Well, they did it – the little fun, fairy tale show that The Hollywood Reporter thought could never make it past Season 1 has made it to episode 100. Cheers to all involved with the show on this great achievement!
What are the 3 favorite things about Once Upon a Time? Why do you think it has lasted this long?
We previously interviewed the Regina cosplayer extraordinaire, Reini Side and now we meet her friendly nemesis, Snow White cosplayed (wonderfully) by Malerie McDonald. I remember seeing Malerie at Regal Con but was too shy to introduce myself. I believe I did compliment her on her cosplay. I’m shocked at how similar to Mary Margaret, Malerie looks. Oh well, enough of me rambling, please get to know the quirky, creative, cool and very kind, Malerie McDonald.
Describe yourself in 3-5 words.
Quirky Enthusiastic Caring
Do you have any nicknames you’d like to share?
Growing up, I could not walk into a room without hearing someone sing “They call her Mellow Yellow” lol
Did you have a Fairy Tale dream about yourself when you were younger? What was it?
I would dream all the time; Daydreams as well as dreams at night. I would imagine myself as every princess I saw in the latest movie. At first, when I was little my favorite princess was Ariel because I could relate the most to her. I am also the youngest of seven girls. (I know my poor father lol) I love to sing! And I daydream about living in another world all the time. Then as time went on I started getting the nickname Snow White because I am so pale and have dark hair naturally. Here is a wonderful picture that Malerie provided of she and her son.
How did you start Cosplaying? Where would you point someone if they are interested in starting? Any beginner tips?
I have ALWAYS loved dressing up. Whether it was for Halloween or Theatre or a Musical I was in. I suppose I started “cosplaying” when I was about 20 years old and I heard this company was looking for actresses to portray Princesses, Fairies and Super Heroes for Girl’s Birthday Parties. I was always into painting in Jr. High and High school and was good at it because I am a very visual person. So I started working there and dressing up doing Storytime, Face Painting, Dancing and Singing for Parties. I worked for this company for about 7 years. Now as for Cosplaying at conventions, I started at Regal Con as Mary Margaret. It was fun and easy because I resemble Ginny. I would say to anyone getting into cosplay to do what makes them happy. I know SO many people praise me with compliments because I resemble Ginny even more so in cosplay and I love that but you don’t have to resemble a character to cosplay. It’s all about dressing up as your favorite character
What was your first OUAT Cosplay costume? Where was the first placed you Cosplayed?
The first place I Cosplayed Mary Margaret was Regal Con and the first place I Cosplayed OUAT Snow was D23 Prior to those events I had only Cosplayed for Halloween and Princess Parties where I would Sing Act Dance and Face Paint
What does OUAT mean to you? Has it helped you through difficult times in your life?
OUAT means a lot to me. It has helped me through some very difficult times. My husband was serving in the USN when I started watching and as many military wives and families will tell you, you rarely get to see each other when they are on active duty. So the first thing that really resonated was when Charming told Snow “I will find you, I will always find you”. It literally brought me to tears. And as time went by after my husband had come back from deployment and was still away from me but on shore duty every Sunday night we would FaceTime and watch Once together. We were able to see Season 3 together this way.
What has OUAT given to you? Friends, etc?
OUAT has given me a mantra of Hope and Love that I carry with me daily. I work with special needs children and people often tell me “Wow, you must have a lot of patience” and I always respond, “Yes, a lot of patience but also you have to look at them through love”. Love is a great motivator to get you through ANYTHING. Another thing OUAT has brought me is a lot of friends; people who can truly say are my closest friends now.
Has OUAT and Cosplaying given you opportunities to give back to others? What have been some highlights?
I have always been told I looked like Snow White (not just OUAT Snow White) and earlier this year I was able to team up with a wonderful friend who wanted to start a Princess Etiquette Camp. It was months in the making but we finally did one week and hopefully, in the fall will do another. Teaching those girls manners dress as Classic Snow has been such a wonderful experience.
