'Peaks' and 'players: 'Twin Peaks' stars, cosplayers take stage at Spa-Con

The Sentinel-Record/Grace Brown TALKING TWIN PEAKS: Actresses Sheryl Lee, left, and Sherilyn Fenn speak with fans in an open panel on the cult-classic television show, "Twin Peaks," Sunday during the second annual Spa-Con.
The Sentinel-Record/Grace Brown TALKING TWIN PEAKS: Actresses Sheryl Lee, left, and Sherilyn Fenn speak with fans in an open panel on the cult-classic television show, "Twin Peaks," Sunday during the second annual Spa-Con.

A weekend full of creative costumes, crazy hairstyles and curious convention goers ended Sunday afternoon as two "Twin Peaks" stars took center stage at the second annual Spa-Con at the Hot Springs Convention Center.

The convention featured four fun-filled days of video game tournaments, live-action sword fighting, panels featuring actors from fan favorites, cult-classics and, of course, cosplay as far as the eye could see.

Sunday's featured guests were Sherilyn Fenn and Sheryl Lee, both known for their roles in the 1990 cult classic television show "Twin Peaks" and its revival series.

Both actresses were featured in a convention panel on Sunday, accompanied by panelists Johnnie Brannon and Kati Henricksen.

During their hour of interaction with those able to steal a seat or find a place to squeeze into the packed room, the actresses discussed what it was like working on the set of the original show and their experience with the ongoing the remake.

When Fenn first auditioned, she said her agents told her to go into the audition, be herself and not overthink it. However, Fenn said that she did not receive the best review for her audition.

Initially, she was under the impression that the audition was a lost cause and it was time for her to move on to the next one, until she got a callback. The crew in charge of the film decided they wanted Fenn to be involved so badly, that they wrote in a character specifically designed for her.

Lee recalls how interested she was to see what it was going to be like to play a deceased character. The thought of being fully enclosed in plastic wrap and painted blue seemed oddly appealing to her. Still, the audition process was nerve-wracking.

"I was so nervous going into the audition. My hands were shaking so much that I had to sit on them. Even today, I still get nervous in my auditions," said Lee.

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The Sentinel-Record/Grace Brown GIRL POWER: Sarah Drew, left, Wendy Allen and Laura Todd stand on stage Saturday during the Cosplay Club contest at the second annual Spa-Con. Drew won first place in the adult cosplay category.

"Twin Peaks" without a doubt played a large role in launching the careers of the young stars but, at the time, neither had any idea the show would gain the following it has. Even decades later, people are still obsessed with the original and remake of the series.

"I remember leaving the screening of the pilot thinking, 'Nobody's going to see this.' I mean I had no idea," said Fenn.

"Now, here we are, connecting with the fans that have become a part of a sacred family," she said.

While convention goers were probing the actresses for information about the upcoming episodes of the show's remake, others were already forming a queue to have their photo taken with the stars after the panel finished.

Fenn and Lee were accompanied by a plethora of other notable cosplaying pros. Among them was Ginny Di, a professional international cosplayer most recognized for her portrayal of Arya Stark from the HBO series "Game of Thrones."

Di has been cosplaying for six years, but she's been sewing costumes since she was a little girl. Today, she travels North America attending conventions throughout the year as a professional and teaching other cosplayers to market their own brand.

"Essentially, I'm a small-business owner. I've spent years working on my brand and how to market myself. Cosplay is a lot more than dressing up. You spend years working hard, and only occasionally do you get lucky," said Di.

On Saturday night, both experienced and novice cosplayers were given the opportunity to show their stuff the Cosplay Club, Teen Cosplay Club and dance party. Techno beats and flashing lights filled the room as enthused characters took the stage in an attempt to win over the judges with their unique flair.

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The Sentinel-Record/Grace Brown A GIRL HAS NO NAME: Professional international cosplayer Genni Di, dressed as Arya Stark from "Game of Thrones," stands outside of the Cosplay Club Party preparing to judge the adult cosplay contest Saturday during the second annual Spa-Con.

Professional guest judges, including Di, looked for authenticity, originality and an overall accurate persona to pick the winners of the contest and their personal favorites. Sarah Drew, who dressed in a detailed and creative rendition of DC Comic's Hippolyta, took home first place.

"This was my first year attending the con and I was super impressed with the work some of the people put into their costumes. It's really cool that we can have something like this in Hot Springs. I cannot wait until next year because I bet it's going to be even bigger and better," said convention goer Will Staton.

Local on 09/25/2017

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