#I’ve been to Reno several times and it’s delightful to think of it as like the cowboy version of Vegas | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

diyunho · 5 years ago

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The Joker x Reader- “The Work Wife” Part 6

You’ve been working for The Joker for the past 10 years: you speak and act for him and no matter the circumstances, Y/N is always there to take care of everything he needs. The King of Gotham might not be married, yet he has a perfect partner: his work wife.

Starts HERE

After 1 Month

The Joker circles the warehouse, inspecting the boxes and crates full of ammo and smuggled goods received with last night’s shipment.

“Hmm…” he eyeballs a decorative vase engraved with gold and silver, wondering if the extravagant object should become part of his collection at The Penthouse. His cell start vibrating and J takes it out of pocket, impatient to hear about his wife’s routine checkup:

“ ‘ello,” he kicks two packages out of the way.

“Hi,” you greet your spouse. “Just got out of my appointment; the doctor said all seems fine. He ordered some lab tests to make sure my blood levels are within the normal range; I should get the results in about 3 days.”

“That’s awesome!” he grumbles while bending over to grab some papers scattered on the floor. “I’m glad you’re ok, I should have come also for moral support.”

Y/N smiles at the confession, choosing not to disclose it makes her happy:

“You have to sort out the cargo; the buyer will be there shortly.”

“Yeah, but this could have waited.”

Your smile gets wider as J fumbles around with several items.

“Tell you what: I’ll finish up some stuff here and I’ll drive to pitch in.”

The King of Gotham wouldn’t normally decline yet he’s actually worried after everything that happened.

“Nope, I want you to rest; you’ve been too active lately and you need to slow down. Why are you giggling?” he smacks his lips, displeased four trunks look like they’ve been tampered with.

“Nothing in particular,” the bubbly Y/N keeps the best for last.

“I’ll see you home; I found something I don’t like,” The Joker grunts as the heavy lid is lifted from one of the containers. “Stay put and relax!” he orders and you nonchalantly drop the bomb:

“Maybe I will,” and after a small pause: “Oh! By the way, I was given green light for sex.”

“ ‘kay, see you in a couple of hours,” J struggles with the box and waits for your long “Byeeeeee” before hanging up. A few seconds into his task and it hits.

“Holy shit!” he exhales and holds his breath, startled. “Jesus!!” he abandons the precious merchandise, running towards the exit. “Froooossst!!!” he gets his henchman’s assistance. “Take over!!”

“Yes sir!” Jonny emerges from one of the SUV’s parked inside, not understanding why his boss is in a hurry. “Anything wrong?”

“No!!! I have a personal emergency!!” The Joker shouts and pushes the heavy metal door to the side, wishing he was already at his destination.

*************

J enters the code on the pin pad and he is granted access into your apartment. He went to The Penthouse first: you weren’t there and he figured you must be on the 29th floor. He storms inside and rushes towards the bedroom when his enthusiasm is abruptly halted by no other than Jonathan Crane coming out of the kitchen.

Scarecrow almost drops the fresh coffee mug you brewed for him; The Clown Prince of Crime was certainly not informed you had company. Doesn’t matter though, he’s not one to be embarrassed by his current situation:

“May I help you Crane?” a high and mighty J sassily blurs out wearing nothing but his birthday suit.

“I doubt it,” Jonathan is quick to respond. “I dropped by to bring you extra ampules of Liquid Dream like you wanted and pain killers refill for Y/N in case she needs more.”

You suddenly pop up from behind Scarecrow, not being able to stop the question:

“Why are you naked?!”

The Joker opens his mouth because he has a cool explanation, yet the guest doesn’t care about it.

“I think I should bail,” he smirks as he passed by J. “I’m taking the cup, I’ll bring it back next time,” he announces and can’t contain a smartass remark: “Nice attire.”

Your husband bitterly growls and as always, you have to be the catalyst for a better outcome:

“Thank you, Jonathan!”

Scarecrow waves without adding extra comments, 100% positive you’ll burst out laughing as soon as he vacates the premises.

And he’s correct.

