Extended Interview: Laura (Laura Eliza Cosplay) Lara Croft Go / London Underground Promotional Event

Last year, I spoke to three wonderful cosplayers about their adventure on the London Underground to promote "Lara Croft GO". The group were selected by Crystal Dynamics and Betty Brown PR to travel across the city as Lara on launch day, awarding commuters with iPad Minis. Instructions on how to win a tablet was included in copies of the Metro.

One of the cosplayers was Laura, also known by Laura Eliza in the cosplay community, whose first venture into the hobby began with Tomb Raider 2013. With a following of hundreds, Laura's adventures on Facebook details her journey through each incredible cosplay, photoshoot and promotional event. While Lara Croft Go's launch provided an opportunity for her to represent the Tomb Raider on an official level, Laura has actually portrayed the heroine on launch days in the past in game stores.

You can read the full London Underground article, HERE and check out the full interview with Laura below:

Tell us a little about yourself!

I'm Laura, I have a law degree and I'm a qualified teacher in the post-compulsory sector. I've been taking some time out over the summer to relax and work on some costumes! My hobbies include cosplay/crafting, gaming, singing, drawing and painting Warhammer figures. I've been playing video games for as long as I can remember! I've got an etsy store where I sell some of the items I make: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LauraElizaCosplay

When did you get into "Tomb Raider" and cosplay?

I watched the first few Tomb Raider games being played when they were released. I was only three when the first game came out, so the first one I played myself was Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation, on my SEGA Dreamcast in 1999. The first time I 'dressed up' as Lara was when I was fifteen; school leaver's day was fancy dress and I got the 'Tomb Raider Anniversary' fancy dress costume for a low price on eBay. A few years later for a bit of fun I wore that costume at a local beach and put the pictures on Facebook, where Sara LaRochelle of laracroftcosplay.com found me. I made the Doppelgänger outfit from Tomb Raider Underworld that Halloween and then Sara really helped me get into cosplay properly; my first full cosplay was Lara Croft from the 2013 rebooted Tomb Raider.

Photo from the Official Tomb Raider Blog.

How did you become involved in the Lara Croft GO event?

Lynn Daniel from 'Brown Betty' contacted me, Lisa and Helen via e-mail, after Rachel forwarded our details, asking if we'd be interested in the PR stunt for Square Enix.

Was this the first you’ve cosplayed as part of a promotional event?

Yes and I'd love to do it again.

[Editor Note: Laura actually promoted Rise of the Tomb Raider and, I believe, Tomb Raider Definitive Edition at Super Games World in the past, but this was her first role as an official Lara Croft cosplayer for Crystal Dynamics.]

How did you prepare for the day ahead?

As I travelled from the North East and the journey was eight and a half hours, I stayed with some relatives, so I went down a couple of days early. I had to get a train in to the offices at 5.42am, so I made sure I got plenty of rest the night before and had a coffee when I got there!

What was your impression of the event, how did the day go?

I had a fantastic time and we were all really well looked after. It felt very special. We enjoyed each other's company and loved chatting to people on the tube and in the stations.

Photo from the Official Tomb Raider Blog.

How many people came up to you during the event?

A lot! We had 3 iPads each as prizes for the lucky commuters who whispered the pass-phrase to us. We all travelled on the same train from Farringdon to King's Cross, in four different carriages, the intention being for us to all split off and go to various tube stations. As I stepped off the train I had my first winner; rounding the corner the second and as I got pictures with him, the third and final winner approached, so the prize giving was over rather rapidly for me! People were still running up to me to say 'Lara Croft GO' and I had to tell them that I had no more prizes but most people just seemed happy enough to 'meet Lara Croft', it was a great feeling.

As you were interacting with the public, did you feel safe throughout the event?

Despite being a Northerner quite unfamiliar with London and being in such a huge and busy city, I had no safety concerns whatsoever during the event. We each had an escort to travel around the tubes with us and they carried the iPads in backpacks.

What kind of steps did the team make to ensure that everything went smoothly?

The Brown Betty team were very friendly and welcoming, they made sure we had everything we needed and that we all felt comfortable. They got each of us hot drinks and a copy of the 'Metro' newspaper with the Lara Croft GO feature while we were getting our makeup done in the morning. I've never had my makeup done professionally before so that was lovely!

What cosplays are you working on now or planning?

I'm currently working on Lara Croft from the upcoming 'Rise of the Tomb Raider' and my next planned cosplay is Xiuying Hong from Shenmue II.

A huge thank you to Laura for taking time to do this interview!
You can follow her adventures on her Facebook page, Laura Eliza Cosplay.

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Extended Interview with Helen (Lady Scion) Lara Croft Go / London Underground Promotional Event

Last year, I spoke to three wonderful cosplayers about their adventure on the London Underground to promote "Lara Croft GO". The group were selected by Crystal Dynamics and Betty Brown PR to travel across the city as Lara on launch day, awarding commuters with iPad Minis. Instructions on how to win a tablet were included in copies of the Metro.

One of the cosplayers was Helen, also known as Lady Scion in the cosplaying community. She has beautiful recreations of Lara Croft's outfits from Tomb Raider (2013), Angel of Darkness and the classic titles which are not only stunning but have been carefully constructed with clear passion and dedication. Helen's hobbies also explore other sides of the Tomb Raider series. In her free time, she is also a blogger and runs a site dedicated to Tomb Raider, cosplay and games called Tangled Wires. The site highly recommended and a pleasure to read!

You can read the full London Underground article, HERE and check out the full interview with Helen below:

1. Tell us a little about yourself!

I’m Helen and I am a cosplayer and Tomb Raider fan from the North West of England. I am a researcher and has worked in the video game industry as a social media assistant. I also have an Etsy store that I sell mostly Tomb Raider cosplay items, but to be honest if something works well on one of my cosplays I’ll offer it for sale to help out people who maybe can’t make it or doesn’t have the time. All the money from my store now goes back into costume supplies, however when I started in back in 2013, it was so helpful to get a little extra money in after university.

Photo by Darren Rowley Photography 

2. When did you get into Tomb Raider and cosplay?

For Tomb Raider, I broke my leg in 1997 when I was 8 years old. As I was off school for over a month, my neighbour offered to give me his Sega Saturn, as he was getting a Playstation, and said I could take any game I wanted. He passed the box over and I had a rummage and at the bottom was a box with a woman on it! She had brown hair like me so I instantly wanted it. I loaded the game and fell in love exploring this lady’s house for hours on end and the the eerie quietness of Vilcabamba. Then I came across the T Rex and didn’t sleep that night! From there Lara has been part of my life.