Have you ever met your favorite OUAT actor or actresses? Who is it? If you have met him/her, what was that meeting like?
I met my favorite Dwarf Lee Arenberg aka Grumpy/Dreamy. I was a volunteer at Regal Con and being a volunteer I honestly didn’t think I would get to actually meet any of the stars. I was monitoring the autograph session and Lee called me over asked my name and we discussed Ink. He also told me He could see the resemblance between me and GiGi! I had moments with Sean Aka Robin Hood, David aka Dr. Whale, Michael aka Happy, Faustino aka Sleepy and Eion aka Pinocchio but for Lee to really take the time and call me over and get to know me even in those few minutes was really awesome. I also got to take a picture with Lana that day… I don’t really feel like I got to “meet” her because it was very hard to get in and get out in the Photo session by the time I got there, but what I do remember was a brief exchange;
When I walked in to the area for the photo op with Lana, I heard her say “Well hello, you look familiar” to which I replied “Please don’t kill me”.
What are your thoughts about Season 5?
I’m excited to see what happens this season! I am hoping to see a lot more of Snow and Charming trying to help Emma fight the darkness. I want to see what happens to Rumple!!! I love him so much and want to see what happens now that he is no longer the Dark One.
What causes or charities are important to you and how can we help?
Reini, my Evil Queen Cosplay Partner, and I have thought about doing charities and going to hospitals spreading messages of Hope and Redemption by Cosplaying as Snow and Regina. We just need to organize and perhaps get some sponsorships.
What projects are you involved with and how can we see them and support you with them?
I work with an amazing person. We were able to do a one week summer Princess Camp and taught the girls good manners and how to be kind to one another. Which is SO important to me and weighs on my heart because every little girl should be able to feel beautiful and be treated like a Princess.
Is your significant other a Oncer, too? How do they deal with your Oncerness?
My husband was stationed in Pearl Harbor when we both started watching Once. It became a bonding time for us to watch it on Skype together. Later when he deployed and we couldn’t watch it together, I would recap him on what he missed. I’m happy to say that my Charming has found his way back to me. He definitely embraces it even though at times he doesn’t understand ships and other Oncer things. He definitely loves the fact that I resemble Snow.
What is your favorite OUAT line and why?
“And what exactly do you think fairy tales are? They are a reminder, that our lives will get better. If we just hold onto hope. Your happy ending might not be what you expected. That is what will make it so special.” Mary Margaret
Something Extra
Malerie tells us “The best part about being a Snow Cosplayer interacting with kids… They are so perceptive that when I had to fill in as Anna from “Frozen” during the ‘Love is Powerful’ segment of the camp a little girl who fell in love with me as Snow White leaned in to hug me and whispered to me “I know you’re not the REAL Anna from frozen”… And when I looked at her with fear in my eyes because I was caught… She looked me dead in the eye and said still quietly “You’re Snow White pretending to be Anna… ” I then winked at her and motioned a shhh… “Don’t tell,” she said, “I won’t let anyone know you’re really Snow White in disguise” and she hugged me once more and skipped off to join the other girls at the crafts table.”
One More Thing
Malerie wanted to give a big shout out to her amazing husband who throughout this especially hard year has been the Best Most Supportive Charming EVER! Here is a great pic Malerie sent.
What a great couple! Thank you Malerie for such a great interview, and we want to thank Malerie’s husband for his service to our country. Thank you, sir!
We conclude our interview with Reini Side as she shares how Once Upon a Time inspires her to help others
Has OUAT and Cosplaying given you opportunities to give back to others? What have been some highlights?
Yes, it has! In the friendships made with other fans, I’ve had amazing opportunities to listen to others who are hurting and offer them so much love and encouragement! My field of study was counseling/therapy, and it’s been great being able to offer those skills to others. In addition to this, I’ve had the opportunity to cosplay for young fans, giving them something exciting to look forward to, and I am in the beginning stages (with my Snow White counterpart) of getting certified to…
…go full cosplay into hospitals and reach out to ill youngsters who need hope and encouragement.