“Oh my God,” you snicker since you didn’t expect such a funny coincidence to unfold within today’s schedule. “That was hilarious!” the amused Y/N finds herself in The Joker’s arms moments after Jonathan’s departure. “Where are your clothes?!” you kiss him and he yanks at your waist, purring.

“The jacket and shirt in the car, pants and boxers in the elevator,” he admits while guiding you towards the couch in the living room. “The socks and shoes are somewhere on the hallway.”

“I was wondering when you’ll realize about the news I shared,” you whisper in his ear as he takes off your summer dress, aroused.

The two bodies plunge on the sofa, Y/N enjoying the intimacy as much as he does:

“J… … J…” you cling to him when his left hand slips in your bikini.

“Mmm? Does something hurt?” The Joker pecks the tip of your nose, ready to quit if you say yes.

“No… it’s not that,” the seriousness in your voice makes him pay attention.

Maybe you shouldn’t bring up the past in these circumstances; here it comes anyway:

“If the Las Vegas events repeat themselves… I won’t forgive you again,” you stare in his eyes without blinking. “I won’t return… ”

The Joker is silent and you wonder what’s going on in his mind; it’s not a secret he was miserable after being abandoned in the City of Lights due to his despicable conduct.

“They won’t.”

“Are you sure?” the doubt in your tone forces him to reveal:

“I’m sure because it felt horrible when you weren’t around.”

You caress J’s hair and remind him you won’t compromise for less than his total commitment:

“You’re either mine or you’re not, ok?...”

“I’m yours,” he grumbles and it’s not very difficult since the woman asking is no casual fling but the only one he ever wanted to marry for reals. “I want the special treatment,” the immediate request makes you snort: it’s so like him to articulate crap like this in the middle of a serious discussion.

“Do you?!”

“Yes!!” The Joker nibbles on your neck and underlines his affliction: “I’ve been so horny I’m not sure how I still function; I behaved though, I swear!” he’s fast to emphasize while pulling on your bra strap. “You know why?” J throws the question out there, aware the statement will please his wife. “I tolerate you… even if you’ve been nagging me for almost 12 years.”

“Careful,” you admonish. “Uttering such words makes you sound like you’re in love.”

“God forbids! You think so?!” the painful grimace on his face prompts more teasing from your part:

“Yeap, no cure for this terrible disease.”

Your bra ends up on the floor and he’s not content with the epilogue.

“I’m screwed then.”

“Noooot yet,” you wink and his purring intensifies when your teeth sink into his shoulder. “We’re getting there.”

************

Same morning, 11:47am

“There you are!” J exclaims discovering you on the terrace. “You disappeared on me Y/N: I thought you said we’ll have lunch,” the hyper spouse recalls. “What’s wrong?” he frowns seeing you wiping your tears and doesn’t stress the lack of an answer when he notices the ultrasound picture. The Joker quietly sits by you on the swing, kissing your scared cheek in the process. “You ok?”

“U-hum,” you nod. “I wish I didn’t have the miscarriage, you know?...” your bottom lip quivers while placing the image in your robe’s pocket. “I really wanted a baby…”

“My poor old girl…” he sighs and doesn’t expect you to agree.

“I am old!” you keep sobbing and he squeezes you closer to him. “It was probably my last chance to have a child and I blew it!”

The King of Gotham sucks at cheering; he attempts nevertheless:

“Mmmm… You’re supposed to say you’re not old and then I reply that you are old for my standards, which should prompt you to fight back and highlight my standards are crap. Am I to carry on these sort of conversations meant for two by myself now?!” he huffs. “People will think I’m crazy!”

You snort at his monologue and it’s the perfect opportunity to make it clear your opinion is unchanged:

“Your standards are crap!”

“There you are,” the delighted Joker reckons. “I got nervous for a moment,” he chuckles and you elbow him, smiling through tears. “What about we eat something and then we can plan our location for the honeymoon we didn’t get to enjoy?”

J’s plan is working: the little surprise proposition is distracting Y/N and she carefully weighs in his sentences.

“Would you like to elope?” he pushes for a decision and you play with your wedding ring, mumbling:

“I don’t wanna go to Vegas.”

“No Vegas!” he’s fast to consent. “Where to then?”

