Phantom of the Paradise and Major Motoko Kusanagi
Credits
Matt Refghi

John

Clara
Transcript
Matt Refghi: Alright, we’re at Dragon*Con 2012, and I’m here with two cosplayers that I do not recognize, and I’m particularly intrigued because of the plunger. So if you could please tell me about your characters, tell me about yourselves.
John: I’m playing the Phantom of the Paradise which is from a 1970s movie directed by Brian De Palma as a musical version of the Phantom of the Opera.
Matt: Okay, not familiar, but still very cool. Yes?
Clara: I’m playing Major Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell manga, it’s an old school version of her outfit.
Matt: Okay, alright. And the plunger, where does that fit in?
John: He attacks somebody with a plunger in the middle of the movie, and the action figure actually comes with the plunger, so I figured it was –
Matt: Is there a clog he needs to fix? Or what’s the –
John: No, he attacks him in the bathroom, so it’s kind of a comedy.
Matt: I see, alright. How long have you been coming to Dragon*Con?
Clara: This is my third year.
Matt: Third year? Me too! Great.
Clara: (laughs)
John: I’ve been here for five or six years.
Matt: Five or six years, great. And are you from the area?
John: What’s that?
Matt: (repeating) Are you from the area?
John: Yes.
Matt: Yes?
John: Yeah, about a mile away.
Matt: A mile away, that’s pretty close. What’s your favorite thing about Dragon*Con?
Clara: I love that it’s a gathering of my people. The nerds, the dorks, we were picked on in school, but now I feel like we rule here. We’re cool now. (laughs)
Matt: Now we thrive, that’s right. (to John) Same?
John: Yeah, nerds, and drinking – it’s my life.
Matt: Excellent. Is there anything you would recommend someone who hasn’t been to Dragon*Con?
Clara: Well, I think that they definitely should go. You gotta start raising your nerds, when you have kids, bring them here, you can be yourself here – it’s amazing.
John: Yeah, if you’re a nerd, and you live in the area and you want to come, you should come – it’s fun.
Matt: Great. And if would ask you “what’s the best costume that you’ve seen today?” is there anything that comes to mind, that pops out?
Clara: I love the multitude of Shepard from Mass Effect. The costumes have been amazing here, and there’s so many of them now.
Matt: Yeah, me too.
John: Yeah, I liked seeing Rocket Racoon and Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy.
Matt: Okay, I’m not familiar, but… good. Um, and you’re names, I don’t believe you’ve mentioned your names.
Clara: My name is Clara.
Matt: Alright, Clara. (to John) Yes?
John: I’m John.
Matt: Nice meeting you both, and thanks for taking the time to interview with us. And may we use this interview on YouTube?
Clara: Yeah, no problem.
John: Yeah.
Matt: Thank you.
Clara: Thank you so much.
Matt: Thanks. (to John) Thank you, plunger man.
John: My hands are wet.
Matt: And you’re holding a plunger.
John: I’ve been – this is brand new, but I’ve been sweating so much, I was like –
Matt: It’s okay, I appreciate it. Alright, thank you.
And now the blooper.
Matt: And I’m here with two characters that I do not recognize, and I’m very curious about, particularly because you’re carrying a sponger.
Matt: What am I saying? (to camera man) Let me restart.
Clara: (laughs)
Matt: (laughs) (to camera man) Let me restart, I’m sorry.
Matt: It was, uh – sponger, what the hell is a sponger?
John: (laughs)
Clara: (laughs)
Matt: A plunger! It’s a plunger. Okay.