For cosplay, I found it hard to get a job after my masters degree in 2012 and took the decision to take some time out to be a carer for my mum. I found out about MCM London and didn’t realise we had conventions in the UK, I thought they were just American things like SDCC. I bought tickets for myself and my boyfriend as Christmas presents and I decided to make the reboot Lara costume as I had found myself coming back into gaming after a few years out. I really loved the costume and related to the reboot character of a Lara, just out of university and battling with the world. Making the costume gave me some escapism and something to accomplish during this time and helped me so much to keep positive. I wore it to MCM May 2013 and decided this is what I wanted to do as a hobby. It combined skills I learnt during my A-Levels, when I decided to take an academic route rather than studying costume design, with my love of gaming. I haven’t looked back yet!

3. How did you become involved in the Lara Croft Go event?

I attended the Tomb Raider meet up at Gamescom and Meagan came up to me to offer the role. I was took by surprise but of course I said yes. I grew up with the Tomb Raider models and wishing I could be like one of those. I know if hadn’t had done it, I would have had a very upset little me inside and I couldn’t let her down! I checked with work, and thankfully they were okay to let me do it, so I went ahead.

Photo from the Official Tomb Raider Blog.

4. Is this the first you’ve cosplayed as part of a promotional event?

Yes it is, it was a fantastic experience and I really love how companies are getting involved with cosplayers now. Cosplay has such a visual impact at events and on the street that can draw in consumers and at the end of the day, a cosplayer is simply a fan. Companies are making it easier too with outfit and prop guides such as the one one from Rise of the Tomb Raider and Guerrilla Game’s Horizon: Zero Dawn; having official measurements and colours is a dream! It means so much to have your work recognised by the creators and to be part of something.

5. How did you to prepare for the day ahead?

So that we all matched, we were provided with shorts and vest tops that matched the Lara Croft GO aesthetics. Myself, Laura, Rachel and Lisa just needed to provide a backpack, boots, holster and gloves. I made myself a backpack a couple of days before I travelled down to London with the help of Laura (Laura Eliza Cosplay) in the skill of modified bags as a lot of unfortunate things happened that week which meant I couldn’t spend as much time as I would have liked on the bag making it from scratch. I do sometimes get panic attacks and made sure my trip down was nice and calm as possible, just in case! Luckily all was okay! I stayed with some relatives for the weekend and that was it really apart from the night before I was sat finishing edges on my bag while using a Korean sheet face mask!

6. What was your impression of the event, how did the day go?

I think it was a fantastic event that really worked for what the game represented. Lara Croft GO harks back to the classic aesthetics and is all about experiencing Tomb Raider on the go. So by having a Lara on the tube travelling around London, it is a visual representation. All the iPads were snapped up pretty quickly, so it is nice to know that the advertisement in the Metro had an impact and that people were actively on the look out. Also we avoided a potential tube strike which was pure luck!

7. How many people came up to you during the event?

I think I had around 7 people approach me within 25 minutes, obviously only the first three won the iPads. Some of the people had a real nostalgia trip and were just as happy to get a picture with Lara Croft! Many of the passengers looked on and knew who I was cosplaying as even if they didn’t approach me to whisper the password ‘Lara Croft GO’.

8. As you were interacting with the public, did you feel safe throughout the event?

I had a minder with me at all times, as did all the other Laras. I knew if I felt panicky or uncomfortable then we could stop for a bit; but I felt very safe throughout and it was just like travelling to a convention in all honesty. I was made aware of all the safety procedures before I agreed to the event so I knew everything would be in hand and I wasn’t going to be left alone.

9. What kind of steps did the team make to ensure that everything went smoothly?

While we were getting ready in the morning we were briefed about what we were expected to do and who our minders were. There was also emails before the event checking that we were all okay costume wise and what would happen if the tube strike went ahead, so that we wouldn’t travel to London and find that plans had changed. Our minders also made sure we were okay while we were travelling around and kept an eye out just in case anyone decided to be a little creepy or was harassed. Thankfully, plan A worked out perfectly and we all had a great time and lots of laughs.

10. What cosplays are you working on now or planning?

At the moment I have just finished Lost Valley Lara, which is Anniversary Lara after a dinosaur attack! The next on my list is Aloy from Horizon: Zero Dawn and I am redoing my GLaDOS for competition next year. I’ll finally get around to doing a Rise cosplay next summer.

A huge thank you to Helen for the interview! 

You can follow her upcoming cosplay adventures on Twitter and Facebook.

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Extended Interview with Rachel (Athora Cosplay) Lara Croft Go / London Underground Promotional Event

Last year, I spoke to three wonderful cosplayers about their adventure on the London Underground to promote "Lara Croft GO". The group were selected by Crystal Dynamics and Betty Brown PR to travel across the city as Lara on launch day, awarding commuters with iPad Minis. Instructions on how to win a tablet was included in copies of the Metro.

One of the cosplayers was Rachel, also known as Athora in the cosplaying community. Her detailed costumes and intriguing photoshoots has understandably captured a lot of attention over the years. She has received recognition from official TR social media channels and fansites, and was featured cosplayer on both Lara Croft Cosplay and the Tomb Raider Blog. In addition to that she was also the Official Cosplay Ambassador for the UK, promoting Rise of the Tomb Raider at EGX 2015 (formerly Eurogamer Expo). When she's not Lara Croft, she also portrays Belle from "Beauty and the Beast" and Wonder Woman.

You can read the full article, HERE and check out the full interview with Rachel below:

Tell us a little about yourself!

Hello! My name is Rachel! I'm 22 and live in Kent, UK. I currently work with race horses, which is
one of my passions! Among gaming, cosplay and of course, "Tomb Raider"! ;)

Photo by Darren Rowley Photography.

When did you get into "Tomb Raider" and cosplay?

I first got into cosplaying as Lara Croft when I made my very first costume. In 2008, some friends and I decided to attend MCM Expo which is held in London twice a year. "Tomb Raider Underworld" had just been released so it seemed apt for me to make a Lara Croft costume. :) I actually cosplayed as Anniversary Lara as I felt it was easier for me to make at the time.

How did you become involved in the Lara Croft GO event?

I was approached by the Senior Community Manager at Crystal Dynamics, Meagan Marie, to become involved with helping to promote the game and the Tomb Raider Cosplay community as their official UK representative at Eurogamer Expo (which was held in Birmingham in September). As their Official Lara Croft cosplayer I was also offered to help promote "Lara Croft GO" for an agency.