“Well…” you sniffle, “…what about Reno? We could stay at Solaris Casino; Mark Nessi would accommodate us.”

“He would. If we pack and leave, we can make it there by 7:30-ish pm.”

“You want to leave today?! What about your meetings? You actually have one tomorrow.”

“Meh, Frost can postpone them,” The Joker dismisses your concerns. “I vote we bail and have fun, hm?” he lifts your chin up. “Let’s get the hell out of here, yes?” the impatient Clown wiggles next to you.

“OK…” Y/N elects to grant his plea because escaping town couldn’t have a better timing: it will be nice to spend time together and try to get over the disappointment of his past mistake.

**************

Reno, 8:42pm

You and The Joker are strolling towards the gambling area, excited to have made it here an hour ago. The traffic wasn’t bad and you took turns driving, that’s why you had dinner first and then changed clothes in order to enjoy the night properly.

“I liked the lobster,” you pull at his arm since he’s distrait. “How was your stake?” you seek to chat when he suddenly opens the door to one of the storage closets and shoves you inside. You get trapped against the wall as J claims his special request for the evening.

“I want the special treatment,” he growls and you smirk.

“You didn’t do anything to earn it! This morning I made an exception because it’s been weeks since we had sex. Don’t let my lenience trick you!”

“Don’t nag me!” J cuts you off. “This backless red dress of yours is doing things to me so I want the special treatment,” he slides his arms around your waist.

“Surrounded by shampoo bottles and toilet paper?!”

“It’s quite sexy,” The Joker grins and you compromise a tiny bit:

“I’ll only do the first part! That’s it! I want to go and play poker.”

His face comes close to yours and you start kissing every inch of it, ogling the door instead of paying attention to him.

“You’re not doing it right!” your husband complains. “You’re supposed to look at me!”

You switch your concentration and keep staring in his eyes, abandoning the project when you consider it done.

“Where are you going?” J stops your movement. “Thanks to you I can’t walk now,” he lifts up your short dress and you dodge his touch, opening the door in order to escape.

“Of course you can! Come on, stop sulking,” you drag him out and he follows, bickering at your indifference.

“You’re mean!” The Joker admonishes and you intertwine his fingers with yours, guiding him in the direction of the VIP room.

“No, I’m not,” you defend your actions. “I’ve been around you for so many years that those blue eyes and long lashes don’t have any powers over me,” Y/N teases. “I’m immune.”

“Bullshit!” he mutters and you steal a kiss, inviting him to enter the poker room.

“Do you want to sit by the bar?” you point and J doesn’t oppose the choice. “I’m getting a cocktail. Grape juice?”

“No,” he pouts and makes himself comfortable while you fetch your drink.

“Hello Mister Joker,” one of the dolled-up girls swiftly pops up at the table. “I didn’t see you in forever!”

“I’ve been busy,” he avoids the subject and barks when she tries to collapse on the chair next to his. “This seat’s taken!”

“Oh,” she straightens her back. “By whom?!” the envious Ella inquires.

Did another girl get to him first?! It’s common knowledge he’s generous with his flings and she can’t believe another will cash in the benefits.

“My wife,” he taps his fingers on the table, annoyed the interrogation continues.

“You got married Mister Joker?!” the woman doesn’t hide her astonishment: it’s not that his nuptials were broadcasted on the news. Plus… he’s a very weird man, totally not husband material.

“A few months ago,” he sneers and she’s not smart enough to take the hint.

“Who did you marry Mister Joker?” she giggles, more and more convinced he’s bluffing: The King of Gotham is probably messing around to make her jealous.

“My best friend and main nagger,” J bitterly mentions. “Isn’t this what people do? Marry their best friends?”

“You almost got me Mister Joker,” she laughs at his strange acknowledgement, reassured he’s messing with her: an individual like him would pronounce such nonsense only to initiate flirting.

“Excuse me!” you bump into her on purpose, aware why she’s there. “I got you grape juice on ice,” you place the glass in front of your spouse and he opens his mouth in amazement.

“I was literally about to order this! How did you know I changed my mind?!”

“Best friends know,” you bend to kiss him and J pouts, annoyed you overheard his childish affirmation.

