated by AsiaPac's Chong Lingying), ready to share their creators' journey in bringing this book to fruition.

“Writing Sacred Guardians was both challenging and fun. With inspiration from American and Japanese superheroes, the story blends in Southeast Asian history, heritage, cultures as well as positive values to create an exciting, relatable story for our young (and older) readers,” said Aydeel Djoeharie, who written and directed several film projects before.

As for the book's artist Alan Bay, “Sacred Guardians was a special project for me not only for its story and characters but because it also helped me get through the pandemic as I spent most of time staying at home and working on it.”

Just before tomorrow's launch, the five SACRED GUARDIANS poofed in unexpectedly into Red Dot Diva's lair with a present - a limited preview copy of the comic. They declined her offer to stay for tea, but said that she could share a little about their origin story to her readers.

Set in the landscape of historical South-East Asia, the SACRED GUARDIANS comic follows the adventures of Dev, a mystical immortal warrior, and five guardians whose special powers are imbued by their corresponding Sacred Animal Spirits. There is an evil brewing, bringing scourge and bloodshed to the region. So, Dev and the Sacred Guardians team up to battle these demonic forces in order to save the world.

Right from the first few pages of the SACRED GUARDIANS comic, one is transported into the heart of a vibrant South-East Asian fantasy world with familiar names, features and landscapes. It is so familiar that Red Dot Diva felt she could catch a whiff of fresh fish at the wet market scene.

The main protagonist Dev is an instantly likeable character, and very handsome too! His intuitive take on his surroundings and sense of urgency spurs you headlong into a quest with him. In the sample preview, Red Dot Diva also got to know Niena, one of the characters who will take on the mantle of a Sacred Guardian. Niena's spunky, skilled and best of all, adventurous. All in all, she's pretty awesome!

This is Aydeel Djoeharie's first foray into comic book writing, but he has managed to drive the story forward in a compelling manner. The dialogue is snappy, with thrilling action sequences and short interludes of anime-like funny moments. The story feels grounded and not contrived, with cringey superhero names, costumes and powers.

If one is used to the art style of Westernised superhero comics, the more cartoonish artwork by Alan Bay may need some getting used to. However, for a traditional, tokusaksu-style story meant to transcend boundaries and age groups, Red Dot Diva thinks Alan Bay's artwork is utterly delightful and refreshing. The palette is bright and eye-catching - just like what our South-East Asian costumes and cultural landscape are like, a spellbinding sea of colours. Alan has also managed to capture the facial expressions and movements of the characters in the different panels with his deft artwork.

SACRED GUARDIANSis the South-East Asian fantasy-superhero comic book Red Dot Diva has been waiting for. It sets up an exciting Sacred Guardians universe for all sorts of possibilities, and provides a new way of looking at our traditional mythical stories through a modern world's lens. Best of all, having it written in English and released here in Red Dot Island is a such big score.

Yes, there are already similar South-East Asian comics published in other countries, but they are usually written in their own regional language. She hopes that when SACRED GUARDIANS comic gains traction and proves to be popular, it can then be translated in other languages for many more fans and reader to enjoy!

To get a sneak peek of the comic book SACRED GUARDIANS, join the virtual book launch tomorrow and interact with the creators as well as fellow fans! The details are in the graphic below.

You can also check out the introduction of some of the key characters of the comic at the SACRED GUARDIAN SINGA Facebook Page!

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SACRED GUARDIANS is still available for at Asiapac Books' website. Get your copy here: https://asiapacbooks.com/products/sacred-guardians

Check out Red Dot Diva's interview with artist Alan Bay
- https://reddotdiva.blogspot.com/2020/08/alanbay-sacredguardians-singapore-comics.html
To find out more about about Alan Bay, check out his website here: https://www.smallguydoodle.com

For more information on SACRED GUARDIANS SINGA - http://sacredguardians.tv

Star Trek Day Beams Down on 8 September 2020 (Pacific Time)

STAR TREK fans, get ready to engage!

After the huge success of DC FanDome, other content owners are beginning to follow suit and organising virtual events to keep their fans engaged during this coronavirus pandemic. To celebrate the 54th Anniversary of the original STAR TREK show's premiere, CBS All Access has put together an all-day online streaming event where the pilots of every STAR TREK series and specially curated episodes from the different shows, will be made available on CBS All Access starting from 8 September, midnight Pacific Time. This viewing marathon is for USA fans only.

