Feature - Silicon Web Costumers` Guild

Feature
A Look Back
at “Captain
Jack”
Al Megas
A cosplayer who
is well-known for
portraying “Jack Sparrow” from 'Pirates of
the Caribbean' talks about the character
and his costume, and offers some helpful
how-to tips in case you want to copy the act!
At first, it was because I didn’t want to
shave.
Cosplaying mostly at WonderCon, I’d
chosen from among my favorite DC Comics
characters for my ability to impersonate
them without sacrificing my facial hair.
“Green Arrow” had a beard (though mine
was the wrong color) and “Anarky” wore a
mask. These were modest costuming
successes. Then, one year, I wanted
something new for Halloween and I wanted
to start planning for it early.
But was there a more current choice? I
was idly considering “Dr. Kroenen,” that
masked Nazi from Hellboy, but was
watching out for something better.
Along came a week in summertime
with two movies opening that held some
cosplay promise. It was mostly a joke that I
could bill myself as an “Extraordinary
The Virtual Costumer Volume 12, Issue 2
Copyright © 2010 Silicon Web Costumers' Guild
Gentleman” per
that (now halfforgotten) League
adaptation. The other
film was one I
planned to see once,
hoped to like, but
expected to forget.
It was Pirates of
the Caribbean: the
Curse of the Black
Pearl.
I went with a
small group that
included longtime
friends Alex, Cara, and
Mike Fin. We
discussed dressing up
as pirates for opening
day. (I had an idea to
disguise my head as
a parrot.) But we
weren’t organized so
we ended up seeing it
in civvies.
It turned out this
summer side dish of a
movie was actually
something pretty special.
And that lead pirate? That
mega-quirky, bold character
who was unhampered by
artificial limitations like “the
rules of engagement” and
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spoke of what freedom really is? I liked
stories that explore the idea of freedom with
characters who question rules.
Did I decide to do the character then
and there? It’s strange to think of now, but I
don’t believe the idea was really in my head.
It wasn’t long, however, before another
friend, Mary Watson, saw the film. Between
the mustache, complexion, long hair, and
affinity for his hat (for I've been known
to sport a fedora), she thought of me
right away, she said. Well, if
someone else could envision it, I
liked the idea. I had my cosplay plan.
Alex and Cara agreed to make me
a piratey shirt and brownish vest and we
went to Debbie Lynn’s Closet (a San
Francisco South Bay costume store)
for much of the rest. I came to know
some of the workers, there,
including Adana Logan and
Rachelle Spencer, and our
friendship has deepened over the
years. We collected some beads
for my beard, dangly bits for my
long hair, a maroon bandanna,
and a cheap pirate hat (I colored
the front of brown) to top it off.
I was a dime store “Captain
Jack Sparrow!”
Al Megas as “Captain Jack” (first
version) at BayCon 2004. Photo by
Richard Man, ImageCraft Studios.
May 2014
He's a Character! What I Do
(and You Can, Too)
Now, it always struck me as natural to
impersonate the character one cosplays, at
least a little. My “Anarky” would speak out
against corporate greed, my “Green Arrow”
would pose with his bow, etc. Did I take it a
step further with “Captain Jack”? There
again, I didn’t think much of it, at the time.
He was pure characterization. All I did was
mine the gold.
The walk is simple enough. Just keep
your body at a slant and your center of
gravity where no one expects to find it.
(Remember that Jack drinks a lot and is
believed to be permanently discombobulated
after having been marooned.) The right hand
is kept at eye level, in most cases. I believe
Johnny Depp said he imagined holding an
invisible martini glass. Prior to hearing that,
I always thought he was just showing off the
billowy sleeves and forefinger ring.
