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So. The boys got in on Thursday, and we've been going pretty much non-stop ever since. Thursday night we sort of just all fell over -- the boys had been traveling most of the day. By the time I'd gotten home, they'd rested a bit -- we had chicken breasts with plums and squid ink pasta (yummy, really) -- and we watched Chopped and talked generally and snuggled before we all went to bed. Friday, we did running around and went to the store and then I went to class while the boys played Xbox, and then when I got back I made Al a pineapple upside down cake for his (belated) birthday. We had homemade pizza and cake and played Deadlands (his birthday request) with Sarah as extra special guest for the evening. After playing, the boys and I snuggled in on the couch and watched part of Maverick before we all got tired enough we had to give it up before finishing.
Saturday, though.... Saturday we did our first curse the darkness photo shoot. Eeee!
So, I haven't talked a lot about this. Matt and I have decided we have games and such we'd like to publish, though, and so to that end, it looks like we're starting a business. We'll have more info out about it after the first of the year, really. In the meantime, though, our first game is going to be curse the darkness. Yes, the lowercase is intentional. On this one Matt's lead writer and developer, promotions, and accountant, while I'm editor, production, and art director. We're outsourcing layout and art, because no one out there wants to see an RPG with art either of us made. It's an indie sort of post-apocalyptic RPG using cards as a resolution mechanic rather than dice. This one is Matt's baby (they won't all be -- I've been writing the next one in the pipeline, though it may not be until 2013 -- once a year for releases is about all we can handle). That said, I'm very fond of it, and I think it's a really thought-provoking, entertaining game.
While we will have a couple of traditional art pieces, in this book Matt decided early on he really wanted photographs for the art. I wasn't altogether sure about this -- it's easy to do them wrong -- but I tentatively okayed it. We lined up a photographer and a digital artist for photo manipulation and we've been doing some test runs. Saturday was our first real photo shoot, though. We ended up getting four shots total -- the models of choice were our own kiddos for this portion. We managed to get those four shots, all using child models, in 3.5 hours, which I think was something like a world record given all the lighting and coaching and the fact that our awesomely urban building was without heat and it was a chilly day in October. We'll be posting some images up to the CtD blog and the Facebook page for it (Like it -- you know you want to) before too long, and doing art previews with the finished photos later.
Anyway, that being said... I had absolutely nothing to worry about. The pictures have turned out fabulously, even prior to any Photoshop. If I had to use them straight out of the box, I'd not be the least bit sad about it. They don't look like LARP pictures, which was my greatest fear; they look like art. I could not be more pleased.
Today I took the kids back to the airport. That always sucks, and I'm glad it's done and horribly sad that I had to do it. I've held together pretty well, all things considered -- knowing I'll be seeing them at Christmas helps. It was a good visit nonetheless, though, even if they are perpetually in need of shoes and haircuts. Love you, boys. *hug*
Saturday, though.... Saturday we did our first curse the darkness photo shoot. Eeee!
So, I haven't talked a lot about this. Matt and I have decided we have games and such we'd like to publish, though, and so to that end, it looks like we're starting a business. We'll have more info out about it after the first of the year, really. In the meantime, though, our first game is going to be curse the darkness. Yes, the lowercase is intentional. On this one Matt's lead writer and developer, promotions, and accountant, while I'm editor, production, and art director. We're outsourcing layout and art, because no one out there wants to see an RPG with art either of us made. It's an indie sort of post-apocalyptic RPG using cards as a resolution mechanic rather than dice. This one is Matt's baby (they won't all be -- I've been writing the next one in the pipeline, though it may not be until 2013 -- once a year for releases is about all we can handle). That said, I'm very fond of it, and I think it's a really thought-provoking, entertaining game.
While we will have a couple of traditional art pieces, in this book Matt decided early on he really wanted photographs for the art. I wasn't altogether sure about this -- it's easy to do them wrong -- but I tentatively okayed it. We lined up a photographer and a digital artist for photo manipulation and we've been doing some test runs. Saturday was our first real photo shoot, though. We ended up getting four shots total -- the models of choice were our own kiddos for this portion. We managed to get those four shots, all using child models, in 3.5 hours, which I think was something like a world record given all the lighting and coaching and the fact that our awesomely urban building was without heat and it was a chilly day in October. We'll be posting some images up to the CtD blog and the Facebook page for it (Like it -- you know you want to) before too long, and doing art previews with the finished photos later.
Anyway, that being said... I had absolutely nothing to worry about. The pictures have turned out fabulously, even prior to any Photoshop. If I had to use them straight out of the box, I'd not be the least bit sad about it. They don't look like LARP pictures, which was my greatest fear; they look like art. I could not be more pleased.
Today I took the kids back to the airport. That always sucks, and I'm glad it's done and horribly sad that I had to do it. I've held together pretty well, all things considered -- knowing I'll be seeing them at Christmas helps. It was a good visit nonetheless, though, even if they are perpetually in need of shoes and haircuts. Love you, boys. *hug*
