A moment with the human....
I first started watching Doctor Who back in 2010, ironically at a time in my life when I really needed the Doctor. With the first edition of Hal-Con, Halifax's local Sci-Fi & Fantasy convention, I'd started cosplaying the Doctor. First my own version of 12 ... which everyone thought was David Tennant's Ten, so I switched to Ten. After a couple years of fine tuning my costume, in the summer of 2012 I happened to pick up a couple Adipose dolls from Quantum Frontier Comics and Games. One for me, one for my best friend. Just before the November 2012 Hal-Con, I decided to add my Adipose to the costume, wedging it into a coat pocket that already had a big hole inside it and was useless anyway.
That's how it all started. One random moment of "Why the hell not?" At the Con itself, I was suddenly getting all sorts of attention. Far more notice than I'd gotten in 2010 or 2011. And why? The Adipose in my pocket. That was what got me noticed. Several weeks later I joined Hal-Con for the Halifax Parade of Lights for the first time. Once again I shoved the plush Adipose into my coat pocket before making my way to the parade start, and once again, it was the Adipose that got my fellow geek's attention. Spryfield Christmas parade, exactly the same thing. Suddenly I had something and an audience for it. I just had no idea what to do with it.
Now if you look at the Spryfield Christmas Parade, you'll notice the Holiday Harley Quinn and her Santa puppet. That's "Inappropriate Santa," and that's how I figured out what to do. When Harley launched his Facebook Profile, I realized I was really over thinking things and in January of 2013 Adi the Adipose showed up on Facebook. At the end of January I did her first photo shoot in order to have some pics for the Facebook page, and her official "live" debut was at a Hal-Con hangout in early March. But as you'll see from some of the old pictures, the character still wasn't quite set.
I initially decided that Adi would be female because, up to that point, every single character I'd ever created was, of course, male. I thought it was time to change it up. However, she wasn't initially going to have any vision issues. Over the course of events like the St. Patrick's Day Parade, Pride Parade, and so forth, I was slowly building up a supply of items and props that I could use to create themed "costumes" of a sort for each event. I was also already toying with the idea of cosplays. With Adi being a part of my own cosplay, I found something inherently funny about having part of my cosplay doing its own cosplays. As I dress as the 10th Doctor, I thought it might be interesting to have Adi dress as the Eleventh. I picked up a pair of black, wire frame glasses from Build-a-Bear that resembled the ones Matt Smith begins to wear in "The Angels Take Manhattan," but I had a problem. I don't have the skills to put together an overly complex costume myself. I could put ideas together, sure, but Eleven was way out of my league. Since I couldn't return the glasses, I logically had to use them. After a bit of research into vision defects, I thought giving her astigmatism sounded more creative than being far-sighted or near-sighted, and after confirming that it could be corrected with glasses, astigmatism officially jumped the species barrier and Adi the Adipose was officially born.
That covers most of how she came to be. From there, I brought her into every realm of social media I could think of, experimenting to see what worked (IE Twitter) and what didn't (Ask.fm, Ello, Google Plus). One year later at Hal-Con 2013 was my first taste of her success. I'm extremely shy by nature and normally don't interact with Con guests but walked right up to the table of comic book artist Christopher Jones (as it turns out, really nice guy and extremely supportive) for no reason other than to say hi. Why'd I do it? On twitter Adi had promised him that she would at the Con. 2013 was the first year Hal-Con had a flash mob. I don't dance willingly, but was still in it. Why? The choreographer had planned to open the video (a version of which where I added some voice work can be found in the "Adi-Media" section by clicking on "videos") with Adi. Over the course of the Con, I had more requests for pictures of Adi than I did for my own costume.
So that's the how and a bit of the why. The core of why I do it is two reasons, both of which are pretty simple. First and foremost, Adi exists both for and because of the people of Hal-Con. The local Geek community is one of the most welcoming and accepting groups of people I have ever encountered and if I can use whatever tiny sliver of fame Adi has gained me to help promote them and encourage what these other amazing creators do, it is my pleasure to do so. Frankly, without this amazing community, I don't think I'd be able to take Adi as far as I have.
Secondly, as I believe former Hal-Con guest Garrett Wang once said while playing Star Trek Voyager's Ensign Kim, "maybe it's not about the destination, but it's about the journey" (admittedly not sure of the exact quote there). As I told a friend on the way home from an event on Canada Day 2014, more often than not it's about the experimentation. About seeing where I can take this character next. Be it social media, writing, art, cosplay, the one thing I look forward to with Adi the most is seeing where I can take her next.