Was this the first you’ve cosplayed as part of a promotional event?

Yes!

[Editor Note: The Lara Croft GO event took place a month before EGX where Rachel acted as the Official UK Cosplay Ambassador and promoted "Rise of the Tomb Raider". This was her first time promoting Lara Croft at an official event, but she also was a spotlighted cosplayer at gaming conventions before then!]

Photo from Athora Cosplay's Facebook page.

How did you prepare for the day ahead?

I first made my costume extra durable so there was less chance of anything breaking if I happened to accidentally brush past somebody on the cramped tubes! Luckily my costume held up. ;) I also ensured my costume was safe so nothing could snag on anyone; that's one thing I often try to be weary of, even at conventions.

I spoke to other Official Lara Croft Cosplayers and asked for their advice, never be afraid to ask for advice! especially from those who have been doing it for many years! :) The best advice I received was "Smile like you're a Disney Princess".

What was your impression of the event, how did the day go?

I was first apprehensive as I didn't know how we would be received by the public, as you're travelling through the tube stations during peak times you could bump into a variety of people, both nice and not so nice! But once we were down in the tubes and adrenaline kicked in I was really enjoying myself. I think it rubbed off on other people too as many looked up and smiled, I was even called beautiful! I think the day went superbly, the lucky winners were ecstatic with their prizes and I'm so glad I helped to make people's day. One guy even said it was his last day at work, on top of winning an iPad! The smile on peoples faces as they walked away with their prizes was so satisfying, it made me feel great!

How many people came up to you during the event?

I would say all in all about six people? Not a great deal of people, especially not as many as I thought there would be! But not many people had a copy of the Metro newspaper on them, which told them the password on how to get an iPad. ;)

Photo from Athora Cosplay's Facebook page.

As you were interacting with the public, did you feel safe throughout the event?

I felt comfortable interacting with the public, I had an escort with me who kept hold of the iPads, plus a journalist and a photographer from the Metro Newspaper.

What kind of steps did the team make to ensure that everything went smoothly?

We all departed from the same station and went off on separate tube lines during the event, there were four of us dressed as Lara, each with our own escort. We were then instructed to meet back at the office once we'd handed out all of our iPads. The team had our travel cards ready for the day before we left and they ensured we were all comfortable and happy that we knew what we were doing so the day ran smoothly.

What cosplays are you working on now or planning?

I'm planning on reworking my "Rise of the Tomb Raider" costume, I'm also thinking of doing a classic Lara costume in the near future too! :)

A huge thank you to Rachel for taking time to do this interview!
You can follow her adventures on her Facebook page, Athora Cosplay.

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Promoting Lara Croft GO / Interviews with Helen, Laura and Rachel How Four Cosplayers Took Over the London Underground

In celebration of Lara Croft GO's launch, four cosplayers from the UK were recruited to promote the game in a new and interesting way. Each of the ladies were given three iPad Minis, a travel card and a route on the London Underground. Instructions on how to win a tablet from one of the Laras was hidden in copies of the Metro, a free newspaper offered to commuters at various stations. Inside the paper, it was revealed that you could win a tablet if you tell the password "Lara Croft GO" to a Lara on their travels across the city.

Being from London, I had an immediate interest in the promotional event. I also had some questions about their experiences and their thoughts on the day. For this article, I had the pleasure of talking to Rachel (Athora), Helen and Laura. A huge thank you to them for taking time out of their busy life to talk about this.

Photo from the Official Tomb Raider Blog.

One thing which stands out immediately from their interviews was how the project came about. There wasn't one email that was sent around, and each Lara was contacted at different times; a clear sign that this event spent a long time in a developmental stage, probably because this wasn't a stand-alone TR cosplay event.

The Cosplayers

For Helen, her invitation came during a cosplayer gathering over the Summer. "I attended the Tomb Raider meet up at Gamescom and Meagan [Senior Community Manager at Crystal Dynamics] came up to me to offer the role. I was taken by surprise but of course I said yes." Helen's motivation for taking part in the event came from following the series at an early age. " I grew up with the Tomb Raider models, wishing I could be like one of those" Each year, until 2009, Eidos employed a spokesperson to promote the brand as an official Lara Croft model. The lady chosen would portray Lara at various press events and conventions, taking part in photoshoots and interviews. After the release of Tomb Raider Underworld in 2008, the decade-long tradition ended with gymnast, Alison Carroll. In recent years, the tradition returned as something new, with a larger focus on cosplayers and the community promoting the series.

Rachel, also known online as Athora, has been involved in the cosplaying community for several years now. While she's accurately crafted outfits inspired by Belle (from Beauty and the Beast) and Wonder Woman, she's perhaps most know for her portrayal of Lara Croft. In her interview, she recalls getting the initial invite, "I was approached by [Meagan] to become involved with helping to promote the game and the Tomb Raider Cosplay community, as their official UK representative at Eurogamer Expo, which was held in Birmingham in September. As their Official Lara Croft cosplayer I was also offered to help promote Lara Croft GO for an agency."

Lisa's Photo by Justice Pictures UK / Helen's Photo by Darren Rowley Photography / Rachel's Photo by Darren Rowley Photography / Laura's Photo by Darren Rowley Photography

Laura's involvement in the Lara Croft GO event started with a surprise email asking if she would interested in taking part; "Lynn Daniel from 'Brown Betty' contacted me, Lisa and Helen via e-mail, after Rachel forwarded our details, asking if we'd be interested in the PR stunt for Square Enix." Laura's journey in cosplay began gradually; at first she put together a Lara Croft outfit for a school graduation fancy dress party at the age of fifteen. "A few years later, for a bit of fun, I wore that costume at a local beach and put the pictures on Facebook, where Sara [Croft] of Lara Croft Cosplay found me. I made the Doppelgänger outfit from Tomb Raider Underworld that Halloween and then Sara really helped me get into cosplay properly; my first full cosplay was Lara Croft from the 2013 rebooted Tomb Raider."

Preparation

For some of the Laras, this was the first time that they would be officially promoting a Tomb Raider/Lara Croft title at an event. Most of the costume preparation would have to wait until the big day, but there were a few things that could be done in the lead up to it.

As the event was going to be photographed, each Lara had to look similar which meant that Square Enix would supply the vest and shorts, ensuring that the colour matched. Helen recalls:"Myself, Laura, Rachel and Lisa just needed to provide a backpack, boots, holster and gloves. I made myself a backpack a couple of days before I travelled down to London with the help of Laura."