The voice requires a more subtle trick
to get right. Also, as with most of this
costume, I was trying to imitate without
benefit of the DVD release my first several
times out. Johnny gave a helpful (although
characteristically strange) tip on The
Tonight Show about combining Keith
Richards with “Pepe Le Pew.” But I kept
remembering the voice as being more
guttural than it was. After listening as often
as I had the chance to, it finally clicked how
similar it was to the much easier to imitate
voice he does in Fear and Loathing in Las
Vegas. It works best to do a nasal voice first
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and then let the guttural, “Spice Islands”
brogue creep in.
To reiterate, “Captain Jack” chooses
moves that show off the costume. Though he
walks at a funny angle, his stance has good
posture which makes his hat prominent and
gives you a good look at that long, flailing,
double-braided goatee. According to the
Disneyland team, the hip is held slightly
forward to put the sword in easy reach. He
holds that right hand high so we can see the
ring! He swings his arms so those sleeves
can impress or the trailing coat cuffs can
flail! He may put a foot up (even though
that’s another notable Captain’s pose) so
they’ll notice the boots!
And the costume was a hit again and
again. As long as I kept the walk and talk
up, faces brightened wherever I looked. I
was asked to do birthday parties, be in films,
participate in an iPad endorsement
campaign, and the list went on. One
Halloween in Hollywood, I met a celebrity
impersonator (the “Fake Austin Powers,” he
called himself) who offered to refer me to
his specializing agencies.
The streets were crawling with
costumes, of course, and I crossed paths
with another creative, Disney cosplayer. She
Bringing Jack Memories
And notice they did! Halloween in my
home county proved little more than a
rehearsal run for the fun ahead. Along came
a BayCon, the San Francisco Bay Area scifi/fantasy convention, and it was like a fish
finding water. For some reason, I had been
second-guessing whether a pirate costume
would fit in at a sci-fi convention. (Didn’t
stop me, of course. I found it was just the
place for the act.)
Even though anyone with an eye for
costumes could call mine out as being off,
the masses seemed to love my “Jack” act.
Heads turned, faces brightened, and cameras
snapped away. A PotC group recruited
(shanghai'd?) me for their masquerade entry.
In one humorous instance, I'm told the
simple act of descending a staircase in view
of a costume characterization panel made for
the perfect, unplanned example!
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"Captain Jack" with Kathe Gust wearing a shirt with his
likeness at BayCon. Even if the detail is way off, people
recognize and appreciate the character! Photo: P. Gust.
May 2014
combined a black fashion wig with fishnets
and went by “Captain Hooker.” She
proposed that pirates should stick together
so we kept one another company for awhile.
She hadn't seen PotC, so was surprised when
many tourists stopped me for pictures.
"You're really popular!" she exclaimed.
Constant characterization also made for
a few bumps in the road. I'm one of those
guys who's kind of attached to his mobile
phone and, at times, unthinkingly stayed in
character while answering calls. One or two
photographers caught me doing that on
camera and posted with caption; "Pirates
don't use cell phones!" I dabbled in making
signs that say "out of character, back in 5" to
get around that problem, not to mention to
give people an even funnier photo op.
On other occasions, someone would
gingerly break it to me that me being “Jack”
was making some people uneasy.
Apparently, when I conduct entire
interactions in character, they'd worry it
wasn't an act so much as a psychological
condition. (In case there's any confusion on
this point, I assure you readers; it's just an
act.) This tendency of mine does, on the
other hand, play in to my difficulty with
getting to know people, I'll give them that.
SDCC and YouTube, who has made Jack his
signature costume among many impressive
recreations. And, regionally, we have
“Captain Jack Spareribs,” a true entertainer
whose juggling and magic act you can catch
at the Vallejo, California Pirate Fest. If you
put us all together, you'd have four
Jacks...and that's tough to beat!
The Disney Experience!
Al with fellow contest-winning pirates in studio costumes at Disneyland.
Other Jacks in Hand
Of course, with “Captain Jack” cosplay
becoming a fad, others have made a name
for themselves doing it and we've come up
on one another's radars. Supposedly one
man who started BEFORE “Curse of the
Black Pearl” came out, and made it
surprisingly accurate just from early
descriptions of the character. There's also
Toby "Sith Camaro" Markham, known to
Would I ever get to make my “Jack”
impersonations official? I'll admit I was
almost crestfallen to learn about the rule that
adult guests of Disneyland aren't allowed in
costume. Naturally, I looked into it when
they added “Captain Jack” to their list of
paid characters but was out of the running
for being a scant two inches too short.
