#don't get me started on how theater is portrayed in tv

[totalswag]

Hello lovely I love ur writing abt Drew & Reader actresse sweetheart it's so good <3 I have a little request to make to you if you don't mind, Drew react to the Reader acting in the horror film masterpiece (like the movies Suspiria and Climax vibes) of which she's a part of the main cast

I'm just curious if he would be terrified or blown away by this kind of role that she plays like this one or not ;) thank u !!!

unbelievable performance — DREW STARKEY

authors note aw thank you lovie! that means so much to me. by the time you are reading this, my second fic with drew x actress!reader is out (the first date). i have never seen either movies that you listed in your request but i did look them up to get a gist.

summary drew was impressed by your performance in your latest horror film.

warnings mentions of kissing, horror films

masterlist

Tonight marks the premiere of your new horror film, in which you star with some amazing actors. After many hours of continuous filming, sequences are officially wrapped. You're extremely proud of yourself and your casemates. 

You were the staring lead in the movie. Getting the part after auditioning was a blessing in disguise. This being your very first staring lead role in any movie you’ve been in, you were so proud of yourself.

Everyone is seated in the theater. Drew, your boyfriend, also came with you. The entire cast stood in front of the stage as your director discussed the film a bit.

You shifted your focus to Drew, who was already looking at you in admiration, which made you smile and making you blush.

When you stepped up to your seat, he leaned down to your ear and whispered, "I want you to know that I'm so proud of you, and I know you did an amazing job on this movie," before kissing the top of your head.

“I love you baby, so much” you answer with your voice already starting to crack before tears wanted to burst out.

“Me more.”

Drew was so excited to watch his beautiful girlfriend on the big screen. Non-stop talking about the movie with you and his predictions on what will happen.

Everyone in the theater began to applaud as soon as the lights went out. Drew's hand moved easily down your thigh and gave it a little squeeze. Your skin began to tingle from his touch.

The movie begins with a hauntingly beautiful dance routine in which the camera swirls around the dancers in a way that is both captivating and unnerving. Drew is instantly captivated. As the story progresses, he observes your character navigating a world fraught with psychological pain and supernatural fear.

Half way through the movie, it’s been jaw dropping and incredible.

He is always on the edge of his seat in every situation you are in. You capture the dread and lunacy of the film's twisted narrative with an unvarnished and honest performance.

He's afraid and enthralled with the story at the same time, amazed at your ability to portray such raw emotion. Never once did he take his eyes off the screen.

The way the movie came out was unbelievable. The editors did wonders on this movie and made it into something viewers will want to keep watching.

Once you two arrived home after eating dinner at the after party, Drew and you took a shower together in your shared bathroom, changed into pajamas, then went into bed with the tv playing.

Later that night, back at home, Drew can't stop talking about the movie.

"You know, watching you in that role allowed me to see a completely other side of you. You were fierce, vulnerable, and incredibly compelling. "It was like watching an acting masterclass."

You laugh quietly and rest your head on his shoulder. "It means a lot hearing you say that. I was concerned about how you would react."

"Are you kidding?" I loved it. "I'm just glad I wasn't watching it alone in the dark," he jokes.

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[doverstar]

Hey Doverstar. Fellow Christian here. :) What do you think about The Chosen? They just started releasing Season 4 eps in theaters this February in the United States. I really love this show. What about you? If you do...I think that would be groovy! If not...well. That would also be groovy too. ✌

Hi there! Woah, it's in theaters, that's crazy! Back in my day it was barely stream-able and we had to be in a specific person's living room to get it on the TV, how far we've come by matchbox twenty- I'm glad you asked, this will be long-ish!

I used to attend the church that the creator of the show had been attending at the time when we lived in IL (his name is Dallas, I think we had dinner with him? don't remember). That was before The Chosen was a thing. He had great ideas about what Christian media could be, but The Chosen in particular went downhill fast for me. I think it's an excellent show, but I also think that when you're using historical, real people in the content, you have to be very careful. Especially when it's biblical figures in history. Then you have to be insanely careful, and Dallas is not being as careful as one would hope. Because you don't want people who know nothing about Jesus to watch that show and have that expectation in their minds when they go to read the Bible. Jesus probably didn't talk like that, may not have looked like that, and may not have even smiled like that during His ministry here. But I've literally spoken with people who say things like if Jesus doesn't smile like Jonathan Roumie when they get to Heaven, "what's the point". That's dangerous. (And theologically the show is not sound.) I get taking creative liberties in order to make a television show more engaging for a modern audience, but not with the Bible. I get trying to make it easier to understand and follow for people who are just not brought up in the church and don't know the language. But I've decided for me, personally, not to continue watching The Chosen. For one thing, I don't want those actors/actresses in my head when I'm reading the Bible, and for another, I don't want to start being in a "fandom" for a show that's supposed to be portraying the events in the Bible. I don't want to start treating the Bible like it's fiction, like Peter's my blorbo (as the kids say), like it's just entertainment. It's not. It's real. It's all real, and I know me, and I know I have a tendency to over-romanticize the media I consume. I'm not going near that show with a 39-and-a-half foot pole anymore. It would be too easy to start thinking the wrong way about what I believe based on the way the show makes me feel. That, and I think the show is disrespectful and wrong. Great idea, good execution, went off the rails. And yeah, The Chosen is so good at making you feel things! I saw that first Season. I loved that first Season! Little ideas like having the Jesus-character laugh in bed while knowing exactly what the family of the lame man he cured is waking up to, literally able to see them rejoicing miles away? That's beautiful. When the Jesus-character cries with the woman at the well, and he tells her from now on it will all be about the heart, not about works? And she says "You promise?" And he cries and smiles and promises and she's so happy? That's beautiful. I cried too. And my favorite was the line when Mary says that before she met Jesus, "I was one way. And now I am completely different. And the thing that happened in between was Him." That's perfect. That's so good. That's what it's like, in three sentences. Excellent. Well done. Oh, and the music swelling at the end of each episode? Fantastic. Emotions everywhere. But like I said, I don't trust it. I got through about four episodes of Season 2 before I was like, okay, that's enough. This isn't good for me. Does that make sense? I could go into the discrepancies and how they often treat Jesus in the show as though He wasn't fully man and fully God (He was), and how they often make it seem like you can believe He was or He wasn't and it's all fine, when it's not all fine. But that would take a while! In a nutshell: I'm glad the creators had the right heart to start out with, and I'm pleased to see it proven that Christians can make excellent media, but not if it's like this, and I don't think the show should continue. If it does, I think they need to get their heads on straight and be super clear about the Truth, otherwise there's no point. I won't be watching it. Doesn't make you evil if you watch it! This is just what I think. Since you asked. Glad to hear from you! <3

[ncisfranchise-source]

Quantum Leap is coming up on its 35th anniversary since it first hit the airwaves, and Scott Bakula had a unique way to celebrate the milestone.

The 69-year-old actor invited Quantum Leap fans to watch a performance of his off-Broadway musical, The Connector, in New York City, and afterwards he reflected with ET on the TV series' success both during and after it aired. Quantum Leap aired 97 episodes across five seasons from March 1989 until May 1993.