“You have such a cool tattoo on your back!” Ella exclaims. “Is that Japanese?”

Y/N turns in her chair, confused to notice the lady is still standing behind them.

“Yes.”

“What does it say?”

You take a deep breath, fed up by her unwanted presence.

“It says that if you don’t get lost, I’ll make sure your body is never found again! And if it’s eventually found, it surely won’t be identifiable!!”

You reprise your position at the poker table, patiently waiting for the dealer to finish handing out the cards.

“I’m so hot and bothered,” J brushes his lips on yours. “Your attitude begs for my undivided eagerness to peel you out of this dress,” he lustfully glares at your cleavage.“What do you say we leave and have a party on our own? We can play strip poker in the honeymoon suite.”

“We just got here minutes ago,” you fix a rebel strand of hair then whisper: “Table seven, white shirt guy.”

“Do you ever take vacations?” The Joker grinds his teeth, nonchalantly gazing at your suspicious target.

“I like to mix business with pleasure,” you wink and accidentally spill a little bit of your cocktail on his pants. “Oops, pardon me; I assume you have to come with me if you need help stepping out of your wet garment.”

“As that old Arkham report specifies: I need all the help I can get,” The Clown reveals to an amused Y/N, excited she’s receptive to his innuendos.

**************

You emerge from the walk-in closet in your skimpy purple lace attire and The Joker gasps, enticed at the view.

“Oh my God! Com’ere!” he gestures for your company and you crawl in bed, pushing aside the items scattered on the sheets:

“What’s with the shampoo bottles and toilet paper rolls?!”

“I’m attempting to recreate the seductive atmosphere in the storage room, maybe it can convince you to continue the special treatment.”

“You don’t give up, do you?” you scoff and straddle his lap, conflicted if you should grant his wish.

“I usually don’t… Are you gonna help like you promised and take off my pants?” J gropes you and the knock at the door interrupts your answer.

“Room service!”

“Did you order from the menu?” you ask and your husband purrs:

“More champagne.”

“Maybe our new friend has arrived,” you wink, hopping out of bed.

“Why don’t we find out?” The Joker spanks your butt as you cover your body with the bathrobe.

Y/N grabs the bottle of champagne from the ice bucket and hides around the corner while he shouts:

“Come in!”

The waiter pushes in the rolling cart in the middle of the lobby, greeting his grouchy customer:

“Hi Mister Joker, would you like one bottle or two?”

“One!”

You creep beyond him and smash the glass against his skull; the man falls on his knees and you take advantage of his dizziness to switch him face up: it is the guy from table seven!

“Who send you?” you ferociously punch him and he struggles to escape when The King’s gun ends up one inch away from his temple. “Who send you?” Y/N shrieks and she’s so absorbed into her job she can’t discern the mesmerized Joker staring at her. It’s not that he didn’t see you in action before, but it finally clicked:

It sure pays off being married to your work wife!

Also read: MASTERLIST

You can also follow me on Ao3 and Wattpad under the same blog name: Diyunho.

#the joker x reader #the joker fanfiction #the joker imagine #the joker jared leto #the joker suicide squad #the joker #joker #joker fanfiction #joker jared leto #joker suicide squad #mister j #Mistah J #dc #dcu

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writteninsunshine · 4 years ago

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Decking Something - Tseng/Reno - SFW

Title: Decking Something

Author: Reno

Fandom: Final Fantasy VII

Setting: Turk Floor, ShinRa Building

Pairing: Tseng/Reno

Characters: Tseng, Reno, Rufus Shinra, Koi Fish OC: Xiang

Genre: Romance

Rating: K

Chapters: 1/1

Word Count: 1187

Type Of Work: One-Shot, Day One of the Shinra Holiday 2020 Prompts

Status: Complete

Warnings: Gay, Slash, Yaoi, MLM, Fluff, Romance, Tseng is Superstitious, Tseng has koi fish, Taking Liberties With Holidays, Reno is Ridiculous, No Specific Turks Mentioned But They’re In The Background, Established Relationship

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything except Xiang!

Summary: Reno was always a mess during the holidays, but this was preferable to him drinking on the job.