Local Trek fans will not be able to watch the marathon on CBS All Access. However, but there will be 8 key panels hosted by Wil Wheaton and Mica Burton available globally for free, starting at 12 PM (PT). The cast and writers are expected to appear in their respective panels, with Rod Roddenberry logging in for the session dedicated to the original Trek series. Details of the panels are as follows:

12:00 PM - STAR TREK: DISCOVERY
- the cast and writers will be discussing about Season 3.
- Sonequa Martin-Green, David Ajala, Alex Kurtzman, Michelle Paradise scheduled to appear

12:30 PM - STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
- host Wil Wheaton will discuss about the most famous episode, “Far Beyond the Stars,” with the cast, and how messages from some of the iconic episodes still hold relevance today
- Cirroc Lofton, Alexander Siddig, Nana Visitor, Armin Shimerman, Terry Farrell and Ira Steven Behr scheduled to appear

1:00 PM - STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS
- the cast and writers will be sharing what is in store for Pike, Spock and Number One in this brand new series
- Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Akiva Goldsman, Henry Alonson Meyers, Akela Cooper and Davy Perez scheduled to appear

1:30 PM - STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES
- Rod Roddenberry and George Takei will discuss about the first episode of the original Trek series, and the show's impact in the past as well as in the present

2:00 PM - STAR TREK: VOYAGER - 25th ANNIVERSARY
- the cast gather to discuss the iconic series and its legacy 25 years since its premiere
- Kate Mulgrew, Robert Duncan McNeill, Ethan Phillips, Robert Picardo, Tim Russ and Garrett Wang scheduled to appear

2:20 PM - STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE
- the cast reminisce about their adventures of the Enterprise NX-01
- Scott Bakula, John Billingsley, Dominic Keating, Anthony Montgomery, Linda Park and Connor Trinneer scheduled to appear

2:40 PM - STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS
- the animated series' creator and actors will offer some tidbits as to what the crew will be up to for the remaining episodes of Season 1
- Mike McMahan, Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noel Wells and Eugene Cordero scheduled to appear

3:05 PM - STAR TREK: PICARD + THE NEXT GENERATION
- two long time friends discuss about their bond in the Star Trek universe
- the legendary Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes are scheduled to appear

In order not to miss catching up with your favourite STAR TREK actors and shows, bookmark this website at https://intl.startrek.com/day to watch the panels. There will be an encore stream for all the panels starting at 9 PM (PT).

Oh, and if you love quizzes, check in with STAR TREK from all around the world on Twitch for the Geeks Who Drink “Star Trek” Pub Quiz. The link for the quiz is at https://www.twitch.tv/geekswhodrinkpubquizzes/

And since this is a virtual celebration, share your memories, stories, photos on Twitter and/or Instagram with the hashtag #StarTrekStory for a chance to be featured on the official STAR TREK platforms.

Watch this STAR TREK DAY event trailer to get geared up for the next online adventure:

We Bare Bears: The Movie Premieres on Cartoon Network and Warner Media Channels on 12 September 2020

Life is going to get better again on 12 September (Saturday) at 11 AM when WE BARE BEARS: THE MOVIE premieres simultaneously on Cartoon Network (Starhub TV 316, Singtel TV 226) and other WarnerMedia channels like Boomerang, HBO, HBO Family, Warner TV, Korean entertainment channel Oh!K, as well as streaming service HBO GO.

As most of us are still in some form of lockdown or social distancing measures during this coronavirus pandemic, a beary big dose of pawsitivity is exactly what we need! Fans of WE BARE BEARS will have a chance to give a proper farewell to Grizz, Panda and Ice Bear, as the 70-minute TV movie wraps up the beloved Cartoon Network animated series after four memorable seasons.

In their latest adventure, the Bears get into deep trouble with the city's people and authorities due to their love of food trucks and making viral videos. Agent Trout from the National Wildlife Control feels the only way to resolve this is to capture and... *gasp!* separate the trio. This is when Grizz decided that they will go on an epic road trip and start a new life in Canada. With the diabolical Agent Trout in hot pursuit, The Bears meet new friends, encounter dangerous challenges and even get invited to a wild party, as they keep their promise to be "bros for life".