Then a very special opportunity came
along. As part of their Year of a Million
Dreams promotion in 2007, Disney
contracted with CareerBuilder to promote
their Disney Dream Job contest. There was a
call for short audition videos for a chance at
being a Disneyland character for a day! My
friend Mark Thornton, of many talents, has
made a name for himself as a professional
editor so I offered him a share of the prize
in exchange for his assistance.
After judges' deliberations, a campaign
for votes, and a YouTube view count that
would ultimately exceed 30,000, I got my
phone call confirming that I was one of the
contest's 25 winners. Sharing this honor
were winners in four other categories
(Haunted Mansion staff, High School
Musical cast, Princesses, and Jungle Tour
Guides) and four fellow pirates!
Another good laugh came when, not all
that long ago, I was told that I had once been
investigated by F.L.A.R.E. (a convention
security services organization) on suspicion
of public intoxication! I was never stopped
and questioned, though, so they must have
heard me use pirate speak and concluded
that I was merely staying in character.
Watch Al Megas as a Disneyland pirate for a day on YouTube.
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May 2014
For a memorable, 4-day weekend, we
enjoyed a full Disney vacation package. We
stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, enjoyed VIP
events, themed meals, and even the soft
opening of the Finding Nemo ride!
Sprinkling in Disney park training so we
could interact with the guests in costume
made for a thrilling but exhausting time. To
this day, I'm grateful for all the support from
the voters who helped send me there.
Getting The Costume Right
Moving along, there is much that can
be said about improving a costume one
component at a time. As the years have gone
by, “Jack” cosplay has become popular and
many eBay and Etsy makers have begun to
sell reproductions. Happily,
being Jack has also helped
me make friends with
Brianna Farber (contact:
TheLironess@yahoo.com)
who agreed to take me as a
client!
So now my costume is
far closer to screen accurate.
Want the rundown for a
“Captain Jack” costume of
your own? Personally, I like
to list it off toe to head.
Footwear: You need a pair
of bucket boots. Best to get ones
with an authentic leather or felt
look. They're brown in the first
film, tan in the second. Check
the Caboots website
for the most reliable
service and quality.
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Breeches: Knee-length pants that
come in blue-grey, brown, or
black. (I'm told authentic
“Captain Jacks” wear no
underwear.) The pants are an
excellent place to skimp if you're
going to, as high boots and the
low waistcoat will hide them.
The shirt: White, laced, ren
faire style chemise with billowy
sleeves, also largely hidden by the
vest.
The waistcoat: As
mentioned, my new, blue
waistcoat is the most special
component of my getup.
Brianna Farber made
me some fully
functional
outerwear, built to
last with pockets
including one that
fits my
smartphone!
("So many
buttons!" -Brianna)
When searching for
patterns, note that the
Disney sanctioned one
is deliberately changed
from the film version to
leave off posterior
coverage.
Bucket boots (left). Waistcoat
made by Brianna Farber (right)
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May 2014
The sash: This faded, red & white
striped affair is huge! It covers Jack’s entire
midsection with much left for a lengthy
dangle over the baldric. If buying online,
check the dimensions carefully as many
craftspeople make smaller versions. It
should be about a foot wide and almost as
long as a car.
POTC Costume Designer
Penny Rose Goes to
World's End for Fabrics
POTC costume designer Penny
Rose literally combed the world for
fabrics and materials from which to
create the costumes for At World's End.
Baldric & belts: The dark brown gun
belt is worn midway over the sash, exposing
it above and below. The baldric is for sword
carriage and the buckle is kept at chest level
over the right breast. Then sweep the sash
over the baldric on the left. The buckle has a
clamshell motif in the first film but gets
traded in for a more ornate design in the
sequels. From the second film on, a second
belt in a lighter shade is added, awkwardly
askance below the gun belt, still allowing
the bottom of the sash to show.