#Shinraholiday2020

AN: Hey guys, it’s me again! Just thought I ought to say, if you want vague updates and to talk to me more, I have Twitter and Tumblr, too! Twitter is Sunnywritings, and Tumblr is Writteninsunshine! I also have a writing Discord that is currently pretty dead. xD I can PM it to people who want it on FFN, for everyone else, it’s here: https://discord.gg/FyaWw25

Alright, guys, hello! Going to try to do this Shinra Holiday 2020 thing, and I’m hoping that things turn out. I really want to be able to get through something like this entirely, so I’m starting it a little early. I figure if I’m not trying to cram all of it into the day that it’s due, maybe I’ll get stuff done. Weird how time management sneaks into my life once more, isn’t it? At any rate, I hope you guys enjoy this!

For those wondering, Xiang is a gift from Tseng’s father for luck and prosperity! He has several koi fish but Xiang is his favorite. Just wait until I get to his birds in a different fic, that one will be fun.

Shinra Holiday 2020 Fic Masterlist

Final Fantasy VII Fic Masterlist

Decking Something

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Reno,” Tseng began after a long moment of standing, staring, and incredulous coffee-sipping, “What in Leviathan’s name do you think you are doing?”

Reno had heard that ten thousand times in the course of his life, and he found himself with the simple knowledge that this wasn’t actually a question, but a long-winded ‘no.’ Still, that didn’t stop him from slowly growing a wicked grin, a certain shine to his blue eyes, and lifting a string of tinsel. The shiny silver worm of plastic struggled minutely in Reno’s grip, limply hanging between his gloved hands as he stepped a little closer.

Were Tseng a more openly emotive man, he might have taken a step back and betrayed his irritation and fear of the unknown when it came to Reno, but he was thankful that he wasn’t. Instead, he simply rose a finely manicured brow, tilted his head slightly to the left, and frowned that much harder. It didn’t deter the redhead, as expected, but it did set the rest of the bullpen ablaze with wide eyes and whispers.

“Reno.” The name was a warning, but neither Turk was really known for backing down, so Reno only encroached further on Tseng’s rapidly shrinking bubble of personal space. “Reno, I--”

It was too late. The tinsel found itself wrapped around Tseng’s neck and gently tucked into itself like a gaudy, scratchy scarf, and Reno was incredibly close to catching an open palm to the face. If it weren’t for Tseng’s unnatural amount of self-control, he probably would have had a brand new broken nose. Instead, the elder man simply leveled a half-glare, half incredulous stare at his lover that earned him a somewhat sweet smile.

“It’s almost Christmas, man,” Reno told him gently, adjusting the tinsel scarf carefully around his neck, “Gotta deck the halls and all that shit.”

Well, that explained a lot. Reno always did get weird during the holidays, and it was probably better that he was sober and decorating instead of drinking during work hours like last year.

“So you want to deck the halls of the Shinra building?” Tseng asked finally, gently reaching down to touch the tinsel he wore. It wasn’t comfortable, but something about how happy the string of shiny plastic made the redhead, convinced him it wouldn’t be so bad to wear. He hadn’t seen Reno smile like that in months, and it was a worthwhile sight.

“Yeah, I figured uh, it’d be more festive than, uh… Then my place.” Reno murmured the last bit, his blue eyes cast down as he wrung his hands in the hem of his jacket. Was Tseng going to tell him ‘no’, now? He wasn’t sure if he could handle it. The holidays always kicked his ass, left him feeling cold and unwanted, and even Tseng knew he was treading on thin ice right now.

The whispers and wide eyes around them were turning to soft ‘I told you so’s and exchanges of Gil as Tseng tugged Reno in for a gentle kiss. With his thumb and forefinger on the other’s chin, he kept him in place before finally pulling back, smiling at him in that rare way he did when he was pleased.

“I ain’t even wearing the headband.” Reno chuckled in amazement, dumbstruck as he nuzzled their noses together. Tseng’s eyebrow arched into his hairline.

“The… Headband?” That sounded like it was going to be a big problem he didn’t want to deal with.