Actors Eric Edelstein, Demetri Martin and Bobby Moynihan return in WE BARE BEARS: THE MOVIE as the adopted bear bros Grizz, Panda and Ice together with guest stars Cameron Esposito (as Ranger Dana Tabes), Ellie Kemper (as Lucy), Jason Lee (as Charlie), Patton Oswalt (as Nom Nom), Mel Rodriguez (as Darrell Zaragosa), and Charlyne Yi (as Chloe Park). The movie will also feature special guest stars such as Marc Evan Jackson (The Good Place) as Agent Trout and Jimmy O. Yang (Silicon Valley) as the internet famous racoon Joey Raccoon.

To celebrate the occasion, Cartoon Network will host its first #CNWatchParty for Asia, starting at 11 AM on 12 September, with encores at 3 PM and 7 PM. Watch the movie premiere and share your live reactions on social media by using the hashtags #CNWatchParty and #WeBareBears.

If you are planning to watch the WE BARE BEARS: THE MOVIE with some beary good friends, there is a bunch of cool movie-themed stuff like templates for ticket invites, and an awesome party kit that includes posters, popcorn cups and even recipes for snacks at the movie website - https://cartoonnetworkasia.com/webarebearsthemovie! There is also a host of other entertaining activities such as exclusive videos, games and quizzes to put you in a mood for the movie premiere.

To put you in a mood for the movie, check out the trailer below:




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WARNERMEDIA CHANNEL NUMBERS:
Cartoon Network: Starhub TV 316, Singtel TV 226
Boomerang: Starhub TV 317, Singtel TV 228
Warner TV: Starhub TV 515, Singtel TV 306
Oh!K: Starhub TV 816, Singtel TV 525
HBO: Starhub TV 601, Singtel TV 420
and streaming service, HBO GO

Diva's Reylo Fan Art Series: KasiopeaArt Draws Addictively Entertaining Star Wars FanFic Web Comic

It is no secret that many Reylos have been utterly disappointed with the way Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (TROS) wrapped up the Skywalker saga. To salve their heartbreak and feelings of frustration, Reylos turn to the treasure trove of fanfics and fanart out there.

One of the Star Wars-inspired fan art that stood out for Red Dot Diva was a series of entertaining webcomics by KasiopeaArt with a story post-TROS beginning with an alternative ending where Ben Solo survived. The comic's script filled with cheeky banter and great chemistry between the characters, that includes a particularly mischievous Porg. The entertainment value is further added by Kasiopea's deft artwork as she depicts the likeness and mannerisms of the actors with such detail.

Kasiopea is based in Warsaw, Poland, and has illustrated several children's and fantasy books. A long time fan of Tolkien's Middle Earth, she has also contributed writings and art to Aiglos, the Polish fanzine for all things Tolkien. Oh, and she also loves all kinds of animals!

Despite the pandemic and the need to prioritise real life matters, Red Dot Diva was glad that Kasiopea was able to find time to do this interview, and share more about her art “hobby” (as she calls it).

Red Dot Diva: When did you discover your love for drawing?
Kasiopea: As soon as I was able to hold a pen in my hand.

Red Dot Diva: Who are your favourite artists and illustrators, and why?
Kasiopea: The Polish trio – Stanisław Rozwadowski (master of portraying animals, especially in motion), Janusz Grabiański (sweet illustrations, mostly animals, very light fairy-tale and optimistc vibe) and Jan Marcin Szancer – a legendary illustrator (I especially adore his black-and-white works).

My favourites are also Tove Jansson (her works are pure magic), Ernest Howard Shepard (who doesn’t love his Winnie the Pooh illustrations?) and Alan Lee – his watercolours and pencil works are absolutely incredible. I love all their works because – apart from being beautiful - they all are true and dedicated to the story they illustrated.

Happy Halloween! 🎃#StarWarsTheRiseOfSkywalker #StarWarsHalloween #starwarsfanart pic.twitter.com/9CCzowlBN4

— Kasiopea lost the Star Wars (@KasiopeaArt) October 31, 2019

Red Dot Diva: I know that many Reylos are disappointed with how TROS ended up the way it did. I saw your tumblr post that you felt you were not able to draw Star Wars fan art anymore as you felt franchise no longer brought you joy. However you have drawn this wonderful Reylo comic about an alternate ending and universe. How did you manage to summon enough joy and love back again to do such a detailed piece of work?
Kasiopea: Joy? No. Don’t underestimate the power of the Dark Side. :) TROS destroyed Star Wars for me. Me, a hardcore fan since A New Hope, who used to say that if midichlorians can’t kill my love for this franchise, then nothing will. I was wrong – I wasn’t prepared for Episode IX to be such bad, cynical and dark story, without sense, without hope, without myth. It casts a long shadow on everything I knew before. I still can’t believe this is the way they decided to end the Skywalker saga. 

