Roronoa_Zoro

What got you into cosplay?
I've always been fascinated by costumes. Being an actor, I realize the potential costumes have to help transform an actor from average to amazing just by the way it makes them feel. I also have a thing for "collecting" costumes. But what really did it was when I was doing some Star Wars research and came across the website for the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers. At that moment, I knew it was something I wanted to do.
What was your first costume and why?
My first costume was Grand Admiral Thrawn from the Star Wars Expanded Universe. Thrawn is without-a-doubt my favorite Star Wars character. He's a villain in the sense that he's on the "bad guy" side, but he's also a good person. He uses his brain instead of his fists and by doing so, is portrayed as an icy and collected character. He is the essence of my kind of villain.
Do you have a dream costume you'd like to make?
With Zoro all but complete, I'm moving on into the world of Bleach. Ichigo Kurosaki will be my next endeavor. What I'd really like to do is a few of his plain-clothes, shinigami, and possibly his hollow form. After that, maybe the Riddler from Batman fame.
What has been your most memorable cosplay experience?
To date, my most memorable moment is definately when I got to stand up front for the big 501st picture at Celebration III. For those of you who've seen it, I was Emperor Palaptine there. To top off that honor, Jay Lag'aia (Captain Typho) stood only a couple feet away from me for some pictures as well. What an experience!
Tell us a little about yourself
I'm Derek. I was born and raised in beautiful Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. My family moved to Colorado in 1999 just before my freshman year of high school. Yes, I miss the beach more than you can believe, but I make due. Colorado isn't all that bad - it has it's perks. Anyway, I'm an outgoing guy. I like to chill with friends, watch movies, eat at Wendy's, and just about everything else your average college student enjoys. I've just only recently becomed obsessed with "One Piece." I'm currently a student at the University of Northern Colorado. By trade, I'm an actor. A stage actor, to be exact. I work at the Union Colony Dinner Theatre as an actor as well as a server. As far as hobbies go, I'm learning Photoshop and I think I'm getting good at it.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I can spin my arm around 360 degrees! If you catch me at a con, ask me to show you!
My favorite anime
Bleach and One Piece!
My favorite game(s)
Destroy All Humans!, Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Star Wars Galaxies, Monopoly, Sid Meier's Pirates!, Sea Dogs, Black and White (1 & 2), The Sims 2, Microsoft Flight Simulator, The Movies, City of Villains, Guild Wars.
My favorite book(s)
Jurassic Park, Frankenstein, Airframe, the Star Wars Thrawn Saga, The Chronicles of Narnia, Angels and Demons, The Da Vinci Code.
My favorite character(s)
Kurosaki Ichigo (Bleach), Roronoa Zoro (One Piece), Grand Admiral Thrawn (Star Wars), Scar (The Lion King), Lumiere (Beauty and the Beast), The Riddler (Batman), Captain Hook (Peter Pan), Emperor Palpatine (Star Wars), Sanji (One Piece), Tony Tony Chopper (One Piece), and many more.
My favorite movies(s)
American Psycho, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Forrest Gump, Finding Neverland, Hook, War of the Worlds (2005), Door to Door, From Hell, Donnie Darko, The Boondock Saints, Mister Roberts, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Aviator, Jurassic Park, Titus, Gladiator, Troy, Master and Commander, Best in Show, The Truman Show, Liar Liar, Road to Perdition, Star Wars, Twister, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Waiting for Guffman, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.
My favorite actors/actresses
Johnny Depp, Jim Carey, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks, William H. Macy, Steve Carell.