"I first made my costume extra durable so there was less chance of anything breaking if I happened to accidentally brush past somebody on the cramped tubes!" Rachel describes, "luckily my costume held up. I also ensured that my costume was safe so nothing could snag on anyone; that's one thing I often try to be weary of, even at conventions. I spoke to other Official Lara Croft Cosplayers and asked for their advice. Never be afraid to ask for advice, especially from those who have been doing it for many years! The best advice I received was 'Smile like you're a Disney Princess'"

Photo from the Official Tomb Raider Blog

Another important element of the event was punctuality. Many of the Laras lived outside of London and needed to travel into town to promote the game. The tour across London would begin just after the large morning rush hour, but before then each Lara had to get to reach the office. As Helen describes "I do sometimes get panic attacks and made sure my trip down was nice and calm as possible, just in case! Luckily all was okay! I stayed with some relatives for the weekend and that was it really apart from the night before; I was sat finishing edges on my bag while using a Korean sheet face mask!"

For Laura, she had quite a ways to travel, something which would have been impossible on the day. To take part in the event, she had to find an alternative solution, "As I was travelling from the North East and the journey was eight and a half hours, I stayed with some relatives, so I went down a couple of days early. I had to get a train in to the offices at 5.42am, so I made sure I got plenty of rest the night before and had a coffee when I got there! "

The Event

Before the day could begin, the cosplayers had a meet up point in London where they would get their Lara Croft gear on and would be walked through the schedule. Recalling the morning, Laura commented on how the team prioritized the cosplayers. "The Brown Betty team were very friendly and welcoming, they made sure we had everything we needed and that we all felt comfortable. They got each of us hot drinks and a copy of the 'Metro' newspaper with the Lara Croft GO feature while we were getting our makeup done in the morning. I've never had my makeup done professionally before so that was lovely! "

Photo from the Official Tomb Raider Blog.

Once in Lara Croft gear, the team began their journey, pausing momentarily at Farringdon Station for promotional photographs. As a group they travelled from the station to Kings Cross where they split up and went on different underground lines."We all departed from the same station and went off on separate tube lines during the event, there were four of us dressed as Lara, each with our own escort." Rachel begins, "We were then instructed to meet back at the office once we'd handed out all of our iPads. The team had our travel cards ready for the day, before we left, and they ensured we were all comfortable and happy and that we knew what we were doing so the day ran smoothly."

Each cosplayer had three iPad Minis to give away, a total of twelve overall, but with the Laras travelling in different directions, the devices were soon in the hands of the public. "As I stepped off the train [at King's Cross] I had my first winner. Rounding the corner the second, and as I got pictures with him, the third and final winner approached. So the prize-giving was over rather rapidly for me! People were still running up to me to say 'Lara Croft GO' and I had to tell them that I had no more prizes but most people just seemed happy enough to 'meet Lara Croft', it was a great feeling."

Photo from the official Tomb Raider Blog.

Helen faced a similar situation. "I think I had around 7 people approach me within 25 minutes, obviously only the first three won the iPads. Some of the people had a real nostalgia trip and were just as happy to get a picture with Lara Croft! Many of the passengers looked on and knew who I was cosplaying as even if they didn’t approach me to whisper the password ‘Lara Croft GO’."

For the cosplayers, the event ended pretty soon after setting out, and they made their way back to the studios where they reconvened with the others in the group. Reflecting on the morning, Helen describes the adventure as a "fantastic event that really worked for what the game represented. Lara Croft GO harks back to the classic aesthetics and is all about experiencing Tomb Raider on the go. So by having a Lara on the tube travelling around London, it is a visual representation. All the iPads were snapped up pretty quickly, so it is nice to know that the advertisement in the Metro had an impact and that people were actively on the look out. Also we avoided a potential tube strike which was pure luck!"

Photography by Metro / Image via Athora Cosplay.
 

The day seemed to be a success with a smooth journey, and was relatively stress free. Commenting on how the event felt, Rachel describes her experiences and her thoughts.. "I was first apprehensive as I didn't know how we would be received by the public, as you're travelling through the tube stations during peak times you could bump into a variety of people, both nice and not so nice! But once we were down in the tubes and adrenaline kicked in I was really enjoying myself. I think it rubbed off on other people too as many looked up and smiled, I was even called beautiful! I think the day went superbly. The lucky winners were ecstatic with their prizes and I'm so glad I helped to make people's day. One guy even said it was his last day at work, on top of winning an iPad! The smile on peoples faces as they walked away with their prizes was so satisfying, it made me feel great"

 

The Topic of Safety

When I contacted the group, I told them about that I would be discussing the topic of safety during the article, to make sure they were okay with it. The London Underground is safe but it doesn't always feel welcoming, and sometimes when I've travelled on it, there's been a guy testing boundaries or just general creepiness. When I first heard of the event, I was slightly concerned about safety. I didn't think that anything was going to happen, but I didn't want the Laras to be in that position of promoting the brand and feeling as though, because they were in that role, that they had to be nice to intimidating characters.

Promotional advert for the event.

The first person I talked to was Meagan Marie (Senior Community Manager at Crystal Dynamics). I messaged her to make sure that I could write about the Lara Croft GO event and conduct interviews with the cosplayers, and that there was no contract or paperwork which prevented that. I also mentioned that I had wanted to ask about safety in the interviews. Along with a green light, she also illuminated how safety was a primary focus that remained throughout the planning and the event. The cosplayers were accompanied by a guide who would make sure that the event went smoothly, and that they would be the ones with the iPad Minis, not the Laras.

Admittedly as soon as I heard that Meagan was part of the preparation, the situation changed in my mind. She has led several cosplay gatherings and appeared as a special guest in costume at numerous events. A couple of years ago she spoke about treatment of women in the gaming industry in a blog post entitled "What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid" which also covered cosplay. Her passion for the hobby is matched by her knowledge of the scene, and her experiences gives her a insight into how cosplay events can be improved to ensure everyone has fun and feels safe.

In addition to Meagan, I also talked to the Laras about any concerns they had during the event and if they felt safe. Talking to Helen, she describes "I had a minder with me at all times, as did all the other Laras. I knew if I felt panicky or uncomfortable then we could stop for a bit; but I felt very safe throughout and it was just like travelling to a convention in all honesty. I was made aware of all the safety procedures before I agreed to the event so I knew everything would be in hand and I wasn’t going to be left alone. "

Photo by Metro via Athora's Cosplay FB page.