My comic rose from anger and disappointment. We are living in a dark world, most of us are struggling with a very hard time – we need fairy tales with “they lived happily ever after”, we need them more than ever. Years ago I fell in love with ST characters, Rey, Ben, Finn, Poe. I wished them to be happy, victorious and fulfilled. Since Disney Lucasfilm is no longer interested in telling a hopeful fairy tales that end happily, I decided to draw what I wanted to see.
Red Dot Diva: And I know many will agree with me. I have to tell you that I'm so glad you are bringing so much joy to the Reylos out there!

To be continued 🙂 pic.twitter.com/SM2GGHYrH3

— Kasiopea lost the Star Wars (@KasiopeaArt) May 26, 2020

Red Dot Diva: I felt that your Reylo web story is as good as many comics! Do you already plan the story before drawing them? How does it take for you to map out the storyline and panels?
Kasiopea: It’s usually 2-3 days per panel. As for writing – it’s hard to say, because I invent the stories while riding my horse, driving the car, during cleaning the house, walking the dog, etc. I write them down when I have a bit of spare time.

Red Dot Diva: Do you aspire to be able to draw comics for one of the well known publishers one day?
Kasiopea: I no longer have such aspirations. Once I dreamed about illustrating The Lord of the Rings or The Silmarillion, but I know now that it won’t happen since the Tolkien Estate aren’t interested in new faces in their enchanted circle of Tolkien illustrators. I dreamed about working for Lucasfilm, but that dream ended brutally with TROS. So – no. I illustrated around 80 books, most of them children classics and fantasy/science fiction and that will be it.

A quick tribute (based on certain older work :)) More Ben Solo content coming soon. #CelebrateBenSolo pic.twitter.com/ZLN0M88IcJ

— Kasiopea lost the Star Wars (@KasiopeaArt) April 18, 2020

Red Dot Diva: You are the one of the few Star Wars fan artists I’ve seen who draws very realistic likeness of the cast and characters! (So, so good!) Who is the toughest to draw? Also have you already memorized the moles on Adam Driver’s faces?
Kasiopea: The toughest to draw for me is young Luke Skywalker. I don’t know why – maybe because of his boyish features. It’s easy to make him into his own caricature. And Rey – there are times I start drawing her face again and again and can’t catch the resemblance. As for Adam’s moles – well, yes. I have drawn him so many times I have a map of them in my mind.





Red Dot Diva: Other than Star Wars art, what other fandom art do you love to draw?
Kasiopea: I used to be very active in the J.R.R. Tolkien fandom. I had been drawing illustrations for The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, I had been writing fanfiction stories, papers and reviews for tolkienist almanac “Aiglos” for years. My opus magnum is a novel-length story The Son of Gondor.



Red Dot Diva: Have you ever thought of selling your fanart as prints or merchandise online like so many others have done? If no, why?
Kasiopea: I wish I could sell prints! But I live in a country very unfriendly to artists. To legally sell prints you need to establish your own business and the tax on such an activity is horrendous. I can’t afford it.

Red Dot Diva: Do you have any tips for artists who are getting started on creating fan art?
Kasiopea: Follow your heart. Ignore the trolls. And draw, draw, draw.

Red Dot Diva: Thank you so much for this inteview, Kasiopea! Keep doing what you are doing. You have been a bright spark this year when it has been tough for many of us. I can't wait to see the next web comic panels for the current Reylo story you have been sharing with us. I love those adorable Porgs!


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To read Kasiopea's entertaining Reylo web comic, go to these links:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/KasiopeaArt
Tumblr - https://kasiopea-star-wars.tumblr.com
 
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Other articles from the Diva's Reylo Fan Art Series:

* Interview with Rachel Xin
* Interview with Afterblossom (Kelly)
* Interview with Leiaporgana (Cody)