Even after the show's first iteration ended, fans were hooked on the series. So much so, TV Guide ranked Quantum Leap No. 19 in its Top Cult Shows Ever list in 2007. Looking back, Bakula has nothing but fond memories.

"Yeah, that was a big deal. I was in New York doing [the musical] Romance/Romance and I left the show and we had a bunch of Tony nominations. We were very popular and people said, 'What are you doing?' And I said, 'It's time to go.' And I went back a month later, I auditioned for Quantum Leap and then we started shooting it a month after," Bakula recalled. "I used so many elements of the theater during the years of Quantum Leap, every facet of my life. I played the piano. I played a bunch of sports, I played them there. I sang. We did all kinds of things. Danced. We did a little bit of everything. I'm a firm believer that all of our experiences shape our lives, and they all came out in that particular show. And I was lucky for that to happen."

"Our show was gonna go off the air, and in the old days there was a writing campaign and they flooded NBC," he said. "The fans cared and they expressed themselves. They'd been around. They followed me around the planet. Sci-fi fans are remarkable. If you give them the right kind of product, they'll stay forever. I've been around them, they've been with me and all over the world. They show up where I am and they come to the theater. They support, and they've made great friendships amongst themselves."

Bakula's popularity -- and intrigue -- has also grown exponentially on a very different show. Steve Martin, Martin Short and Jane Lynch are among those who have uttered his name on Hulu's Only Murders in the Building. They constantly give him a shout-out, but Bakula's got no clue as to why he gets mentioned.

"I don't know, but I'd love to be on that," he said. "I love the show."

For what it's worth, there's a small connection between Bakula and Only Murders in the Building -- he once appeared on the HBO show, Looking. And one of the writers from that show, John Hoffman, co-created Only Murders in the Building.

In the meantime, fans can catch Bakula in The Connector, which runs off-Broadway through March 17. The nearly two-hour musical, based on Jonathan Marc Sherman's book of the same name, is set in the late 1990s "amid a rapidly changing media landscape." Bakula portrays a magazine editor, and the musical centers around a rising journalist whose ambition forces him to confront how far he'll go for the ultimate scoop.

For the NCIS: New Orleans star, being back onstage is thrilling.

"It's my first love being being in a theater with a live audience, and then I love to sing so the musical world always holds a great allure to me and to be back in New York," Bakula says. "Many things attracted me to this role and to the show, starting with Jason Robert Brown. I'm a huge fan of his, and pretty much when they said it was his show, I would have done whatever they wanted me to do, pretty much."

He added, "And then Daisy Prince is kind of icing on the cake. I did not know the writer, Jonathan Marc Sherman, and his script is fantastic. It's one of the best books I've ever been involved with in a musical or a play, to be quite honest. It's just so rich and so good. So I jumped at the chance ... I'm thrilled to be here for sure."

[lady-of-the-spirit]

SO according to the Riverdale timeline on the wiki, Cheryl was broken out of the Sisters of Quiet Mercy in March at some point. After which, she returned to school and found that Kevin was doing the school play and auditions hadn’t been done just yet. Then, still based off of the wiki timeline, the school play was released in April, the next month.

Do the writers of Riverdale have any fucking clue how long it takes to put on a play??? In my high school, auditions were in October or September. Early November at the latest. This gave them 5 months to practice and get everything ready by early March. My sister’s high school musical theater class had the same timeline for their productions. Even then, things go wrong! People don’t remember all of their lines on stage! Maybe Riverdale could have done everything they needed to do within two months (at most) before opening night, but not if auditions were also going on in March. Not without 100x the amounts of stress needed to get a play ready on a normal timeline. Less than 2 months is not enough time to memorize lines, choreography, get costumes together, or do anything else. 

[purplehoodiesimon]

Hi, this is not a YR question but are USA highschools really like how they are portrayed in films/tv shows? I'm watching One of Us is Lying and same with other shows- Glee for example and I was wondering if the high school experience is like how they show it. (i guess it is different depending on where you are but I am intrigued)

I think Glee is about the furthest you can get from real life high school while still making it completely accurate 😂

I've never seen One of Us is Lying so I can't say for sure on that one.

As for American high schools in general—teen media definitely tends to amp up the cheesiness (Degrassi Next Class, for instance, is like Glee. So so wrong while still somehow being accurate.) Generally the drama about cliques tends to be a lot more chill in real life, but those divisions still definitely exist. I will never forget the time I had to do a Spanish assignment in junior year (16/17 years old) with 3 of the football team boys that I'd known since 5th grade (10/11 years old) and we spoke about 10 sentences to each other overall. My group definitely had "our" space (English teacher's classroom) and it was weird when people not in our general group were in there.

The drama in general tends to be portrayed pretty accurately, but I'd say media teens definitely care more about it than real life. Like in Glee when the whole Quinn Rachel Finn cheating circle happened, it was this huge big deal and so many people were involved and cared and in real life when a similar thing happened to one of my friends, it kinda stayed within the friend group and outside of it people were like "wow that sucks. Staying out of this one."

As for fights—again somehow accurate but not? They don't usually go for as long as media depicts them and real life teachers are definitely a lot better at breaking them up than TV teachers, but they do happen. Also that whole "after school meet me by the bleachers" thing where it gets around everywhere and is this huge big duel thing doesn't happen in my experience. Fights happen off the fly and are broken up pretty quickly but people do tend to talk about them a lot for a few days. They can also happen over anything, I've seen fights happen over genuine bullying the person got fed up and started punching back kinda things and I've seen fights happen because someone tried to give a plastic spoon back to someone in the cafeteria.

STDs/pregnancy/sex all differs depending on where you are in the states. All I'll say about my high school is that we didn't even get sex education.

A couple things I've noticed aren't usually shown/explored in media—campus police/probation officers, open campuses (where the school is spread out in little buildings instead of one giant block campus, this happens more in rural areas), and the school lunches genuinely sucking. Like media teenagers will complain about it but then we'll see them in the cafeteria with a nice healthy lunch that covers the food groups etc etc. No. You get cardboard texture pizza with plastic cheese that will genuinely keep it's shape if you mold it, and maybe a few carrot sticks. There's also usually a sorta "popular girls are always bitchy" stereotype that isn't true, and there is a lot more crossover between cliques than media tends to depict. For example, one of the guys in my usual English classroom hangout group was also on the football team and very involved and popular with them. One of our girls was super involved with the kids that went to the like, it was the campus just down the hill from us where the kids that had basically failed out of normal high school went. I was super involved with the theater kids with another person, and we had friends there that were in other respective groups. Cliques in high school are less of individual bubbles and more like a network. Still weird when people that don't normally interact do though.

So basically American teen TV is like accurate if you amped up all the drama times 10. I'd say probably That 70s Show and stuff like Pretty in Pink is the most accurate to how high school works here. Stuff like Glee, Grease, pretty much all Netflix originals, that's all kinda accurate but really exaggerated. I'd also say Sex Education is pretty close to American high schools, despite being you know not American and slightly exaggerated itself.