Helen also spoke about the possibly of changed plans or anything that would disrupt getting to the offices or the Underground on the day, as well as the role of their guides. "There was also emails before the event checking that we were all okay costume wise and what would happen if the tube strike went ahead, so that we wouldn’t travel to London and find that plans had changed. Our minders also made sure we were okay while we were travelling around and kept an eye out just in case anyone decided to be a little creepy or was harassed. Thankfully, plan A worked out perfectly and we all had a great time and lots of laughs."

Future Projects

Of course I couldn't have a cosplay feature without asking them about their upcoming projects! Speaking to the three ladies, it was nice to see some overlap with the project, and how they continue to pursue Tomb Raider inspired cosplays.

For Rachel, her next project will be about refining some of her older projects, and improving upon them; "I'm planning on reworking my Rise of the Tomb Raider costume, I'm also thinking of doing a classic Lara costume in the near future too!"

(You can follow Rachel's adventures on Facebook and Instagram.)

Rachel and Laura share a similar goal, with a new cosplay inspired by Lara's latest adventure. "I'm currently working on Lara Croft from the upcoming 'Rise of the Tomb Raider' and my next planned cosplay is Xiuying Hong from Shenmue II. "

(To keep up to date on Laura's future cosplays, follow her on Facebook, Twitter and deviantArt)

With Helen, she recently celebrated the completion of her new TR outfit, which you can see photos of from EGX (Eurogamer Expo) in Birmingham. "The next on my list is Aloy from Horizon: Zero Dawn and I am redoing my GLaDOS for competition next year. I’ll finally get around to doing a Rise cosplay next summer."

(Check out Helen's previous and upcoming adventures on Twitter and Facebook.)

A huge thank you to Rachel, Laura and Helen for taking the time to do the interviews. It was great hearing about your experiences from the event.

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Behind the Scenes of Tomb Raider Divinations [Fan Film]

From its initial plans, Tomb Raider Divinations was always going to be an ambitious project, both as  a fan film and a creation funded by public support. The announcement was made February of this year by the Director and Writer, Graham Jones. The announcement also accompanied a pledge campaign set up on Kickstarter to finance the film. Divinations would be Black Dragon's second Tomb Raider fan film, following Tomb Raider: Lost Valley last year. This time the team returned with expanded exceptions and a bigger budget.

In anticipation for their project, I had the opportunity to talk to Graham as well as Anna Tyrie who plays Lara Croft.

Promotional Shot from Tomb Raider Divinations' Facebook Page.

The original goal for the campaign was £1,000 but by the end the team had collected £1,228 with the help of the project's 26 backers. However using a service like Kickstarter also adds a further element of risk; its no longer personal project but one with financial backing by numerous partners in which money was put forward for a project in its infancy. Many projects with funding campaigns can have problems persuading or finding their audience, whereas others receive the full backing but due to complications struggles with the budget given. To avoid these issues, planning and preparation is absolutely vital.

In our interview, Graham explains the reason for choosing Kickstarter and where the money raised throughout the month went to: "We produced our first 'Lost Valley' film with nothing but a few pounds from my pocket to put together a costume and dye each piece. We filmed in one day. When we came up with our fresh trilogy story we knew that Divinations would need more than just a few pounds, as we wanted to start to bring other locations into the film; that would mean travelling between locations, feeding people, dressing our characters and updating some of our equipment. It just seemed that Kickstarter was for us, a great community of people for fan film producers. We gathered together all of our research, looked into locations and actors then started to set up our campaign page."

Like many publicly funded projects, while the campaign collected donations throughout the month, it was the final few hours which secured financial support for the project. Graham comments about those last few hours "we were all pretty shocked in the end, we had been throwing out the campaign for that month, and it started to generate some interest; but as the donations started to flow in right at the end, it almost feels like our hard work was working. Just had to wait that little bit longer and not give up on our project." While the team had a plan in mind encase the Kickstarter goal wasn't met, a successful pledge campaign allowed them to expand on their original plans and bring the film to its fullest potential. "Tomb Raider was a perfect opportunity to show the web the potential our small filming group has."

Production Photo from Tomb Raider Divinations' Facebook Page.

With their project funded and underway, the team's new goal was to meet the expectations both of the audience and themselves. Graham explains that he didn't want to recreate a scene from a level of Tomb Raider, "we wanted to cross our ideas into a small series, but at the same time I didn't want to push for a larger budget".

The film's leading lady, Anna Tyrie, is perhaps a familiar name to Tomb Raider fans with similar previous experiencing portraying Lara in Tomb Raider Ascension and Tomb Raider The Lost Valley. As an actor with a passion for the series, she is the perfect in the role. Returning to that role she explains her trick for getting into character "Costume plays a huge part in finding that character.  Once you put on the boots and the holster you really start to feel kick ass.  I will spend quite a lot of time in training in the run up to filming, focusing on fitness and technique. Then on the day it's simply a case of focusing." Anna's approach to the role brings a very clear passion for the series and character, "Lara is very simply strong and stunning.  I love strong women.  And Lara does it with such style. "

"Shooting Tomb Raider Divinations was as thrilling as all of my Tomb Raider shoots.  I am incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to portray my heroine.  There is nothing more fun than throwing yourself around in a forest or on a beach." And with a new adventure comes new scenes and opportunities for Anna. Describing her favourite memory on set, "I think my favourite day was when I got to play with a sword, it was rather heavy but so much fun."

Production Photo from Tomb Raider Divinations' Facebook Page.

As the Director and Writer for the fan film, Graham's favourite moment was about the atmosphere on set and the day ahead. "My favorite moment would have to be meeting up each morning, grabbing food from a superstore and driving in our mini convoy to the set. I love starting early with all my best mates, setting up the costumes and equipment. There's never a dull moment on our sets, doesn't matter if we are making a comedy or a horror, we are always have cracking banter." Throughout the filming, behind the scenes videos were recorded of the cast and crew heading to the set and reflecting on each day, and with each recording you can feel their enthusiasm.

Of course, with every project, there's always challenges to completing it. Filming began in early Spring, and in England that can be one of two things; unseasonably hot days or Winter's struggling grip. Unfortunately for the cast and crew it was the latter. Similar situations were faced by the team behind Hunted and Tomb Raider: Reboot, with Lara adventures so often set around curses, perhaps they've uncovered a real one. Anna begins, describing about the challenges she faced on set. "I am always shooting in the cold weather, it seems to be my curse.  I was aware that it may be a little chilly and so I packed thermal underwear and try to make sure I was well rested and that I ate well in order to stay healthy. "

Production Photo from Tomb Raider Divinations' Facebook Page.