Have you ever met your favorite OUAT actor or actresses? Who is it? If you have met him/her, what was that meeting like?
RegalCon made the opportunity to meet my favorite OUAT actors/actresses possible! They were all great, but if I had to choose my top 2 favorites, I would have to say Lana Parrilla and Rebecca (Bex) Mader. It was thrilling!!! Meeting Bex was exciting, and she was VERY easy to engage in conversation. Seeing me in full Evil Queen regalia, she greeted me with “Hello Sis!” Meeting Lana was quite funny…as shy as I am NOT, I found I completely forgot what I wanted to say to her, and could barely squeak out a “Hi Lana!” We were able to connect better during a private Meet & Greet event. She was truly lovely and gracious. It was a dream come true.
What are your thoughts about Season 5?
I think it will be VERY interesting to see Regina and Emma in complete role reversal!! I’m excited to see Camelot, being one of my favorite stories, and I’m interested to see Henry’s development this season, as the new Author. And I can’t wait to see Ruby back!!
What causes or charities are important to you and how can we help? What projects are you involved with and how can we see them and support you with them?
(I’ve combined these two questions, as they’re really tied together for me).
Besides visiting children in hospitals, I have two other passions I dive into to make a difference. First, there are SO MANY homeless children in my hometown (over 200 in one district alone!), and I have had the privilege of working with one of the school districts to provide brand new clothing items for these kids…most of them never having owned ANYTHING new before!!
Second, I am active in the fight against human trafficking, having some of the LARGEST ports for it in my home state of Washington. I have partnered with some teams, including my activist sister, to provide awareness and training content all over Washington State, and, being even a tiny part, have had success changing laws and ordinances in certain counties to protect women in certain at-risk industries.
Ways to help?
For homeless children, get in conversation with your local school district to find out what their specific homeless student needs are! It’s easy to donate, whether it’s a backpack with school supplies or sturdy clothing items. For the human trafficking issue, get educated, be aware, and if you have time, partner with an advocate group! Some of the top recommended groups are:
Shared Hope International – this is one of the larger groups in the fight.
REST (Real Escape from the Sex Trade) in Seattle is on the front lines and brings in girls escaping the life all the time. Also well reputed. They assist girls with seeking new jobs, legal assistance, etc.
For education, Melissa Farley at the Prostitution Research Center in San Francisco is an amazing resource. She is a good person to speak to about how coercion and lack of choice are present in most cases of prostitution.
The local Coalitions Against Trafficking through WA Engage are phenomenal. They work on a grassroots level to educate their communities and to push for legislation.
The newest one I’m connecting with this weekend is Rescue:Freedom, helping pull women out of the industry, as well as helping those who are ready earn their Masters degrees in counseling and therapy to help others who are being rescued. It’s amazing.
Ok, I feel like that was a mouthful!!
Is your significant other a Oncer, too? How do they deal with your Oncerness?
ABSOLUTELY! My deceased husband was NOT a fan, but my new Robin Hood totally is! In fact, he started watching it when we first met because he wanted to be able to understand my
passion and chat about something I was interested in…and then he got sucked in. He’s completely supportive!
What is your favorite OUAT line and why?
Oh man…do I only get to choose one?? There are so many! Probably when Regina is approached by Dr. Hopper in season 2 and she says, “Oh right, the conscience thing.” Or to Granny, “Stick to the lasagna, lady!” I love them because they’re so rude, they’re funny!
This is Jeff. I’d like to thank Reini for such a fun, insightful and revealing interview. I also wanted to let you know that Reini has a website of her own that I’d like you to check out:
It’s called Regina Redeemed (http://reginaredeemed.com/) and you will find more about what Reini is up to these days there.
If you love Once Upon a Time, please check out our podcast: The Once Upon A Time Fan Podcast. When they are airing new episodes, we have 2 episodes a week; First Thoughts – Recorded directly after the West Coast airing of a new episode, and The Main Show – Recorded later in the week when we include feedback from listeners all over the world.