Oh and the whole drugs problem thing is totally accurate no matter what media you're watching. I mean like kids don't usually have access to designer drugs but vaping in the bathrooms, classrooms, etc etc, doing shrooms in Spanish, getting caught dealing in 7th grade etc etc, all that happens. It is a huge problem so media may change it up a bit depending on the area and intensity but generally, the drugs thing is accurate and usually actually played down a bit. Like media will only show it being a serious problem in bigger cities and that's just not true. I come from a rural area that's 80% white and 60% conservative and it's just like, such a huge problem.

Anyways if you have any more questions I'd be glad to answer them lol. My high school experience probably isn't universal, being from a tiny little crazy place in rural West Coast, but I'm totally down for talking about it!

[m0e-ru]

eight months in somebody actually asked me abt visualive instead of me immediately annoying ppl about it without former notice. I might actually write properly for once 😳😳😳

OK OK!!!!! In this essay I will.... I will.... Visualive Adachi.... Visu/BURSTS INTO TEARS/

OKAY OKAY for real I just care Visualive so much (as someone who can’t fully understand Japanese AHAHA)

First I’ll add some foundation about what Visualive really is, then I talk abt Adachi in the latter parts of it because this is technically the first time I’m properly talking about this hehe 🐿

T....table of contents???

Visualive

Visualive the Evolution

Masami Itou

Visualive Adachi

Visualive the Evolution Adachi

Terms and Legend

VL - Visualive

VLE - Visualive the Evolution

stage - shortened for “stageplay”

面白い - omoshiroi (it’s just that specific)

Yuuya - VL Hero name

Hayato - VLE Hero name

Baba - Hero

Masami - Adachi

Taniguchi - Dojima

Saotome - Daisuke

Mamiya - Izanami

I add honorifics but sometimes I forget the hyphen intentionally or unintentionally I’m sorry if it makes it hard to read lol

all links have automatic timestamps for easy viewing. i mean. i hope the timestamps work

VISUALIVE “Persona 4.” A stage adaptation of SMT: Persona 4 by Atlus. It adapts the first part of the story, from the hero’s arrival to after recovering Mitsuo Kubo from the TV world. It also ends on a cliff hanger, showing a teaser of Shadow Naoto being projected on the screen.

It takes up a speedy recapitulation of the hero’s spring life, before slowing down and showing in depth his school life in summer. A day before Morooka-sensei’s death, there is a little skit with Kou, Daisuke and Adachi. The hero walks into the conversation before the two other boys leaving, and Morooka-sensei walking in on the student and detective. The next day follow’s the teacher’s death and the Investigation Team (IT) begin investigating their new lead.

From the words “visual” and “alive,” the niche of this stage was meant to be the fusion of live acting and visual digital projections. All seen from the stageplay with the colorful cast of actors and CG animations being projected on the screen. This offers an opportunity for characters to summon their personas, perform cool visual effects, change the backdrop, or even confront their own Shadows.

Performed in Sunshine Theater from the 15th to the 20th of March 2012. The screenplay was written and directed by Shintaro Asanuma from the theatrical group “bpm.” The video production produced by Shutaro Oku, a film director and visual planner. He later takes over as director for VISUALIVE THE EVOLUTION, the sequel stage. The stage music was produced by Shunsuke Wada, with a special show exclusive vocal track sung by Shihoko Hirata.

On this note, I haven’t seen any sort of original soundtrack released for any of the stages and I’m SO SAD. The last song in Mitsuo’s boss fight was such a BANGER and literally EVERYTHING ELSE Marvelous, Wadasan please take my MONEY

Regarding the cast, there were some special accommodations for Teddie, Rise, and Nanako, all of which did not have live actors at the time. During the casting, actors for the three characters could not be found or simply left the directors unsatisfied they couldn’t cast anybody. An exception for Rise, who was able to have a live actor in the sequel stage. It has been stated that there weren’t any “pretty boy” actors that fit the “Teddie Criteria.” While there weren’t any child actors that were believed to portray Nanako well.

Teddie was only ever seen in his bear costume while Rise was busy talking through a call, all voiced by their video game cast. Nanako has never appeared on stage, only being scarcely mentioned in the script. Again, this is different in the sequel stage where her role was extremely important and was shown as a screen projection.

VISUALIVE “Persona 4” THE EVOLUTION. A sequel stage. Beginning abruptly in the middle of Shadow Naoto’s boss fight, the story continues from there until the “true end” of the game’s original story. *Certain characters are introduced while others have been reintroduced. And on a personal note, when it’s all comedic in the beginning, it’s all for what’s coming right after.

I don’t know if I’m salty or just find it really funny AHAHA I might go talk abt it some other day with more context ehehe

Performed in The Galaxy Theater from the 3rd to the 9th of October 2012, only a few months after the PSVITA Persona 4 Golden release, which is July 2012. The screenplay was now written by Jun Kumagi while directed by Shutaro Oku. And music production finally taken over by Shoji Meguro himself.

---

HAHAHA this is starting to look like a wiki page. moving on. I might start rambling rn

(warning LONG !!!! aaa,,)

My thoughts on the stage adaptations. For the first Visualive (VL) I believe it’s pretty close to canon! I enjoy the characterization and how much love and care was present when handling the entire production.

Actors were busy playing the game itself, wherein a PS2 was present in the practice room. Along with magazines and game guides explaining the game’s story and the characters itself. Actors performing together and even improv acting together to get a grasp of their characters. All of them knowing well of Persona 4 as a well loved game, delicately handling their characters and hopefully performing them right while making the audience happy.

The staff taking care of each other while the director and video producer, Asanuma-san and Oku-san, working together well to make their vision into a reality.

The same thing happened with VL the Evolution (VLE) and literally every other good stage. Except... I feel the script kinda got out of hand with too much liberty where it feels a bit more disconnected from canon. But! It makes up for it in its content, whether comedic or (INCREDIBLY) dramatic! It’s great as its own story at that point. So in this case, I like to take the first VL and get to connect it canon, while I don’t know what the hell happened in VLE to the point I’ll just enjoy it as its own content.

These opinions deserve its own essay, post whatever bc I have SO much to say abt this. ANYWAY. VL ADACHI

---

Tohru Adachi is portrayed by Masami Itou (伊藤マサミ), a screenplay writer, director and an stage actor himself. He does have a single character voice role along with a fellow troupe member in the same franchise, but mostly works as the former three. He is part of Asanuma-san’s entertainment group “bpm.” On a similar note, Masashi Taniguchi, Dojima’s actor, was also part of their group from 2011 to 2016, which may explain their good synergy as the boss and the bumbling fool dynamic. I mean, somebody’s gotta get hit in the head every few skits.

With Masami-san being an important part of the cast, he doesn’t appear as often as Taniguchi-san in backstage content like the VL bonus disk or the official blog. Mentioned in his own personal blog, he had been busy with his roles as assistant director (I am assuming also for VL).

Also fun to note, because his role is mainly comic relief, he has been using his liberty to change up the material almost everyday making each performance exciting. This also leaves some other actors jealous of his freedom in his role, such as Saotome-san, Daisuke’s actor.

---

VL Adachi really has a... how do I say this? an adorable speech pattern (THE SAME SPEECH PATTERN THAT DROVE ME MAD TRYING TO DECIPHER I THOUGHT YOU WERE A CITY BOY OSSU OSSU MY ASS /shakes you violently/). Overall, he really fits the loose lipped bumbling fool, and his accent really makes him seem more casual and invested. What I’m saying is... VL Adachi either actually has genuine empathy or he actually has more energy to fake it (compared to some other edgelord. i mean you saw my p4ga analysis. I’m sick of him lol ahaha).

