2014 retrospect

2014

2014 has been a year of change for me. Together with Viktor Kandinski, I made a video on 2014 Steampunk season. (wich is here, but I was having software problems so it not in sync). But so much has happened I been involved with so many things, it kind of hard to include it all in a general video. So here is my personal recollection of this past year.

Work in progress

On the non-Steampunk related front, it has been a good year. I had a stable job and finally moveda way from my parents. My new home is coming along nicely and while there is still a lot to be done, I’m very proud of it. Thanks to my independence my social life has improved greatly and got to know a number of people I am proud to call my friends. In the short time a really got to know them we have done a great deal of things tighter and I’m sure we’ll keep doing so.

Photo by Peter Krul

Concerning Tupperware Steampunk, a lot has happened. The new website is up. I switched over to English to reach a larger audience. I also got my first sponsor, Dragons Den, and thinking of approaching more possible sponsors to cover my expanses on site-maintenance and getting better equipment.
I got to go to several events as a journalist, which for me feel as recognition for my work. 

However, I feel I should be doing more then just write a my own opinion on these gatherings, so I try to give more people a voice. That’s why a switched over to making video’s, because and makes things like that easier. I also hope to have discussion about the finer things of Steampunk, because I feel Steampunk is worth talking about. With text interviews I can only do so much. But for those who like my writing, I’ll keep doing that. I just needed new idea’s for articles. I already got one request I am working on, but I’ve my readers got any suggestions, please send them to me.

Writing

I started writing fiction again. I wrote a backgroundstory  for a new, nature-themed, Steampunk-group and started on a serie of short-stories, based on a manuscript I had been working on since 2009. So that’s in the works.
I also started with lectures/workshops on writing steampunk stories. My first was on Emporium Vernesque, was turned out to be a great success, despite the noise.

Also, my first short-story was published in a anthology, in de Schaduw van het Keezending. A free E-book that contains stories of several Dutch writers. And it’s free! So, it you don’t have it. Go get it!

Other stuff

Ya, there was other stuff I did, like contributing medieval and steampunk related stuff for a Dutch filmproduction, called Homies, wich will come out early 2015. I also worked on my own filmproject, however there have been some setbacks. Hope to have more news soon.
I also participated in a music-video ‘Survivors’ by Beyond Violet, but unfortunately my scenes were cut

Also several disappointments. The first one came when I was asked to write a background-story for a ambitious event called Epicon. A gaming convention with a large cosplay segment. It was overly ambitious from the get go. But hé. If they would make my ambition a reality, who am I to say no right. Unfortunately, the organization had to endure ‘internal conflicts’ and the whole cosplay segment got scrapped. They intended to have a winter edition instead, but that one got canceled in it’s entirety.

The other was Altfest. A grand festival in England, get got canceled, due to somebody being a real D**k. I was supposed to be a catwalk-model for the designer Alskear, but Altfest got canceled. Miraculously the organizers managed to start up a whole new event in two weeks time(!) in Whales, called Steampunk Metal Racket. Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend. But, I heard it was awesome.

My own group!

Yes! I ‘ve got my own group now. The Regiment Anachronistic Grenadiers - Tactical assault Group. Or RAGTAG for short. Initially I intended to make a small group, all dressed as uniformed bad guys. The basic idea is that all the Steampunks are dressed for adventure with an arsenal that would make most armies blush, but had no opponents to fight. I also like to work on story oriented photo’s, rather then just posing for the camera. Faceless soldiers like those of RAGTAG are ideal for that. I expected to get five people interested in such a thing, but out of nowhere people all of a sudden wanted to join and make it grow way beyond what I expected. We participated in several story oriented photo series, like I wanted, but we hope to have some more elaborate ones in the coming years.

However, the most important contribution of RAGTAG to the Dutch steampunk-scene is it’s stormcourse, mainly for children.  

  

Photo by Brainstorm Photographix

 I can’t forget the people who supported all of my projects. I tend to believe at times my work goes unnoticed, but I can’t ignore the people that supported me either financially, creatively by helping me realize my ambitions. Some of them are old friends, most of them I know for less then a year. I can’t thank you guys enough and I hope we’ll be involved in some great projects in the future. 

And of course, you, my readers. My personal blog alone has an average of 15 views a day now. That's awesome. Please keep following my websites and facebook, a dont forget to like my articles.

Have fun tonight and happy New Years!