Graham's challenges were a little different, especially as his role involved capturing the perfects shots to schedule "every time we went to a location to scout it out, beautiful sets with everything we needed. Classic in my Jones nature of luck, we turned up to film at the Quarry.... Norwich council were chopping down our forest because of an over running amount of Ivy eating away at the trees. So we really had to work around the sounds of men yelling, and Chainsaws ripping into trees, on the one day we had a huge schedule, we had that to battle with!" While Lara is in contact with Zip throughout her adventure, the film also features quieter moments in which she must survey and master her surroundings in order to progress. These scenes were filmed with a combination of good focus for the actors and precise timing, as they were shot between the groan of chainsaws.

Tomb Raider Divinations celebrated its launch just a little while ago! It's a polished and impressive film which has taken months of dedication and care to get it to completion. In our interview, Graham talked about the final stage getting to the final product. "The final few months saw my electricity bills rocketing through the roof as my PC was endlessly rendering out visual effects elements for the film, each night saw me getting home from work cleaning animations, setting up scenes and setting it off over night to render through my ever growing queue of graphics." In addition to the animations, various last minute additions were made, "towards the end we really wanted to add scenes that were in the script that we couldn't pull off because of the budget. We had a mad rush around to tie up any loose ends, going back to locations to capture any extra shots we wanted."





Now with Tomb Raider Divinations completed, the team at Black Dragon will be finishing their work on the Kickstarter campaign. While future plans for them weren't discussed in detail, we were promised to see unique projects coming from them in the future. For Anna, she's continuing her work on stage in London, but also teased a possible return to Lara's boots. "Well I am working with Secret Cinema at the moment in a live event in London (Star Wars but shhhh it's a secret) that runs until September 27th.  Then I will be working with the Tomb Raider Divinations crew to create something original but equally ass kickin'. "

Thank you to Graham Jones and Anna Tyrie for talking about their experience on Tomb Raider Divinations. Make sure to watch the film on their YouTube channel, and subscribe to both Black Dragon and Anna for more goodness in the future! Check out the Tomb Raider Divinations Facebook page for more production photos.

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Community Spotlight: Danii / MasamuneCosplay (w. Interview)

I hope you all had a great E3! There will be more updates from the show appearing on the site over the next few days, but I wanted to take a quick break in the middle of the rush to spotlight a specific fan's awesome work. I really like it when fans cosplay, I'm utterly useless at it myself, but I admire those who do as a hobby. The amount of dedication and accuracy they put into the outfit, searching for the right location, preparation for the photograph; it's a lot of work! Danii, also known as online as Masamune, is a talented Lara Croft cosplayer who has posted a series of stunning photos online via her DeviantArt page.

She recently completed a Lara Croft costume with a twist; combining elements of the classic series with elements of Steampunk. The result is a beautiful original outfit with impressive fine details which you may not pick up immediately, but which add to the outfit. There may be a few Steampunk interpretations of Lara's outfit but the incredible thing about each is the variety; no outfit looks similar and each artist has gone their own different route. Danii's outfit is undeniable beautiful and her ability to capture Lara's personality is a real talent. She makes a wonderful Tomb Raider!

Recently I had the opportunity to talk to her about her work. Read our conversation below!

You can follow her adventures on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and deviantArt.

 Tell us a little about yourself!

I am a British cosplayer and I have been an avid comic book, video game and anime fan from as long as I can remember. I would get so immersed with the wonderful stories and art. I would always run around in the garden pretending I was from some sort of alternate universe or magical land with super powers!

What inspired you to cosplay as Lara Croft?

I have always been a huge fan of Lara Croft, I have played every game! She is such a strong female video game character and as a young girl I found her very inspiring. I wanted to pay homage to her but also put my own twist on the costume. I love steampunk, so I thought I would have a go at designing my own original costume.

How did you come up with the design for your own Lara Croft Steampunk outfit?

Firstly I decided that I wanted to base my version of Lara Croft on the classic Lara look from the PS1 series. I wanted to make sure that her main elements were featured, in order to make the cosplay relatable, then I added all of the steampunk adaptations.

What has been the hardest part of designing the outfit and how did you work around it?

I think my main hurdle was designing the costume so that it had enough Steampunk elements but was still recognisable as Lara Croft. Which is why I decided to add the steampunk gauntlet and bracer and also the jetpack, which replaced her usual backpack. I also wanted to focus on smaller features, such as adding a silver cog onto her leather gloves and the lace trim I sewed onto her shorts.

There were a few tricky parts. Designing the gauntlets were fun but challenging! Especially deciding on where to add the cogs, keys, clock hands and wire. It was also my first time making a leather bracer. The jetpack was difficult, I went to B&Q and bought so many items to piece it all together. From hose pipes, to plungers, a hack saw, PVC pipe, hose rings, an AC vent and the list goes on.

 

 What tips would you give someone who wants to cosplay Lara?

I would recommend looking at concept art and as many reference pictures as you can to get a clear, concise idea of her costume. I also spend as much time as I can researching for materials and new methods when it comes to crafting. I also find that listening to the soundtrack of the character I’m cosplaying helps too!

Looking back at when you started cosplaying, what challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

When I first started cosplaying I hadn’t sewed before so I found that very daunting. Through watching many tutorials and with the help of a dear friend of mine I managed to learn and overcame that problem.

What's the best thing about cosplaying?

The best thing about cosplaying to me, is being able to bring your favourite characters to life and seeing the outcome of all the hard work you have put into the crafting process and also meeting lots of awesome like minded people when attending conventions.

What's the strangest thing about cosplaying?

I think that would be the strange looks that I get on public transport whenever I’m on my way to a convention. Peoples reactions can be very entertaining!

 

Why do you cosplay?

I cosplay because of my deep undying love for all things video game, comic book and anime related. I love paying homage to my favourite games and characters, plus it keeps me creative and I’m always learning new things.

Where can we follow your adventures online?

You can follow me on deviant art: Masamune Cosplay
and Instagram: Shiro Masamune
and Facebook: Masamune and Nightingale Cosplay
and Twitter: Shiro Masamune

A HUGE thank you to Danii for the interview!

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Community Spotlight: TholiaArt (w. Interview)

If you take a wander through the Tomb Raider fandom, even semi-regularly, chances are that you've already encountered Tholia's incredible art several times in your journeys. Her work has appeared on numerous blogs, fansites and forums, posted by fans who have fallen in love with her skill.

Her art is instantly recognizable, and that's a good thing! Tholia has established a unique style which captures Lara Croft perfectly and looks stunning. Whether she is portraying the classic adventurous Lara or the determined survivor from recent games, she accurately reflects the character's emotions and strengths in each piece.