Please share this interview out to Social Media (See the buttons below) to get the word out. Thank you.
We continue our interview with Reini Side as she shares how Once Upon a Time helped her through the most difficult time of her life
Looking back, it’s interesting seeing the parallels in Regina’s and my life. We had both experienced excruciating loss, we were both widows, my name Reini is actually derived from the name Regina (which means Queen), and we were both single mothers working in government. Not only that, but we both overcame hardships and have let good win in us.
#WeSupportSeanMaguire You are amazing and kind, Sean! It was such a pleasure meeting you (obviously!) pic.twitter.com/Y5Cj7TvttG
— RK (@rk_reindeer) June 23, 2015
To top that off, I’m thrilled to announce……
…that I have recently found my Robin Hood. He attended the Disney Expo D23 convention with me while I was cosplaying (he is also a huge OUAT fan), and it was at that convention I found myself deeply in love. I’m so blessed to have another chance at love and a happy ending, and I look forward to seeing Regina’s story of hope continually unfold as she also loves again.
@EvilJuja @malerie_mcd @BroadwayBaby247 @ouatpodcast @LanaParrilla @DEvilRegal_92 My Knave (Justin Kawabori) #Awesome pic.twitter.com/dviSzKJXz7
— RK (@rk_reindeer) September 15, 2015
Describe yourself in 3-5 words.
The Evil Queen. Just kidding! Strong, loving, compassionate, and FUN!
Do you have any nicknames you’d like to share?
Again…The Evil Queen. Or Reindeer.
Did you have a Fairy Tale dream about yourself when you were younger? What was it?
My fairy tale dream was probably a bit Rapunzel…being rescued from a tall isolated tower. I was a really lonely kid.
How did you start Cosplaying? Where would you point someone if they are interested in starting? Any beginner tips?
I started cosplaying after my husband’s death…Once was a huge escape and reprieve for me during that time. Having really connected with Regina’s character, I decided to attend my first convention (RegalCon) as the Evil Queen. My mom and I took on the massive project of making the iconic stand-up collared dress from Season 1, Episode 21, “An Apple as Red as Blood.” I studied the hair and makeup of her character, as well as the character herself, in order to pull off an accurate cosplay. For someone interested in beginning cosplay, I’d suggest studying everything about the characters they are interested in cosplaying! Study even the tiniest details that most people would miss, and be as accurate as possible. Fans love accuracy. Don’t just dress as the character…BE the character. And HAVE FUN!!!!
What was your first OUAT Cosplay costume? Where was the first place you Cosplayed?
My first cosplay costumer was the Evil Queen dress from “An Apple as Red as Blood.” I’m actually very new at cosplaying, but I’m ALL IN. RegalCon was the first convention where I cosplayed.
What does OUAT mean to you? Has it helped you through difficult times in your life?
OUAT is a story of HOPE. As Mary Margaret told Henry when giving him “the book”…and what exactly do you think fairy tales are?? Stories of HOPE. OUAT helped me through the death of my husband. It gave me strength to deal with the situations surrounding his death, and even though it seemed my happy ending had just been ripped away, it has given me hope for a NEW happy ending.
What has OUAT given to you? Friends, etc?
OUAT has not only given me a creative outlet, but it has brought a community of friends from so many different walks of life! While all different, we all have stories of trials and hardships, and we all have one connecting point…OUAT.
Has OUAT and Cosplaying given you opportunities to give back to others? What have been some highlights?
Yes, it has! In the friendships made with other fans, I’ve had amazing opportunities to listen to others who are hurting and offer them so much love and encouragement! My field of study was counseling/therapy, and it’s been great being able to offer those skills to others. In addition to this, I’ve had the opportunity to cosplay for young fans, giving them something exciting to look forward to, and I am in the beginning stages (with my Snow White counterpart) of getting certified to…
Part 3 of our interview will be released next week. Stay tuned for the conclusion.
Please click on the Social share links below to Tweet and Share this post for more opportunities for people to read this awesome interview!
