By Poyi (Natalie) Leung
A cosplay (costume play) contest to mimic specific characters created by modern Chinese-language novelist Jin Yong as part of the publicity campaigns for the Macau Pavilion at the Shanghai 2010 Expo is now calling for contestants.
Organised by the Macau Preparation Office for the Shanghai 2010 Expo and co-ordinated by the Association of Advertising Agents of Macau, applications are open to Macau identity card holders until November 30.
Apart from being awarded trophies, prize money and travel vouchers, the 10 winners may have the chance to participate in the performances during the Macau Activity Week and other regular activities of the Expo.
A “Jin Yong exhibition zone” will be set up inside Macau’s Tak Seng On Pawnshop, an actual size model being built at the Expo’s venue.
Four contestants will take home either “The Best Interpretation Award”, “The Best Costume Award”, “The Most Creative Modelling Award” or “The Most Popular Modelling Award”, and six “Award of Excellence” will also be given out in the contest.
Contestants can choose any of the characters from one of Jin Yong’s novels and prepare their own corresponding costumes.
Louis Cha, better known by his pen name Jin Yong, has written a large selection of martial arts genre fictions which have been widely spread especially in Chinese-speaking communities. His works were also adapted numerously into films, television series, comic books and video games.
Photos of the contestants dressing in the costumes have to be mailed or delivered to the Macau Preparation Office in Nam Tung Commercial Building, Nam Van, along with application forms and copies of the Macau identity cards on or before November 30.
The judging panel will carry out the first round of interview and select maximum 30 contestants based on the costume designs, creativity and interpretation of the characters to enter the final contest from 3pm to 6.30pm on December 6 at the Macau Polytechnic Institute.
Each of the four special award winners will receive a trophy, 5,000 pataca prize money and 3,000 pataca travel vouchers to the Shanghai 2010 Expo.
In addition, the six “Award of Excellence” winners will be given trophies and 3,000 pataca travel vouchers to the Expo.
All winning contestants may also be arranged to take part in the performances during the Macau Activity Week and other daily events of the 2010 Expo in China.
Application forms can be obtained at the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf, the Macau Tower, Kong Seng ticketing outlets, or the Macau Preparation Office’s website at http://www.2010expomacao.gov.mo.
According to Leong Pou Yee, the chief of the Macau Preparation Office for the Shanghai 2010 Expo, the Macau Pavilion is expected to be completed in March 2010 and after that a soft opening will be conducted in April.
The Expo will be held from May 1 to October 31, 2010 in the downtown of Shanghai between Nanpu Bridge and Lupu Bridge.
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