Something I also love about her work is the amount of variety in the locations. There are some which feature just the character in an iconic adventurer pose, but many of them are scenes from midway through her adventures. Tomb Raider has always been about the exciting locations and the dangerous pursuits, and Tholia's art reflects this beautifully.

Recently I had the opportunity to talk to her about her work. Read our conversation below!

 

G&G: Tell us a little about yourself!

Tholia: I’m a French graphic designer, 31 y.o, working in Ready-To-Wear and Homewear for kids and women by day, playing video games by evening and drawing fanarts by night. Very in fond of Lara Croft as you can guess, but also Final Fantasy, Sailor Moon (and not ashamed to say it loud ^^) and too much more.

I wish I could have time for cosplay and cooking too.

How did you become a Tomb Raider fan?

I was 13 when I was offered my PSone. My brother told me about Tomb Raider - which was released since about a year already - and he offered it to me for my birthday. It was the very first game I played on this console. The woman was strong and tall, I was so weak and tiny, she became my model at once. I lived epic adventures through hers, she made me dream of an extraordinary life that I’ve been yearning for.

How did you develop your unique drawing style and was there anything which inspired you?

By practicing several hours, almost every day since I was 11. I started by copying Naoko Takeuchi (Sailor Moon author), Adam Hughes, Joe Madureira and Scott Campbell. I wanted to understand the way they were drawing. I fell in love with their styles and tried to learn as much as I could from their art.

Then I started to share my fanarts on the internet (my own creations of course, the copies I made were only for study purposes). I think this is when I’ve been learning the most, because I received a lot of feedback from Captain Alban’s forum members. That helps a lot, good criticism is the best way to improve your skills, even if it hurts sometimes.

Then I discovered new artists through DeviantArt mainly. I was stunned by Charlie Bowater, Loish, Jermilex and Genzoman. I envied the way they were painting, because all I could do was lineart -which I really learnt thanks to Tiphaine Vaudable, aka “Illyne”- and I wanted to learn more than this. In the end, I like the change and do not fit into one and only style.

 

Is there any particular way of drawing that you prefer (such as sketching, painting or digital), and if so what and why?

Sketching remains my very favorite way of drawing, because it’s all about feeling. I do not care about the final result, I just want to put an idea, a feeling on paper. Whether I’m sad or happy, this is the way I express my feelings.

Whereas when I paint/draw, I can’t help but thinking about all the tiny details, and often get lost in my work. I forget about the pleasure and the reason why I start drawing. I remain too much focused on what I’m doing more than on what I’m feeling.

What tips would you give someone who wants to improve their drawing skills?

I would say one needs to try several styles first to find his own. Then practicing is the key of course, but one also needs to keep eyes wide open to the world, to get inspired by new things, try new things. Redraw is a nice exercise too, take an old drawing and do it again, it’s really encouraging from a year to another! Not being afraid by criticism, showing his work to many people - not only friends - is important to get as much feedback as possible, get lessons if needed. But no teacher will teach you your art better than you and your will.

What’s the most difficult part of Lara to draw correctly and why?

Her face is the most important and difficult part to draw in my opinion. Because I want her to look kinda fierce but beautiful at the same time.

 

You’ve drawn many different characters, but you frequently come back to the Tomb Raider series, what is it about the games and the character which makes you want to create new artwork?

I guess it’s because I loved the old games so much, I’m still yearning for the good Lara to come back with epic adventures. I enjoyed Reborn a lot, but didn’t feel like playing a Tomb Raider game though. The new Lara is still too sweet and not sexy at all anymore, I miss the badass Lara and that’s why I keep drawing her the way I love endlessly.

Still, I’m reading the new Tomb Raider comics and I must say that there were a few moments when I thought “Yeahhh, that’s my Lara!”. So, I’m yearning for Rise to know what did she become since ^^

 Where can we follow your adventures online?

You can follow me on my Facebook, Instagram and DeviantArt accounts for both finished works and works in progress. Whereas my Tumblr and Twitter are mainly dedicated to finished pieces ^^

Anyway, just look for “TholiaArt” and you’ll find me.



A big thank you to Tholia for the interview! 

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Community Spotlight: Irene's Survivor Reborn Cosplay (w. Interview)

The focus for our latest Community Spotlight is a talented cosplayer, model and musician from Greece, Irene Astral.

Irene's portrayal of the latest incarnation of Lara's character is incredible and photographs from her photoshoot has graced numerous websites including official channels. She captures the strength, bravery and beauty of Lara's character perfectly.

Cosplay by: Irene Astral | Photography by: SpirosK Photography

Her costume and ability to reflect the personality those who she portrays is a special talent that takes years of careful mastering. From the weathered look to the detail of the props, Irene brings the character to life in a unique way. Something really special about the album is how comfortable she looks within the cosplay; the outfit has been clearly tailored to mirror Lara while also looking like it's something Irene would wear herself.

Cosplay by: Irene Astral | Photography by: SpirosK Photography

While dark and muddy environments were the usual backdrop for Lara's latest adventure, Irene's photoshot is more reminiscent of the game's closing sequence. There's certainly an impression of, not only determination, but familiarization with her surroundings that the character had at the end; where dangerous situations were challenges rather than impossible encounters. 

Cosplay by: Irene Astral | Photography by: SpirosK Photography

We were fortunate to have the opportunity to catch up with Irene and speak to her about her cosplay:

Tell us a little about yourself!

I am a Greek cosplayer, artist and agency represented model. Apart from my cosplay costumes, I also love making my own clothes and accessories. I am a student at the National University of Athens currently obtaining my Master’s degree on Applied Environmental Geology. I am a former alpine skier and track athlete. In my free time I enjoy playing video games, watching movies, and long walks around the city of Athens.


What inspired you to cosplay as Lara Croft?

The fact that she’s a young scientist ready to begin with her adventure. She’s an archaeologist, and I’m a geologist, both occupations require field trips in the wilderness. Her outfit, especially the one in the last Tomb Raider game, is really similar to mine when I go on such trips, so it was an easy yet exciting character to cosplay. Although the costume was easy to make, the character gave me the opportunity to try new poses and expressions, something I really enjoyed.


What tips would you give to someone who wants to cosplay the character?

Although it’s an easy costume, there are important details that have to be addressed. One should study many reference pictures in order to find out where the bandages, blood stains and other marks are located. Also, one should not be afraid of getting dirty. I had to climb, crawl and dive in dirt just to give my outfit that weathered feel.


How did you go about searching for locations for your photos?