A bit of background, before I dive in.
Thanks
Huge thanks to OUAT Super Fan, Natasha (Creator of the Snow White and Prince Charming: Once Upon a Time FB Fan Page) for emailing us about Erin Stegeman-Marerro’s Youtube OUAT Parody video series (‘Once Upon a… Anonymous‘) and Erin’s dream of creating a OUAT Parody Rock Opera video. Without that, I would have never known. Thanks, Nat.
I’m a Oncer (that Podcasts), too
My wife (Colleen) and I host the Once Upon a Time Fan Podcast (http://onceuponatimepodcast.com). P.S. If you don’t listen to an OUAT podcast, you really should (5 Reasons you should listen to a OUAT podcasts). If you are new to Once Upon a Time, here is a place we created for beginners: OUAT for Beginners.
I believe that we were the first podcast to interview Erin and Ace about creating the OUAT Rock Opera
http://www.onceuponatimepodcast.com/204
Once Upon a Time Dreams Do Come True
Erin invited Colleen and I to attend and cover (as Press) the premiere of the OUAT Rock Opera at the historical, Egyptian Theater in Hollywood on Friday, September 25th, 2015. Knowing that the first big Hollywood premiere of the Douglas Fairbank’s ‘Robin Hood‘ (another geeky Oncer connection, btw) actually happened at the same theater on October 18, 1922 was very cool.
Here is some of the Red Carpet coverage
We made our way to the intimate screening area and got a mini concert by The Snowflakes (http://snowflakesmusic.com/) (That included Martin Blasick and Natasha Blasick)
Now, onto the review of Once Upon a Time: Rock Opera
One of the things that Erin Stegeman-Marrero mentioned in the Cast Q&A panel hosted by Zach Van Norman from the Once Upon a Fan website was that one of elements in the OUAT Rock Opera was envisioned to be a fun movie that the audience could interact with, like ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show,’ and that translated well in the OUAT: Rock Opera, for sure.
This video was fun. Very fun.
As you watched this video, one thing was for sure. You felt like many of the characters (and writers) winked at you throughout the production like you were in on the jokes. As much as an escape of ABC TV’s Once Upon a Time is to many fans, the OUAT Rock Opera is not only an escape, but a reason to laugh, sing a long, and have a great time.
Is it suitable for kids?
It depends on the age of the children and what the parents allow their children to watch. A general answer, from me (Not knowing the particular situation) would be ‘No’, but I always think the parent(s) should watch some of the Once Upon a Anonymous episodes, then make a decision.
The OUAT: Rock Opera is made by fans, for fans.
I realize that the phrase above may be overused, but it’s a perfect description of the Rock Opera. As a podcaster who looks at each OUAT episode like a Zapruder film, the same care went into the script for people like me.
“Is the OUAT Rock Opera only for OUAT uber fans and would the average person not ‘get it’?” Nope
As you watch the video, one foot is firmly planted in the fun, fairy tale world that Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis created, but the other foot is planted in the Disney-ized tales we grew up watching. If you know Snow White, Prince Charming, Ariel, Ursula, Belle, The Beast, CogsWorth, Lumiere, and others – you’ll be just fine. My only warning it to wait until it’s over to ask why people were laughing when you weren’t.
Did it look like a “fan film”?
I’ve been a fan of many movies and TV shows for a long time and have seen my share of fan films (I’ve made my own, too.), and however you frame the statement (“A film made by fans, for fans”, etc), it still has a cringe worthy moment when someone asks, “Yea, but it is good?”
The OUAT Rock Opera isn’t good. It’s great.
This doesn’t look like a fan film, it’s more than a fan film. The quality was everywhere; Great script (even when the plot got confusing (like OUAT, by the way), a character would explain what was going on, so we are all in on it), Great quality visuals (The special effects looked awesome, too), Fantastic actors, cool multiple locations, catchy memorable songs, I could go on and on.