One of my favorite ways to explain this (OTHER THAN CHAIR CAR ADVENTURE MY BELOVED WE’LL GET TO THAT LATER) is the rice field scene with him and Dojima. It’s overanalyzation time 🎉

(43:04)

While investigating, Adachi whines about being tired while Dojima smacks him in the head. In this case, it’s established that Adachi doesn’t want to be there, yes? It’s the country, it’s hot and it smells like green.

"Ah... Dojima-san..! Why don't we take a break? (...) There really is nothing out here... Is the criminal still even here at all? (...) I wonder if I've passed being a rookie yet. Haha, but this city doesn't even have convenient transportation. I can't go to leisure lands (recreation, amusement parks, arcades, ect.) and head home at all."

Adachi then tries to tell Dojima a story. “when I got to this city after being newly assigned, I met an interesting guy (...) Yeah, I remember that the cherry blossoms haven't bloomed yet. So, I was driving my car and got near the station and--” Dojima gets a phone call.

Adachi politely puts his hands down waiting for his boss to finish so he can finish the story. Again and again, Adachi attempts to talk to Dojima about a story he’s so persistent trying to tell someone about. It was so 面白い that he would find someone to talk to about it. Even being polite and patient enough to wait for a chance to speak. He even gets fed up with it and blows up in front of his boss, clearly irritated he’s not given a chance to talk.

Sure, it could be Adachi feeling fed up like a normal person where someone agreed he to listen to him, before being constantly ignored. Or Adachi trying to be a more annoying whiny brat, depending on where you look at it.

If the story wasn’t too “interesting” to Adachi, he would’ve just brushed it off and stopped talking to Dojima entirely, or start up new small talk, or even complain some more. But no, he had a story he wanted to voice out so bad that he got irritated that the one person in the vicinity couldn’t listen to him.

Only after Dojima told him to continue their investigation elsewhere did Adachi finally stop and focus on something else. Maybe that story was for another day, or maybe it was never meant to be told.

What if it was just original (game) Adachi? He’d find a way to squirrel out of the investigation as usual, or push Dojima to “investigate” elsewhere. “Hey boss, don’t you think it’s hot? Why don’t we go elsewhere? We’ve seen this place too many times to count and I doubt anything new’ll turn up. How about we take a break at Junes, y’know? Where it’s cool? C’mon boss,” something like that.

og Adachi is just really annoying and silly to me. Some grown man thinking he can freeload because he never gets anything out of putting in more energy and effort? I don’t care how tall he is, I will smack him in the head.

Yeah VL Adachi whines, too, but at least it doesn’t look like he’s going to escape and waste his time somewhere else. He just sucks it up stops trying to leave the situation.

Or maybe I’m getting this all wrong and VL is exactly the same and my rage just gets dampened because of Masamisan’s execution of character hmm...

SO. What was his story about anyway? The one he really wanted to share to Dojima?

I mean... it’s obvious enough

First day in town? Spring? Actually mentioned driving a car when literally out of every single persona 4 media at the time was there not a SINGLE mention of Adachi having a car OTHER THAN the same stageplay it’s being mentioned in?

A story, from somewhere around uhh four? five months ago? was something that he remembered so dearly and was willing to share despite it obviously embarrassing him even if he puts the blame on a certain somebody in the same story?

Or maybe it’s because he really had nothing to talk about ever since he realized all his stories from the city weren’t actually that funny or interesting in the first place.

BUT then that would mean out of all the things he could talk about—more whining, complaining, complimenting, small talk—he insisted about talking about this story in particular.

Okay, look. I’m just. Just. As someone who talks too much, of course I have things I actually want people to hear out of all the bullshit that comes out of my mouth. And if the thing I actually want people to listen to doesn’t even get heard, I’d go mad.

Sure, Adachi’d be fine when his complaints or intentionally unfunny jokes get brushed off. But a story of a guy that he thought was so funny, interesting, 面白い gets ignored, he really blew up, even just for a split second, maybe.

And ALL the things that happened in that story—on his first day in Inaba! His car got dented, he had to deal with a weirdo dumbass employee that knew zero personal space, yelled in his ear, who didn’t know how to do their job, got his station reputation messed up on the first day, got his ass grabbed, got (unintentionally?) mocked for his lame stories, and got his car dented for the SECOND time. Probably MORE

And he STILL wanted to talk about it /punches through concrete wall/

yes I’m overthinking about this of course i am

This little tidbit of VL Adachi kinda makes me go insane sometimes—his entire characterization in VL in particular. It was really refreshing to see and how they included both of his characters in it, his facade and how irritated he is of a lot of things underneath. And how flexible his character is immediately working with other characters when there’s sudden improv to balance the situation. Like him and Dojima, Morooka, the attendant, or even Yuuya (hero) himself.

I’ll take Taniguchi-san’s messing around in the VL bonus backstage disc in place of Masami-san being so busy he couldn’t appear in it as often as other characters.

For stagetime that lasted for fifteen minutes or less, my appreciation for VL Adachi, even if he was just comic relief, really rocketed. I say VL, bc Adachi the edgelord he’s supposed to be in literally every other media is something I analyze separately.

I haven’t even gotten to VLE oh my GODDDDD

Like I said, I don’t really regard VLE close to canon but as something to be appreciated for what it is by itself. But the way Adachi was characterized there, in or out of character, still struck me.

---

Yes, there was his strange fan-agreed-canon which is,,, now canon obsession with cabbages (not that that’s a bad thing lmao). There was also him being a lot more jumpy and intimate in a clowny way, patting people on the shoulder or even downright hugging them just to mess around. Even FORGETTING who the same goddam loser who grabbed his ass almost a year ago is. But like, can’t blame him they literally changed their actor (and screenplay writer) AHAHAHA

ha... no more comedy, only dorky sword fights now

(speaking of sword fights I think it’s a fun thought how Mamiya-san [Izanami, also one of the youngest in the cast] admitted it was his first time doing sword fight choreography and even thanked Masami-san and other staff members for guiding him)

One thing unintentionally in character was Adachi accidentally nabbing the sushi overdosed in wasabi. Masami-san didn’t actually account for a joke sushi and didn’t immediately eat it—until Taniguchi-san (who also made Dojima go off his shits compared to VL) jokingly yelled at him and even riled up the audience for him to eat it. He even went off stage to get water just for him to eat the goddam sushi.

And Masami-san did! (kinda choked, but he’s fine).

Continuing from the same scene, while being overly giddy about sushi dinner (and I mean overly--he was singing about it while hopping to the Dojima residence), he tried to remind the two, Dojima and Hayato (hero), that Nanako was sleeping. Probably where she was sick if the scene was translated from the game.

(30:07)

And... the dramatic parts of VLE

Adachi was the one who reported to the IT that Dojima was chasing Namatame in the rain. While Naoto was discussing Namatame’s journal entries, Adachi, as giddy as he is, took it from Naoto’s hands and reveled in the discovery of evidence so childishly(?). He even ran to Dojima when he began regaining consciousness and immediately called the nurses to help him wheel Dojima to the ER.

