We recently connected with Christopher C. Canole and have shared our conversation below.
Christopher C., so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
Every week for the past nine years I have appeared at charity events or comic cons as the cosplay character Dude Vader where I encounter friends and fans of all ages and backgrounds sharing our joy of living on our Earthly spaceship.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Appearing as the charity cosplayer Dude Vader (a mash-up of Darth Vader and C3PO) I explore all possible aspect of creativity and person-to-person encounters. I design and 3D print versions of my armor for each event including a helmet crest of the charity’s logo to honor the charity when taking selfies with fundraiser attendees. Last year at San Diego Comic Con I met one of my idols, Chris Bartlett who plays C3PO and other droid characters in all the Star Wars TV series. We now present a “From Cosplay to Hollywood” panel at Comic Cons to help cosplayers realize their goal of appearing in a Star Wars property. Another panel I moderate is “Star Wars Samurai Universe” that presents the influence of Samurai culture and cinema in all Star Wars TV series and movies. The packed house attendance of this panel inspired me to create a “Book of Star Wars Samurai” to provide a background encyclopedia to enhance a fan or future director’s creative imagination. Hopefully someone reading this article knows an agent to help me pitch my book to DK Publishing. Till then I will continue to share my Star Wars Samurai stories jwith children of all ages at my weekly events.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I often end a panel presentation about charity cosplay with ” You can cosplay a hero at a Comic Con, or BE A HERO at a charity event.” The most rewording skill in volunteering for a charity is to perform with the person in need, kneel down to a child’s height, sit with a bedside or wheelchair patient and ask them to share their story.
I always ask the charity organizer information about the event of the day including numbers of participants in a 5K walk, fundraising goals or special guests so if I am interviewed by the video or print media I become a spokesperson as well as a performer.
The quality I always look for and encourage in others is to put yourself in another person’s shoes with the enthusiasm of costuming as your favorite superhero.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
Chris Bartlett has become the most helpful person in helping me realize there are new goals available to me as a 77 year old creative person. He challenged me to register with Central Casting to open the possibility of joining him as s fellow droid or alien in future Star Wars projects like The Mandalorian & Grogu. Chris suggested I remove my mask of Dude Vader mask to consider acting as a Jedi Master sharing my background in Samurai history, art and philosophy as an actor. He also whimsically suggests I had the classic features of an Imperial Officer like Grand Mof Tarkin. Chris coaches me how to move more like his android characters to entertain kids.
Contact Info:
- Website: canole.com
- Instagram: @dudevaderhero
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christophercanole/
