Svetlana Chmakova - Animé Los Angeles Interview
Before ALA took place, the Guest of Honor, Svetlana Chmakova, was nice enough to answer a few of my questions. Here is what she had to say:
DGH Studios: Are you familiar with the Los Angeles area, or will this be your first time here?
Svetlana: First time--I've never been to LA before, and as for being familiar with it... Does looking at the Wikipedia entry count?
DGHS: If you could visit any place here in LA, regardless of time and money, where would it be?
S: I'd love to see the ocean and Griffith Park. Or a helicopter ride over the nighttime LA would be very cool. Also, as Wikipedia helpfully informs me, LA has two excellent dessert places which are not to be missed--Gelato Paradiso on Hollywood Blvd. and Sweet Lady Jane on Melrose Avenue. If I could, I'd love to camp at each for a week and try a little bit of everything.
DGHS: Is the character Lida Zeff based on a real person?
S: Not really... A lot of people seem to think that Lida is supposed to be me, and while that's kind of them to say, that's not what I intended. Lida is sort of an amalgam of all the amazing pros that I've met, people who took the time to talk to me, give advice and some encouragement. She is someone I'd aspire to be. Also, 'Lida' is my mother's first name.
DGHS: Could you tell me your inspiration behind Lida's Editor?
S: All the editors and art directors I've had, haha! They are an unfortunate tribe of people; always having to deal with tardy artists such as myself... *pats her Dramacon editor on shoulder* But they take it in good humour.
DGHS: What are the chances of seeing more of Greta and Sandra in the near future?
S: I have no idea! I'd love to include them more, but the main characters sort of took over the plot. Perhaps, if there are further volumes of Dramacon, I'll be able to do more with the two, or at least do a bonus short story. Another pair I'd really like to work on again are Brett and Opal. Alas!
DGHS: What are the chances of seeing a (short) crossover between "Dramacon" and say... "Night Silver"?
S: Not very high at all, I'm sorry to say. At least not until the main stories for each comic are told--those take priority. Though I did have an idea of putting some "Night Silver" cosplayers into "Dramacon", heh.
DGHS: Thank you very much for your time.
S: You are very welcome. :)
-A big thanks to Tokyo Pop for arranging all of this.
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