Then, The Hospital Scene™️, right after Nanako flatlines.

(1:02:02)

Adachi, who recently walked into the scene, immediately worries about Dojima and IT who were ALL crying. He looks down, devastated—before yelling how Dojima’s heading to Namatame’s room.

He yells in terror and the same grief at his injured boss, all while running past and even jumping over children, who fell to the ground sobbing, to get to him. He continues yelling in a pained fashion while immediately reprimanding Dojima to stop. He gets carried by the collar before being tossed to the ground at Hayato’s feet, all while being pat by the same boy.

Dojima makes his speech about how unfair it is for the ‘killer’ to be alive when his daughter isn’t. When he finally falls to his knees, Adachi rises from the ground, humbly saying he’ll do his best to take care of Dojima (or something like that I’m in tears I literally can’t do VLE’s hospital scene i h8 this). He finally starts crying along with everyone else, being pushed away again but still tries again, trying to usher his boss away from the door.

With the help of the guard in front of the door, they all disappear off stage

please... I know this scene doesn’t need that much translation because of how important this scene is in the entire story. and I know my narratives aren’t enough so just,,,, just watch it please it’s so much more than this. everyone’s acting was just spectacular

(1:08:47)

So, after the IT (YOSUKE. JUST YOSUKE. good job Mae-chan) stop themselves from k wording Namatame, it was ADACHI who reported Nanako’s miracle recovery. He ran to the same corridor where they all cried in, even panting and falling to the ground in relief trying to report the good news. Then he pats Hayato on the shoulder and says he’s going to Dojima.

With this... /slaps roof of half of VLE/ ALL of this....adachi.... adachisan.... he Cares™️..... holy shit.....

now. comparing to the game. do you even remember what og Adachi did? did he.. even do anything?????

(56:39)

NO!!! he just stood there!!!! being a bumbling fool but.... inappropriately!!! man. he didn’t act concerned enough.

adachi: /walks into a bunch of kids crying outside a hospital room/ “lmao why tf are y’all crying? did uhhh what’s her face uhhh nanako. did she d word or something? rip, I guess lol” LIKE????? CAN YOU IMPLY FASTER

and then he’s like “wgat hmm Where’s Dojima-san Heading Because That’s Not The Way To His Room 🤔” and only when he’s asked he actually mentions he’s heading to Namatame’s room and still needs to get choked by a first year for the room number like..... zero consideration

and his boss??? where his daughter he loves so much just??? di*s???? and he’s so devastated he’s doing what he can that very moment while he’s so numbed of thinking of the consequences???? And adachi goes “uhh boss that’s illegal” LIKE. BITCH. /punches through a concrete wall but harder/

---

And??? His confrontation scene??? Like, I know they mashed it up w his tv confession scene to save stagetime for other scenes BUT IT WAS SO MMBMBMBMMGN /gestures in a good way/

(1:15:56)

UM?? guy behind everything??? in a vulnerable area where he could easily get physically assaulted bc hes not in the tv world w his persona?? Trash talks women like he absolute misogynist he is??? getting yelled at by a bunch of kids and YELLING BACK IN THE SAME AGITATED MANNER even TAUNTING THEM then and there to GET HIS ASS?????

og Adachi was such a pussy he got caught and just scurried off into the TV world where he ended up having powers like...ok....scared of getting beat down by a bunch of highschoolers unless you have powers...ok....

he only taunted them to get him when he was in the tv world too.....he rlly couldn’t say shit in the real world huh... lol

(yeah yeah this shows how VLE Adachi knew abt his TV world powers which would make you think if he ever went into the tv world and came back out alive. Or he’s really just a badass who doesnt give a shit abt anyone’s opinions and CAN beat anyone’s ass. i have a separate thing abt this but bc i like to laught at vle rather than overthink its own lore i might. not. idk lol)

and ??? VLE Adachi can??? He can swordfight??? he doesn’t even NEED a gun—he even reflects bullets w his blade (but apparently he can still get slapped by a flying fan more often than any other attack). His fight choreo was just...so poggers. He’s like short villains done good—like??? he’s short compared to everyone else!!! but he makes up for it for stuffing all the energy inside him while is bursts out making him him the over energetic gremlin he is!!! go VL adachi!!!!

(am I low key making fun of Madono-san in the TUUSH stageplay I’ve seen four minutes of? maybe)

OK!!! Yes I was gushing abt Masami-san again back to Adachi.

It’s portrayed that while not being afraid to admit his crimes, he also goes out of his way to be a bastard and have the gall to get a bunch of kids to fight him, one on eight. He can use a katana, probably a narrative dark reflection of the hero, Hayato which I thought was nice—and he can fight!!! It also shows his persona, yes, but...it doesn’t make it clear if he’s overwhelmed by his Shadow like in the game, where his eyes were yellow and he was emitting a dark aura.

But it gets interesting how he sees he’s getting overwhelmed and starting to lose his edge towards a bunch of kids. He falls to the ground even banging the floor like a whiny brat while literally the IT tries to tell him to turn himself in. Again, like a brat he tells everyone to shut up—before getting incapacitated. While some of the IT rejoice, he bolts up unaccepting of his defeat—before getting hit in the stomach.

(1:23:54)

And his words from when he drops his katana, “Why..?” He grabs the foldable chair against his stomach, and with a remorseful look in his eyes, he says “I’m sorry..!”

THEN HE BACKFLIPS—then Hayato slashes him.

In a tone of disbelief, he goes “no way...” and collapses to the ground, being possessed by Ame-no-Sagiri.

Blah blah blah then Teddie rockets himself into the eyeball spy cam and then they both explode aaaaa

Teddie survives but I really don’t know where Adachi went. Not even a mention by Dojima if he turned himself in or was ever found—or I need to review VLE for the 48274827482nd time hehe

WHOO then the whole cast appears for the dance number at the end of show YAHOO

[recentanimenews]

FEATURE: This February, We’re Highlighting Black Voices In The Anime Industry

  Today is the first day of Black History Month and we are going to spend every week of February highlighting the amazing Black creators, influencers, voice actors, artists, and industry professionals who help make the anime community the incredibly special place it is. We had the pleasure of sitting down with seven people who work in the anime industry and/or community and asked them about their experiences and what anime means to them. 

  Additionally, Crunchyroll will be donating to Concerned Black Men of Los Angeles, a non-profit dedicated to empowering the next generation of Black youth through education and mentoring. 

  The following article is the first in a series of four — we will be publishing a new article every Tuesday throughout February. This week we're featuring voice actor Dani Chambers, content creator Keatsdidit, cosplayer Evensya, musician GameboyJones, and Crunchyroll's own Jasmine Downey!

        Dani Chambers

  Voice Actor

(Chise in The Ancient Magus' Bride, among others)

  What inspired you to try voice acting?  

I've always been an actor ever since I was little. I have been doing theater since I was six and haven't really stopped since. Growing up, I loved cartoons, musicals, plays, you name it. I've always wanted to be a part of that to help inspire kids that looked like me and show that they can do this too. I always looked up to Cree Summer growing up. Watching Kids Next Door, Rugrats, Atlantis the Lost Empire — Cree Summer inspired me to believe I could be in cartoons too! So I took classes, learned how the industry works, did the homework, and began this incredible journey. 

