Cosplayers recreate Ahsoka Tano and The Magistrate's fight from The Mandalorian
In a galaxy far, far away, tucked in the NEON Arts District in Norfolk, Virginia, a SINGER sewing machine quietly hums on a rainy night while NPR plays on the radio while a pandemic project comes to life. On a makeshift plywood table, costume designer Philip Odango questions his decision to create pleats on knit fabric. Not just any pleats, but fancy overlapping pleats on what will become the front-piece of a knit top that will experience martial arts action with spear. Pintucked and pinched, Philip carefully moves the pleated pieces underneath the sewing machine's presser foot, hoping the feed dogs don't eat up the knit fabric underneath.
A week later, this part of the outfit would complete the costume for Morgan Elsbeth, aka The Magistrate, from Disney's The Mandalorian season 2, Chapter 13, portrayed by renowned martial artist Diana Lee Inosanto. Actress Angelica Michelle, a performer and taekwondo practitioner in her own right, would soon don the Magistrate's mantle in a cinematic photoshoot and film shoot against cosplayer Alexandra Hudson as the famed Jedi Ahsoka Tano, portrayed in the series by Rosario Dawson, who seeks critical information leading to the capture of a notorious Star Wars leader. To complete the Magistrate's accessories, RPM 3D Printing designed and fabricated Morgan's special cloak pins and the famed Beskar spear.
A craftsperson, cosplayer and 3D printing artist, Alexandra (aka Frostfyre Fabrications) created her own stunning cosplay of the the favorite orange-hued warrior. Upgraded with new leather pieces, Ahsoka's costume also battled the summer humidity, as set assistants helped dissipate the heat under the cloak with a handy leaf-blower.
The rich landscape of The Hermitage Museum and Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia served as the backdrop for the forests of Calodan on the planet Corvus.
Ahsoka Tano portrayed by Alexandra Hudson
The Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth portrayed by Angelica Michelle
Directed, produced and edited by Philip Odango
Ahsoka Tano costume, makeup and props by Alexandra Hudson (Frostfyre Fabrications)
Morgan Elsbeth costume by Philip Odango
Morgan Elsbeth hair and makeup by Angelica Michelle
Specialty cloak pins and Beskar spear by RPM 3D Printing
Grogu puppet technician: Sarah Storminger
Force push practical effects: Chase Carlyle
Set Assistance: Sarah Storminger, Chase Carlyle, Regina Sanford
Photography: With An H Media
Location: The Hermitage Museum and Gardens
Filmed on Samsung Galaxy S21+ Ultra and edited in Adobe Premiere Pro
Watch the Cosplay Cinematic below (and stay for the credits):
The Magistrate - Morgan Elsbeth
Cosplayer: Angelica Michelle
Photography: With An H Media
Morgan Elsbeth costume by Philip Odango
Morgan Elsbeth hair and makeup by Angelica Michelle
Set Assistance: Sarah Storminger, Chase Carlyle, Regina Sanford
Ahsoka Tano
Cosplayer: Alexandra Hudson
Ahsoka Tano costume, makeup and props by Alexandra Hudson
Photography: With An H Media
Set Assistance: Sarah Storminger, Chase Carlyle, Regina Sanford
Thank you to The Hermitage Gardens and Museums staff for collaborating with us in bringing this Star Wars moment to life!
Space squad: Regina Sanford, Sarah Storminger, Angelica Michelle, Alexandra Hudson, Philip Odango, Chase Carlyle, Bhrett Woodard / With an H Media (photo)