"I spend three or four weeks
intensively shopping at textile fairs, or
with antique textile dealers. Then it
travels everywhere we go. We have
workrooms on all of the islands and
locations where we shoot, so that
everything is within the room.”
For Rose, the story and character
developments go hand in hand with
their costume changes. Except, of
course, for “Captain Jack Sparrow.”
"Jack can never change,” insists Rose.
"He doesn't have a closet full of clothes.
He is “Captain Jack,” and the clothes
make the man.
Buckles for belts. (left) The clam-shell
buckle is for a film 1 baldric while the
other baldric replicates the sequel
look,as described. The tan number is
the second belt. Sash (above) covers
“Jack's” midsection, and should be
about the length of a car!
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"For example,” Rose said of
costuming actor Johnny Depp for At
World's End, "'Captain Jack's' sash was
made by a hill tribe in Turkey, and I
had to send someone to Turkey to
persuade that tribe to weave me some
more of the sash material. Because we
tried to print it on old French hemp and
linen sheets, but it just wasn't the same.
So the hill-tribe people made me
another hundred yards.”
Source: Cinema Review
May 2014
Belt
accessories:
If carrying the
pistol, tuck it into
the sash itself. The
compass dangles from
the left off the lower belt
and should be fastened in an
easily detachable way so it
can be held as a prop. (You
can get away with a modern
snap hook.) For the sequel
look, a chicken foot charm
dangles from the lower belt
buckle (most likely bestowed upon him by
“Tia Dalma”).
Forearm makeup: The "P" (for pirate)
brand and the
sparrow sunrise
tattoo go on the arm
just above the
wrist and
midway
to
the elbow,
respectively.
Many artists can
copy them
freehand. Stencils and rub-ons are also
available. (If you want to go overboard with
ink and wounds, peruse the PotC discs'
special features and freeze frame shirtless
scenes toward the beginning of At World's
End to see the turmoil his torso has taken.
Wrist wrap(s): There’s a knit black
band wrapped around the right wrist.
Around his left is a bit of cheese cloth.
Palm glove: Functionally meant to
prevent rope burn, this item (right) is the
easiest to construct. Just cut a bit of pliable,
brown leather or vinyl in the shape of the
wearer’s palm. Include holes to form loops
for the thumb, middle, and ring finger.
Likewise make some smaller holes near the
base of the palm through which to thread a
strand. Tie the strand around the wrist to
secure.
Rings: The Master Replica rings are a
good, economical option. In the first film,
“Jack” wears one ring with a green stone set
in skulls on his right forefinger. For costume
purposes, this is called the skull ring. In
movie #2, this gets complemented by the
jewel encrusted button ring and the green,
oval-shaped dragon ring, so
named for the silvery
dragons it depicts. These
are worn on the left ring
finger and forefinger,
respectively. “Jack” is
later shown stealing a
gold ring with a violet
jewel which we call the
stolen ring. At that point,
“Jack” switches the dragon ring to
his thumb and the stolen ring rides on the
left forefinger. If doing the On Stranger
Tides version of the costume, the stolen ring
Clockwise from left: forearm makeup from screen cap; replica compas; wrist wrap and palm glove,Master Replica skull ring.
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May 2014
is optional because “Angelica” steals it from
“Jack.”
The bandanna: A dark red, patterned
scarf clings to “Jack’s” dome and trails
down his back the length of his hair. It goes
over the dreads and under the pony tail.
The sailing needle: Actually a
Chumash hairpin, this is the most authentic
part of my costume. In networking, I was
referred to Graywolf, the maker of the
accessory seen in the films. He says that
“Jack's” way of using it in his hair is
comically improper but he's pleased that it
has remained a part of the costume. To copy
“Jack's” odd look, tie a side pony tail on the
right and lash the needle around it. (I cheat
with a black hair band, myself.) For
authentic copies of the needle, contact the
museum Graywolf represents through
Chumash Indian Museum.