  How does it feel to embody a character when you're acting?  

It feels a bit surreal. To put myself in the character's shoes and pretend to feel what they are feeling can be a challenge. Whenever I was voicing Chise from The Ancient Magus Bride, it was hard for a bit. She had been through so much in her life and trying to portray all of that raw emotion was tough. I pushed through to give the best performance I could give for her. But after a few sessions, I connected with her and wanted to tell her story. I did my best to feel what she felt. In the end, it feels rewarding. 

  What about anime do you love or resonate with?  

I love that different anime can tell all kinds of stories and that it can make you think. But I REALLY love the shows that make me smile really big, either because it's cheesy or just plain silly! One of my favorites is Snow White with the Red Hair! It's a beautiful romance anime that shows how relationships develop realistically and it makes me smile so much! Shows that make me feel good or have some kind of mental reflection are always on my list. But I do love the magical girl genre, too! Mew Mew Power, Sailor Moon, CardCaptor Sakura, I grew up with those too! I just started getting into Precure and can't wait to dive into that one!

  Do you have advice for anyone who wants to become a voice actor but might be too scared to try?

If you're nervous or scared, try taking an ADR class where you can try it or you can try out for community theater. That way you can see if it works for you and that you like doing it. If you don't like it or it's too much, that is okay! There's no pressure — don't let anyone try to coerce you into doing something you're not comfortable with. But if you want to keep trying, take classes, practice acting with a group of actor friends and have fun! That's the most important part, too. Make sure you're having fun learning and playing pretend!

      Keatsdidit

  Content Creator (TikTok, Twitch)

  How did you get into anime?

  I remember I was spending time with my cousins, and as everyone knows the older siblings usually control the TV selection when the guardians aren't present. That is when I discovered Tom and his network called Toonami hosted on Cartoon Network. I remembered the theme song of Cowboy Bebop and the stylistic artwork that I had never seen on any other network. From that moment on I was an anime fan, making sure I was up to date on YuYu Hakusho, DBZ, Inuyasha, and tons of other shows.

  How did you find success and build an audience on TikTok/Twitch?

I built an audience on TikTok by creating a series called "If the planets had a meeting." In this series, I personify all of the planets including Pluto and have them engage in comedic conversation touching on pop culture and real-world issues. The series gained millions of views within the first day of it touching the internet and since then there have been over 20 parts of the series released. In addition to the planets, I've made skits about streaming platforms, social media apps, internet pirates, and other categories that have led to viral internet content. 

  What about anime do you resonate with/love?

I love how there are real-life lessons within anime. In anime, nothing comes to the main character easily. The protagonist must struggle and earn their victories with blood, sweat, and tears. The main character(s) also has a positive mental attitude and a disregard for social norms. They have their own moral compass and do things by their own code of honor no matter what others think. I believe the messages within anime are very positive and can teach us all some great life lessons.

  Do you have any advice for people who want to make a career out of their love for anime?

Anime is so broad that it can blend with almost any passion you can think of. I would say to get in touch with their talents whether it may be art, music, writing, and start right away. 

      Evensya

  Cosplayer (Instagram, Twitter, TikTok)

  What drew you to cosplay/makeup artistry in the first place?

  What drew me to cosplay/makeup artistry was the chance to turn into anyone I wanted to and it didn't have to be just for Halloween. 

How does it feel when you're cosplaying a character you love?

  It honestly feels amazing, especially with the positive feedback I get when I do that character justice.

  What about anime do you love or resonate with?

  I love the fact that you can never tell what you're going to get out of any new anime you pick up. It's never going to be like one you've watched before. 

Do you have advice for anyone who wants to cosplay but might be too scared to try?

  Honestly just jump right into it. I wish I had started sooner than I did because it's been an amazing journey. 

      GameboyJones

  Musician (YouTube, TikTok)

  How did you get into anime/gaming?

  For anime that is super easy! I grew up with the Toonami block on Cartoon Network and was hooked ever since with shows like YuYu Hakusho and Rurouni Kenshin! Gaming also came naturally. I had a friend who inherited hundreds of Super Nintendo games from his grandfather so we spent a good amount of the day beating a multitude of games! Some notable favorites would be Super Mario RPG and Mega Man X.

What inspired you to pursue anime-themed music as a creator?

  When I started rapping, I already knew I didn't want to rap about my life so I started rapping about geeky topics overall — comics, games, anime, and more. What made me switch to primarily rapping about anime was YouTube itself. YouTube's algorithm rewards people for sticking to one topic or category so I picked the one that resonated with me the most, which was anime. Anime also gave me the most creative freedom because of the different personalities of characters and shows I get to rap about.

What about anime do you love/resonate with?

  To be honest, I just love the art style and variety. You can find an anime for any kind of vibe, mood, or feeling. I've also made a ton of friends over the years because of anime. Although the anime community does have its flaws (as does any big community) I love that I can go to conventions and meet up with other people in the community and have a good time bonding over this thing we all love!

Do you have any advice for artists/musicians/other creators who want to pursue a career that incorporates their love of anime?

  I suggest that people aim to experiment, find their sound and hone their skills! And when it comes to promoting music, I think capitalizing on both TikTok and YouTube is the way to go — also learn, a lot about SEO to maximize your reach.

      Jasmine Downey

  Licensing Specialist at Crunchyroll

  How did you get into anime?

  I was born and raised in Tokyo for the first 10 years of my life before moving to America. Anime and manga was such a normal part of the culture — from singing along to the opening/endings of children’s anime like Anpanman and Crayon Shin-chan, bonding with my grandpa by watching Sazae-san, faithfully watching Detective Conan every week, and reenacting Sailor Moon scenes with my kindergarten friends — I never questioned the huge role it played in my life. Because I visually stood out and often felt like an outsider, I was pretty shy growing up. I always looked forward to watching the Saturday morning anime programming and finding something to bond over with my classmates.

  When my family and I moved to America, I was encouraged to immerse myself in the American culture, including learning English (since I didn’t speak it at all). I continued to read manga and watch anime heavily throughout my childhood to retain the Japanese language and to keep my connection to Japanese culture.  

    What inspired you to pursue working in the anime industry?

  I’ve always collected vintage anime toys and memorabilia growing up. It always made me happy to represent a show I loved and extending my fandom via replicas, toys, and merchandise. As I learned about the consumer products licensing industry, it made me proud to be working on projects where dedicated fans can experience the same kind of joy from merchandise. I also feel very lucky to have worked on projects with creators/shows that I’ve loved since I was young and it’s been a dream come true as an anime fan.

What about anime do you love/resonate with?

  I love that anime can’t be defined in one word.  It can mean so many things to people all over the world — the artistry and the emotional journey it can take you on ... it can truly be what you want it to be. It opens up a world of pure imagination and can take your mind to places you wouldn’t have dreamed of. I’ve loved seeing anime becoming more accessible to fans all over the world, giving us more things to connect and bond over. It takes a lot of people to make an anime, and it really makes me appreciate the handiwork put into it … it amazes me every time.

  Do you have any advice for people who want to work in the industry but don't know where to start?