To be honest, that was the photographer’s task. There’s a mountain close to Athens, Parnitha Mountain, where all our locations were found. SpirosK, my photographer, had previously worked in that area on various projects, so it was easy for him to find the perfect location. For the beach photos, we headed to the Northern shores of Attica to find what we wanted.


Looking back at when you started cosplaying, what challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

I have always been a crafter experimenting with different materials. But since I had only worked on original designs I could customize them to fit my skills and methods. That’s not the case when dealing with somebody else’s art. You need to be precise, so you have to recreate a specific design in real life, with the very same textures and the very same feel. Since many characters are not meant to wander around in real life, it’s a real challenge bringing them to our world. I’m always researching new materials and methods and try to create my own patterns from scratch. That’s not an easy task; it requires patience, skill and dedication. Up to this day I always strive to become better.

Cosplay by: Irene Astral | Photography by: SpirosK Photography

Thank you to Irene for the interview!

You can follow her adventures on Facebook and Deviant Art.

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Extended Interview: Anne Roig Hunted - A Fan Film Based on Tomb Raider

Hunted is an upcoming fan film, a collaboration between a group of friends and cosplayers. It's an exciting venture and one I very much recommend following through their Facebook page. Last year I wrote an article with the help of interviews from the awesome cast and crew, as well as photographs from the filming.  Extracts of the interviews were used in the piece, and throughout this week, I'll be posting up their full answers. Our final interview is with Anne Roig, the actor portraying Lara in the fan film. 

Follow Anne here: Facebook   /  Twitter

As you're in the middle of production, what are your views on the project? Is it exciting or daunting? 

 

To be perfectly honest, it has been an exciting challenge! When the project was just in its baby stages, and planning had only just begun, we all agreed that we were going to give it the best that we all had, whatever it may be. We are not a professional team, just a bunch of crazy hardcore Tomb Raider fans with a passion to bring Lara to life! We’ve never asked for money or donations, so all of this is coming straight out of our pockets. I feel it is something to be proud of, however, it does cause quite a bit of frustration when you can’t afford the proper equipment. But that’s where the beauty of innovation lies, and we’ve only just begun!

What challenges have you faced so far? And was it something you prepared for at the start?

We certainly prepared as much as we could before everyone arrived for filming. You should have seen Sara; she was the list making queen! However, I believe nothing could have prepared us for the crazy journey that soon took place as everyone was getting ready to meet. Sara, Carla, and Sara’s husband Steven all piled into their car and only made it about 40 miles into the trip before their car broke down in the middle of the highway! They had to pay out of pocket to have it towed back, which was a huge set back. Not only did they use up the rest of their savings, but it also meant we had lost a whole day’s worth of filming. So that day, Shu (the director of the fan film, and also our Mathias!) and I talked and agreed that we were willing to drive states away in order to pick everyone up and bring them to our apartment. 

So the next morning, we set out on our eight hour journey to New Hampshire to pick everyone up! When we finally made it back home, we had to juggle finishing up miscellaneous props and costume pieces, take care of my son (who, might I add, is in his terrible two’s!), and get filming equipment ready, etc. (which we had a *TON* of technical failures with boom mics not wanting to work, among other things.). There should have been Benny Hill music playing in the background, because we all looked like chickens with our heads cut off! By the time everything had been finished, the struggle to find a babysitter had been resolved, and we had all gotten into costume and makeup, we loaded the car up with a ridiculous amount of gear and props. We all squished ourselves in like a clown car and headed to location. We got about half way there and realized it was *WAY* too cold to safely film the planned scene. Needless to say, with our hearts crushed, and frustration high, we were still not going to give up, so we did an impromptu photo shoot and called it a day! 

So now we had lost two full days worth of filming, and it seemed like fate was completely against us, however it never got us down. Everyone remained positive and the next morning we made sure to have everything ready super early (Thanks to Sara and her ridiculously awesome ability to organize everything with her lists, seriously… I’m super impressed!). We made it on location, and even though it was still dangerous for us to film, we did it anyway! We took all of our props and gear, (which collectively weighed a couple hundred pounds, at least!) and hiked roughly 15 minutes in through the frozen tundra of a forest to get to the perfect location. We literally risked life and limb trying to get the scene filmed, everyone unfortunately got frost nip, and my poor knees suffered almost getting straight up frost bite! 

Then, in order to get home, we had to force our frozen bodies to lug all of our gear over a frozen lake, hike up through frozen snow covered hills, and forged our own path through a blizzard! It may sound crazy, but it was totally worth every second to me. I have never seen such a strong willed, dedicated, and crazy passionate group of people before in my life! So despite all of the countless numbers of setbacks, challenges, and complications, we all stuck together as a team and got through it alive! And for that, I’m extremely proud of us!

Photography and Makeup by Shu Pate

What is it about the latest incarnation of Lara and Tomb Raider which has inspired you to create this movie?

Where to even begin? I have been a fan of Lara since the beginning, and to be honest, the newest incarnation of her is my absolute favorite. There’s a certain rawness, or vulnerability I guess you could say, to Lara that no one has ever seen! The raw emotions you hear in her voice, the realness of situations where it’s fight or flight, is so real and captivating (and terrifying at times!). And to be what seems so up close and personal with Lara on her journey of finding out who she is, and seeing her become the badass we recognize today is very inspiring and empowering! My favorite line she says is “I can do this.”, and I find myself in my daily struggles quoting her time and time again!

What has been your favourite or most memorable moment of the project so far?

Definitely our first day of filming, I know it’s something I will never forget. It’s also something that I believe we will reminisce about for a very long time. I’ve learned so many valuable lessons about friendships and teamwork to last a life time! It was definitely an adventure!

What made you want to create a fanfilm?

I’ve lost count of how many years I’ve been friends with Kate, and as far back as I can remember we have always wanted to team up and create a fan film! I’ve been obsessed with cosplay and making films pretty much my whole life. I even went to school for film and animation, and my first official movie I made was a Resident Evil fan film! Sadly, life happens and I ran into a lot of personal problems, so I stopped cosplaying for many years. However, my fiancé Shu had started working with me to help build my confidence back up and get back into it. Because of that, I had met Sara online through her website and was welcomed back into it with loving arms! After getting to know each other better, we realized we lived pretty close, so we planned a Tomb Raider photo shoot, which then turned into the idea of the fan film, and I was floored with excitement! Then, as planning took shape, Carla joined the team, and I was speechless, talk about a dream team! So I’ve jumped on the opportunity, and I haven’t looked back since! I believe it’s been the best decision of my life, I’ve never had something I’ve worked so hard for and have been so proud of! 

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