Bead strands: The more prominent
strands have particular names. The one with
spotted beads is
called the skunk
strand. The blue
disc is called the
ocean coin. The
long one is the coin
strand. Most
recognizably, the piece of
eight is fixed over the
bandanna above “Jack’s” right
eye. It's replaced by a similar
strand tipped with a large tooth by
the fourth film. There are so many coin
strands making up the set that only careful
attention to detail can get everything in the
right place.
Face makeup: An
unshaven, heavily tanned
“Jack” rings truest to form.
Remember; pirates had no
sunglasses so heavy
eyeshadow becomes the
Captain. (Here, again, is a
chance to characterize him by
showing off.) His eyelids look
heavy in most scenes, as if he wants
you to notice his makeup.) For
special effects, add a patch of
rouge under the right side of his
jaw to indicate his sore. For the On
Stranger Tides update, there's an x-shaped
scar upon the left cheekbone.
Goatee beads: “Jack’s” beard is finely
braided into two strands tipped with two
beads each. It is possible to find screen
accurate beads but they're such a minute
detail that one need not be particular. If
threading a real beard, beads with wide
holes are a great boon.
Hair/wig: “Jack” has ludicrously long
hair reaching past the end of his ribcage. the
back is lashed as a pony tale with many
protruding dreads around his crown. My
natural hair serves as the former while my
dreadlocks are provided by Jean Batt of
Cybermantic Hair. Fully styled wigs have
been known to come up on eBay but they’re
pricey. Curiously, some of the dreads appear
to be bleached in On Stranger Tides.
The hat: Any ren faire leather worker
can whip up a nice tricorner while you wait!
The shape and cracking are tricky to get just
right, so someone with experience at this
replication is preferable.
The coat: Patterns abound to copy the
coat but it's only to be attempted by an
expert. I may yet commission a new one. I
think that Eva Vanaceck wanted the job!
Bandana and sailing needle. (left) Leather tricorn hat. (above)
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May 2014
At Article's End
In a way, impersonating
“Captain Jack” has taken me
to World's End and back. It
has opened doors, it has made
me friends, it has shown me
the convention circuit from
all sides. Putting on a
costume is like changing from
an invisible secret identity to
a famous super hero; the
attention you garner can get a
little intoxicating.
With “Captain Jack,” never forget that
doing the character is key. When I started
out, it made a cheap costume into something
noteworthy. At Disneyland, it changed me
from a generic pirate to a head turner. If you
do the character, you'll find that not
everyone's a critic; just many people.
Happily, most are usually just appreciative.
Thanks and Credits
My heartfelt thanks to everyone who
contributed to the costume, over the years:
• To Alexandra Connell for going to the
movies with us, all those years ago, and
lending her design skills to get me
started. Likewise; to Cara Yim who,
sadly, is no longer with us.
• To my friend since childhood, Maya
Attia, for constructing the original coat!
• To Graywolf for the hairpin and the story
behind it! (and Pepper Alexandria for the
referral!)
• To Helen "TK" Garcia for the best
makeup job I've had.
• To Brianna Farber for the superb vest in a
pinch, helping me describe it in this
article, and always being there to talk.
• To Jean Batt for the dreadlocks.
• To everyone who helped me get votes in
the Disney contest, and to all those
who’ve complimented my “Jack” act
over the years. I’m really self-conscious
as anyone, at heart. I needed it.
Al Megas is s a rogue writer for various
freelance publications like this one and has
been a newsletter volunteer for multiple Bay
Area sci-fi conventions. These days, he pays
the bills by working relief shifts for the
caregivers of his 95-year-old grandmother!
He's also available for your pirate cosplay
entertainment needs! You can contact him at
Rackstraw@gmail.com
Al Megas as “Captain Jack” (screen-accurate version) at WonderCon.
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May 2014