  Evidently, anime is becoming more global, and recent content is reflecting that slowly, but surely. It definitely helps to understand the industry and dynamic of how anime business is done in Japan. Anime is a highly respected art form and understanding Japanese culture/business nuances is key. There are so many ways you can be a part of it — your strengths can contribute to the industry!

      Hilton George

  CEO, Blerdcon 

  How did you get into anime? 

  Harmony Gold first brought Robotech into the afternoon cartoon lineup right after G.I. Joe and I’d never seen such amazing animation, storylines, and character development in a “cartoon” before. Personal drama, wide-ranging plots, and consequences for one’s choices was not a part of children’s television at that time. Did I mention the animation? Anyway, following that with a show {G.I. Joe} where no bullet ever hit a person and no plane exploded without a parachute blew my mind, so when the video stores started carrying anime movies and series, I was hooked and have been ever since!

  What inspired you to get into con management/organizing? 

  I’m a firm believer in being the change you want to see. And as a congoer and cosplayer, I didn’t see my story being told nor reflected in many of the conventions I attended. I sat down one day and thought, “Wouldn’t it be cool to have a con that highlighted blerd culture and contribution to the nerdspace?” That thought was quickly followed by another saying, “Well, who’s gonna put that together?” Followed again by, “I guess it’s on me!”

Too often we look outside ourselves for sources of change. Even though it was a huge risk that upended life as I knew it, it has been a profound influence in the nerd space and how we (blerds) interact with conventions. We see all types of cons booking more Black nerd guests, selecting more blerd panels and workshops, and including more Black artists and vendors than ever before. Blerdcon was in the right place and time to be part of that wave, and the community is better for it.

  What about anime do you love/resonate with? 

  Since you used the word “resonate” and not “favorite,” I’ll answer this directly. One-Punch Man. I know a lot of anime fans like it, but consider their tastes too refined to favor it since it’s so plot-simple with an effective gag character as its protagonist. BUT HEAR ME OUT.

I say it resonates because its main character, Saitama, is OP to the max but is almost unaware of that power. I believe that we all have untapped power and potential that can be unlocked with seemingly small effort. I believe that anyone’s personal best is usually more than enough to overcome a challenge. We often imagine our goals to be insurmountable and sometimes we let that stall our mission to tackle them.

  But the truth is that you and I can do most anything we truly set our minds to and our only limit is our lack of confidence to try. Saitama does 100 pushups and runs 10 miles per day in order to punch out monsters the size of the Chrysler Building. That shouldn’t be anywhere near enough training to accomplish that. But it is. He is. And so are we.

  *steps down off soapbox*

  Do you have any advice for people who may want to start and organize conventions of their own? 

  Yeah. DON’T! I kid, but it’s important to recognize the cost of switching lanes to be a successful con runner. Conventions are escapes from reality. That means those of us wearing the polo and khakis five days per week are the true cosplay. Only when we're at cons rocking the look of our favorite MHA character are we our truest selves. Be ready to lose some of that.

  Once conventions become a place of business, you won’t be able to escape as far into the event now that you are aware of all the moving parts. Also, be ready to become your convention. As an attendee, you are responsible only for your own image and reputation as you move throughout the space. As a con owner, a lot of what you do and say, who you are seen with, and what they do, reflects on your brand. That’s a heavy stone to carry around in a space you once enjoyed as leisure fun. Also, know that people will want to talk con business at cons, so anonymity isn’t as much of an option.

  It’s a lot more work than most people are ready for. And it takes a TEAM to make cons succeed. So do your research and take in all credible advice. There is no business quite like it so be ready for what you know, what you don’t know, and what you don’t know that you don’t know. But if you have something new and valuable to bring to the nerdspace and are willing to accept the risk and sacrifice, it can be an amazing experience.  

    Cheyenne Ewulu

  Filmmaker (Director of Ex Roommate and Shades of Cosplay)

Actress, Writer, Geek Host (Website, Twitter, Instagram)

  How did you get into anime?

  I was lucky enough to be a '90s kid growing up around the time when anime was really being pushed here in the US. So I grew up basically in the age of Toonami, Adult Swim, Fox Box, 4kids, and Kids WB. Being a kid then, anime was kinda hard to miss regardless if you knew what you were watching was Japanese animation or not!

  How did you break into filmmaking/hosting with companies like Funimation?

I always knew I wanted to be a filmmaker and an actress. I didn't really take filmmaking seriously though, until I moved to Los Angeles and directed my first horror film. As for hosting for folks like Funimation, I had been wanting to do that for YEARS. I feel like with that one, the right people just decided to take a chance on me. I used to send embarrassing emails to the company when I was 13 (I still have them) asking if I could either voice act for them or visit the office. In 2019, I actually did my first tour at the Funimation office (still waiting on an invite, Crunchyroll *wink wink*).

  Can you imagine? Reading those emails back, I see why no one ever responded. I was an embarrassing kid, but one thing that was consistent about me is that I always took a chance and shot my shot. It's kinda surreal to think years later, as an adult, I'd be working with them in any capacity. I love my Funimation family. A lot of my entertainment firsts were with them. I hope I will be able to do more things for them this year.

  What about anime do you resonate with/love?

  This is a hard question. I don't know, it's just different. I love how creative anime is. It was something that I could come home to as a kid after a long day of being bullied at school and just watch and chill out to. Dragonball Z was literally my savior as a kid, no lie. I always had a hard time making friends in elementary school, but it was because of my love for DBZ that I managed to make a few eventually. 

Do you have any advice for people who want to make a career out of their love for anime?

  Don't be afraid to be a fan, man. Put yourself out there. Make genuine connections with people. Study the world you're trying to jump into. It'll all come together for you, I promise. 

By: Guest Author

[leoninapelliolovesconchitawurst]

ENGLISH TRANSLATION (Mandy Pitulle)

FM4 INTERVIEW with TOM NEUWIRTH

https://radiothek.orf.at/podcasts/fm4/fm4-interview-podcast/fm4-interview-mit-tom-neuwirth

Queer visibility also plays a role in the life of Tom Neuwirth, also known as Conchita Wurst. Seven years ago he won the Eurovision Song Contest. In an interview with FM4, he tells us like it is to grow up as a gay boy and experience pride for the first time.

. "Hello Tom, nice to have you here." "Yes, hello, I'm happy to be here." "It's June and that's a very special month for many people. It's Pride month and for queer people it's Pride all year. How are you feeling with that? How is June for you?"

Tom: "It's very special, it's been relatively commercialized in the last few years, which makes it special in another way. It's more visibility than it used to be. Pride has always been" The place to be ", especially when I was 16 / 17. Oh God, that I am now at an age to be able to say that. It was suddenly possible to visibly live out our sexuality, even if it was just being there, to hold hands and to have a save space and to know "Nothing will happen to you". It might sound strange, but being able to be an LGBTIQ person out on the streets was not easy back then and is still not always easy now.

FM4:" On 19th, it is the Rainbow Parade in Vienna. Do you have plans?"