I'll end with the rules that I follow when making any Adi related decision. Maybe once they're written down, they'll help someone else in the creative process:
Secondly, as I believe former Hal-Con guest Garrett Wang once said while playing Star Trek Voyager's Ensign Kim, "maybe it's not about the destination, but it's about the journey" (admittedly not sure of the exact quote there). As I told a friend on the way home from an event on Canada Day 2014, more often than not it's about the experimentation. About seeing where I can take this character next. Be it social media, writing, art, cosplay, the one thing I look forward to with Adi the most is seeing where I can take her next.
I'll end with the rules that I follow when making any Adi related decision. Maybe once they're written down, they'll help someone else in the creative process:
- Nothing gets arbitrarily dropped. Ideas can be reworked or organically fall by the wayside but don't cut anything.
- Never reboot
- Try everything. The only negative opportunity is a missed one.
- Be in character at all times. Live the Gimmick. When you're on, you're *on*
- Never refer to Adi as "it" or "the doll." She's not real but treat her as though she is for authenticity
- If an idea works, run with it as far and fast as possible.
- Adi is an outlet. Be as forthright and honest as you want.
- This isn't for everyone. The people that are down with what you do and willing to roll with you, that's who it's for.
- Backstory must be maintained. Support anyone who wants to launch their own Adipose character, don't let them use elements you're already using.
- It's not *you.* Revel in the ridiculous.
- "No" is only accepted if "yes" is clearly impossible or you're about to truly offend a friend.
2016 addendum
So I was updating the page when it occurred to me I haven't read this section in a fair while. When I looked it over, I realized I've left out a very important detail. The thank yous. As I write this, I'm exhausted so its entirely possible that I will forget people. If you feel I've forgotten you, please accept my apologies and let me know. I'll fix the oversight ASAP. That said:
And last but damn sure not least:
- Katie (AKA "Holiday Harley Quinn"): This is probably the one phrase you've never heard before but, thank you for "Inappropriate Santa." I'd have probably been spinning my wheels with Adi for far longer without that light-bulb moment.
- "Fat Apollo" Mike McCluskey: To this day I have never forgotten that brief moment after the St. Patrick's Day 2013 parade when you walked over, clapped me on the shoulder and told me you loved what I'd been doing with Adi. From the moment I'd first joined our community, I knew you were the guy to know, and that brief comment was when I gained the knowledge and confidence that this insane venture of mine was going to work. So for both that, letting me play off your material on Twitter (I still find a Fat Apollo/Adi "Drunk and Disorderly Party" political ticket damn funny), introducing me to Ajay Fry and a boat load of encouragement and love over the last few years, thank you.
- Karyn O'Connell: Folks, this lady built every stitch of clothing Adi has ever worn (The 4th Doctor Scarf, Firefly Hat, and first version of Harley Quinn are the only homemade things she didn't make), no matter how insane my request she has never said no, and for some strange reason actually built every single cosplay Adi has without asking for anything in return. I honestly have no idea what I would do without you.
- Stephanie O'Donnell: When Karyn had to step back and I needed a new maker, Steph stepped up in a big way to help me out. From throwing together cosplays at the last second to handling the most insane of my requests with the same quality and attention to detail she's known for giving human sized costumes, I'd be absolutely stuck without her help.
- Kelly-Jo Romard: If you meet me in the street and ask about Adi, I'll probably hand you a card with this website on the back and some lovely artwork on the front. Kelly-Jo is the incredibly talented artist who not only made those ridiculous ideas of mine come to life but gives me random prize support to hand to people for no reason other than she can.
- The Cast and Crew of Geeks Versus Nerds: These people were not only willing to let me take Adi in a new direction and have her write for them when they published an online magazine but give me great feedback that helps me gauge Adi's success and welcomed me in to the point I get to help out with shows (and have even done one). Attending cast meetings are often the highlight of my week, and Adi being the all time champion of #GVNLIVE is something I am legitimately damn proud of.
- James Taylor: Without James, this version of the page doesn't exist. Whether it's here or for Reel Geeks, James has happily stepped up for any grpahic design/photoshop request I've had, and is probably responsible for a lot of the online content right now.
And last but damn sure not least:
- Morgan Hoffman, Natasha Czajkowski (I swear I spelt that by myself) and Elysia Cronheim - the #TwitterSisterhood: Ladies, I honestly don't know where to begin. The three of you have been the absolute perfect examples of what I ultimately want Adi to be. Her twitter presence was always meant to be first and foremost an opportunity to play and you guys not only took that idea and ran with it, but grew it and created a legitimate family. Whether it was entertainingly silly twitter banter (random Ke$ha themed twitter parties, Elysia's first question after being added to the fold being "What does this mean and can I bring my crossbow?") or watching how much you have come to support and encourage each other through this insanity, "thank you" is honestly just not enough. I really can't think of any higher honor than seeing how much Adi has come to mean to you, and the feeling is so very, very mutual.