Today we’d like to introduce you to Callie Russo.
Hi Callie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
One of my degrees in college was in theatre, and I’ve always been a performer and in a creative space. I dance, I sing, I act, I costume design. In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, all my creative outlets went *poof*! As so many things did during the pandemic. So like many others, I turned to TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms to seek creativity and connection. I started cosplaying on TikTok, and I gradually built a following. Once it was safe to go out in public again, I started attending comic conventions and cosplay events, making friends along the way and meeting people I had only been interacting with online up until that point. Now, I have fully delved into fantasy and books, and I predominantly focus on fantasy and book cosplays and content creation. I’ve had the opportunity to perform as characters from some of my favorite books, and travel the world to do so! It’s honestly a dream, and I feel so lucky to have gotten to this point! I am currently pursuing a masters in film and television, and I hope to continue developing my skills and direct and act for the big screen!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Social media is definitely both an amazing thing, and also incredibly toxic. I find myself loving and hating it at the same time often. It was a learning curve for sure having to endure hate comments online, and people being rude just to be rude, despite not knowing me as a person at all. There have been multiple times where I have just wanted to delete my accounts and call it quits along the way because of online hate or comparison or general drama that comes along with any community, but I pushed through those feelings of insecurity and uncertainty, and I am so incredibly glad I did. I have such a wonderful community around me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am currently getting my MFA in film and television concentrating in directing! I’d love to work in television in particular, but also do some epic fantasy films one day! As far as work, I worked a corporate 9-5 for 4 years, but ultimately came to the realization that I just wasn’t built for that life. So along with being a full time grad student, I’m still pursuing content creation and professional performance/cosplaying. I suppose I’d be most known for my fantasy and book cosplays online. Some of my most recognized characters are Manon Blackbeak from the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas, Saeris Fane from ‘Quicksilver’ by Callie Hart, and Violet Sorrengail from ‘Fourth Wing’ by Rebecca Yarros. I’m consistently working on expanding my repertoire and range! I think my most proud moments are when I attend events or conventions, and I’ve had multiple times folks come up to me to tell me that I inspired them to start cosplaying. It just makes my heart MELT. And truly what an honor. The cosplay space is for everyone, and I absolutely love seeing others join in the chaos and whimsy. I believe that my theatre background combined with my film education will help to set me apart in the bookish cosplay content creation space, and I’m always continuing to improve, come up with new and fresh ideas, and ways to do content.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Honestly, social media truly is one of the best tools we have, as irritating and difficult as it can be sometimes. Most of my current closest friends are people that I’ve met online through cosplaying! And now we’re friends in person. It’s a weird wonderful world. But my best advice would be to dive in, be kind, be open, but also protect yourself and be wary of red flags.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/callie.cosmic/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCQDUqplh7ggTlg0DwGMMzEA
Image Credits
The image with the sword and the butterfly is by Summer from @littlefoxs_photography on Instagram – the rest are photos taken by myself or friends.