Tom: " Not really concrete plans, but since the lockdown has fallen, we all feel the need to go out and celebrate. That is why the spirit to celebrate that I feel has not necessarily to do with June, but also with the current situation. I will of course be there. After 1 1/2 years where you couldn't see a lot of people and queer visibility has not taken place, I think it is important that we go out to the streets together and maybe come back to the origins of Prides . We noticed that the pandemic was not good when it comes to questioning ways of thinking, to stand up for more equality and that is why it is important to go out "as fabulous as we can".

FM4:"Do you still remember your first Pride and your first rainbow parade? How did you feel and how old were you?

Tom: "At my first Pride, I was with my best friend, Flo. We were 14/15 and told everyone we were in Graz, but secretly drove to Vienna. We then went to trendy scene bars and the rainbow parade and it was the amazing feeling of not having to hide, to not have to expect people to talk bad to me or look at me for walking in the street with my boyfriend. It was an extreme feeling of freedom. It still is a little, I have to say. I always dismissed it when you kiss in public and then get harsh comments. “I couldn't care less.” ...But then you ask yourself “Does that have to be?” “Why do you have to put people in a situation that is uncomfortable in some way. "So this year I am a little more aware of why it is important to have a rainbow parade. The first memories ... it was just Heaven ..You danced, met new people every minute and made out on the dance floor. It was "everything you can ask for".

FM4: "Do you know how old you were?"

Tom:" At my first Pride kiss? 15....*mumbles*...14/15"

FM4: "Nice. You have certainly been to many Pride events. Have you ever been to Prides outside Austria in June?"

Tom: "If you're known in the queer community, people like to book you for Prides. That's how it was for me and it has increased exponentially since the Eurovision Song Contest. One of the most impressive Prides was Amsterdam when I was there for the first time. I didn't know it from Austria when you turn on the TV and the country's TV stations are flagged with rainbow flags and Pride is advertised in the mainstream. Then the canals and streets were full. The whole city celebrated this part of society. The kids were all painted with rainbow flags and these floats that drove through on the canals. It was extremely impressive. And I didn't know that from Austria. With the Europride, that changed. That was extremely cool. You really had the feeling that the whole city celebrated with us. I also think that Vienna has the potential to become a queer Hotspot. Barcelona and everywhere else too, but Vienna has such charm and courage. Vienna is so uncompromising. I love that. Uncompromising in any way and especially with this topic. I think that's cool. I would like it to get bigger in the next few years. It's Pride month and we have so much to offer. From queer history in all museums to theaters and clubs. Lectures, artists ... we talked about queer footballers today ... This city has so much potential.

FM4: You already gave the cue. Queer Visibility. Where does it start and where does it end?

Tom: "That has to be viewed individually. I think, a drag queen, for example, that is activism as soon as she steps out of the dressingroom. For me it is ... well I don't know. I've spent a lot of my life, pushing myself into the hetero norm and I don't do that anymore. So not at all anymore. I'm hysterical and loud and scream and laugh and talk to everyone and wear what I like. I've come to a point where I'm no longer afraid because you think “it has to be like that.” And that's where it starts with me. Everyone should start with themselves. Sometimes I find it difficult because I don't want to ask anybody, “Now be extra bad”. Everyone should be what he or she is. I express myself a lot ... Now I want to say, through my clothes, but that's not true. I'm just uncompromising and try to break the boundaries again and again and make people think. Yesterday we were on the Donaustrand and did a photo shoot wearing black lace underwear. The people who watched, the reactions differed. But they'd go home and say, "Well, I've seen something today ..." And they'd talk about it, it's the first step in a conversation.

FM4:"This month is Pride month. Do you remember the first time you were proud of yourself? That you "owned your space"

Tom: "I think that was already at the first Pride events. Although I still have it. Pride means to me .. that's a power. When many people work together towards one goal. Or something in common ... It has so much power. You are not alone as an individual, you are among so many like-minded people where you have the feeling "I breathe". The visibility. That makes us strong against everything queer people struggle with."

FM4: "You already talked about Vienna. You have been living in Vienna for a long time. But you grew up somewhere else, in Bad Mitterndorf. I checked, it has about 5000 residents."

Tom: "They have grown."

FM4: "How was it for you to grow up as a queer person in the country?"

Tom: "It was a bit ambivalent, I never really held back in my being. I often heard from my mother" You can't wear that now. You can't wear a dirndl or a first communion dress, none of that works. "But I'd always found my ways to portray myself and just did what I felt". On one hand, I totally demanded it, but on on the other hand, it was bad for me to get the attention because it wasn't positive. My parents run an Restaurant and they were a bit dependent on the opinions of their guests. They don't think like that anymore. I am happy about that. To do everything right for everyone is simply not possible. It was this duality of "I am there" and "It hurts" when you are insulted, laughed at. And so many queer people feel like that. And you ask yourself "Why?" For example, if it's a child and the adults react like that. You think "Get yourself together."

FM4: "You said there were painful things. What helped you?"

Tom: "Definitely my friends, but I also loved to go to the attic. I never wanted to work, there were too many people and too close for me ... I told my mother." I'll sew every button on you, but please don't let me work in service." And then I fled to the attic and did everything there. Drew, sewed, danced, sang. I sang out loud because nobody heard it. My Idol: Celine Dion ... high and loud. Of course I had to train that first. Yes, me and my friends. It was always my safe place. It is still like that today.

FM4: "That is also very important to have."

Tom: "I'm also very grateful that I can feel myself and enjoy myself ... not in all situations ... that I can love myself. And I have fun with myself.

FM4: Many queer people have queer role models. That help even in difficult times. Did you have someone there too?

Tom: "The first time to hear" I will always love you "was eye-opening. And the first time to hear" My heart will go on ", I think it was my" queer wakening "and comforting. Power balades, the 90s. .. then I could shout it out. That's why maybe I can let myself go so well when I sing emotionally. Because that was always my outlet and still is today. If I don't sing for a long time, it's still like that today. ..I'm in a bad mood and singing, the bad mood is gone. Singing does something to us ... it's like jumping. You have to grin and get in a good mood.

FM4: When we talk about Conchita Wurst, we also talk about identities and breaking the binary system, which has stood in our way for billions of years. You also show that identities can be fluid and can change and can be many things. Can you still remember when you let Conchita "wake up"? And maybe also when you first appeared as Conchita?

Tom: "The first time was ... now I forgot the club, but it was with the Saloon Kitty Revue. Kitty Willenbruch is one of the most famous burlesque dancers in Austria and I was out in drag once and moderated something. She was in the audience and then asked me whether I would like to present the revue. At that time it was every week, I think, and I said “Yes, I would love to.” And then thought to myself that I shouldn't shave. I look like 12 without beard. I let my beard grow and then the day of the revue came. I love to entertain the audience. I think that's my greatest talent. To be able to let go on stage. First was Starmania, then I finished school, and it was basically my first show business experience again. That's when I noticed. Despite all the worry about whether you can make a living from it, I want to go this way.

FM4: "When you think about your queer future, where are you going? What should change?"

Tom: "It would be nice if at some point no one asks the question," Are you into boys? "Because I think, or in my circle of friends, we sometimes also discuss that. We are just gay and that is totally one-sided and totally restricts you. What if I miss the love of my life, which is a woman. It would be nice if the understanding of the world goes so far that it just doesn't matter. Then we would all be Queer, which we all actually are.

FM4: "A good final word. Thanks Tom."