Erin is the glue that held the production together
Erin’s career is definitely one you should watch. Her dreams, drive and determination are infectious. In a world where people say, “I wish I could do this or that…” and never do it,
Erin is different. She makes her dreams come true (Without the help of a Fairy Godmother, or a Rumplestiltskin spell).
During the Cast Q&A, one of the main themes was why people joined the OUAT: Rock Opera project and over and over people said, “Because of Erin.”
Stefanie Woodburn (playing Mulan)
Stefanie Woodburn (playing Mulan) told a story about how she and Erin were in a class together and Erin was discussing how she solved a casting dilemma with one of the early episodes on Once Upon a Anonymous, and Stefanie was very impressed at Erin’s creative solution to a situation that might shake others.
There are probably many more stories like that throughout the cast/crew in the making of the Rock Opera, and that is another facet of this video that I felt was important to highlight. What a great legacy Erin is building. Her passion and drive, draw others to join her. Again, her career is one to keep tabs on.
Standout moments
The opening scene with Jeremiah Peisert (playing Cruella) was incredible. If you didn’t buy that scene or his performance, it was over, but he was fantastic. The opening scene that set up the quest really sold the rest of the production. Hats off to Jeremiah for a very strong role.
Amiee Conn (playing Regina)
The actors. Ace Marrero (playing Hook) just nailed it as Hook. The accent, the look. Wow. Erin Stegeman-Marrero (playing Emma) has the look, yes, but she acts like Emma would. It’s tough to believe sometimes that it’s actually not Jennifer Morrison. Amiee Conn created a role of the Evil Queen with anger buried down deep but could appear at any moment with a smoldering, sexy edge, with a dash of sad. Some other standouts; Gotta say it again – Jeremiah Peisert (playing Cruella), Mark Whitten (playing Prince Charming), Jay Stephenson (playing Cogsworth), and Colin Kramer (playing The Knave). Honestly, I wish I could have seen it again to catch more of the performances.
Production value. The video looked crisp. The camera work was great. The editing was very good. They set the stage (pardon the pun) very well for the actors to bring the script to life. Kudos.
The OUAT Fan Easter Eggs. I’m not going to give anything away, but as I said before, Erin (as a fan) placed little mentions, moments, etc for us OUAT fans to catch. There are some obvious winks to pairings, OUAT storyline wtf moments, and a plethora of mugs throughout the Rock Opera (Erin mentioned this was an inside joke with the cast and crew). All I can say is keep your eyes open and watch this Rock Opera over and over again to catch it all.
Some other moments
Nothing is perfect. Hell, even OUAT isn’t perfect (Just follow Adam Horowitz on Twitter to see the fan’s critiques of the show they “love”), so here are some other moments of the OUAT Rock Opera;
Some of the lips didn’t match the singing here and there, but the heart and feeling of the actors singing the song did cover some of it.
I got lost at certain points in the storyline, but as I mentioned before, they helped by the script including “breaking down the fourth wall” explanations of why certain things happened to catch the audience up.
The larger cast at certain points of the Rock Opera made it tough for some of the actors playing smaller roles to stand out.
Overall thoughts
In the days in which shows come and go quickly, as a fan you must “make (and enjoy) parodies while the show is on the air”. If you are a Oncer, this is the time to enjoy fan creations – especially this one. Don’t wait. If it comes to your area – see it. Buy the T-Shirt (or two), CD, and (when it comes out) buy the playable disc. Not only are you supporting Erin and the team, but you are letting the network (and sponsors) know that there is an audience (outside of the TV show) for this.
Tell Erin and the cast ‘thank you’. They did this for the fans of Once Upon a Time and even in this 24 hour connected world of Social Media, we don’t say Thanks enough. I hope we use Social Media to share more love and appreciation, instead of negativity.
Wait! Once more thing. They played snippets of the commercials in which the cast have appeared in (including Erin). So unexpected and awesome. You probably have seen the cast on TV, and didn’t know it.
Read our interview with the Amazing cos-player, Reini Side.
Review by Jeff Roney