“Yeah, man, let me grab it!” Breaking away from Tseng’s grip, Reno bound into his office and disappeared inside. When he returned to the bullpen where Tseng still stood waiting in his festive attire, he wore a red headband with a long, plastic arm set in the center. At the end of it was a piece of what was presumably fake mistletoe, and Tseng’s eyes rolled so hard his entire head almost fell off.

“That’s… Lovely, Reno.” He sighed, shaking his head definitively, “But if you wear it to anything but the Christmas party, you’re going to wish you didn’t.”

“Aw, c’mon, man, it’s not that--”

“No. If Rufus sees you in that he’s going to get an idea and then we’ll all be wearing them.” Not that that was necessarily a bad thing. But he didn’t particularly want to deal with it. If Rufus got any ideas from this particular holiday, he was hoping it would be something less needy and more festive. The man needed some actual holiday cheer if you asked him. After all, it wasn’t like his holidays growing up had ever been more than artificial love in the form of impersonal gifts. A little whimsy would probably do their boss some good, and if Reno was in the mood to deliver, well, Tseng wasn’t about to tell him ‘no’, now. It would help both of his favorite men to have this if luck served.

He’d have to go home and make sure his lucky fish was doing well. Xiang would surely see this through, the white koi with the black scale in the center of his forehead had never let Tseng down before.

If he was allowed something somewhat childish to help him cope with the job and everything else in his life, then Reno and Rufus should be allowed to decorate the office however they saw fit for the holidays.

“Reno.” Tseng was positive that the redhead had been talking when he was buried in his own head, and he didn’t have time to ask him about what he had been saying. Instead, he kissed him again, gently, before shaking his head. “I want to help you decorate. We can do our offices, too.”

Reno lit up like the faerie lights he’d spread around his own office, and his hand found Tseng’s in an instant. Taking him to his veritable treasure trove of delights, he began to dig through it.

“Do you think Rufus will let us get a tree?”

All of those fake trees at the store would work, he was sure, though he also had a feeling that Rufus would bemoan the lack of a real tree. Not that they could get their hands on one, but that was beside the point.

“He might want the biggest, most gaudy fake tree money can buy, should you bring it up to him.” Tseng left it open-ended to give Reno a chance to do it on his own. If the redhead wanted to throw the Turks and Rufus into the holiday spirit, so be it, he supposed. It wasn’t like they were incredibly busy today. “All I ask is that you don’t make a mess and that you’re still available should we need you for work.”

“Yessir!” Reno barked, clicking his heels together dramatically and saluting, “You know you can count on me.” That beautiful, rare, lips-only smile worked onto Tseng’s lips again and he pressed a kiss to Reno’s forehead.

“I know. I made you my second for a reason.” Reno’s cheeks lit up at that, giving Tseng a return rare sight that he thought about for the rest of the day.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

AN: Alright, there we go, one fic down! Just six more to go! With any luck, I’ll be able to put something out for each day, but we’ll see. I’ve never been super good at staying on top of these things, if only because I’m always crunching for time. But, this time, I’m going to be on top of it, because I started a little early. At least, I’m really hoping that I will be. I hope you guys enjoyed it!

Prompt: Shinra Holiday 2020 Day One - Deck The Halls

#Shinraholidayweek2020 #Tseng x Reno #Final Fantasy VII Fanfic #Final Fantasy VII Fanfiction

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quilloftheclouds · 5 years ago

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Writeblr Positivity Week!

(Ignore my heckin’ weird handwriting.)

I knooowwww this is super late but Quill got real busy this week with working on schoolwork and Nano so I didn’t have time to finish this up until now but!! Have this!!!

As a part of Writeblr Positivity Week, a lovely event hosted by the wondrous @pens-swords-stuff, I have put together:

A Selection of Quill’s Favourite WIPs and Writeblrs

(Because there is absolutely No Way I could show all of them, and this is already super long so under the cut we go~)

@lady-redshield-writes: Not only a wonderfully supportive icon of the writeblr community, who always leaves marvelously inspiring and insightful comments on original content that gives me and undeniably many others so much more motivation to write, but Lady Red is also such a heckin’ inspirationally SKILLED WRITER. IT’S HECKIN’ AMAZING. Her characters! Her description! The amount of personality in her dialogue and just how engaging her worldbuilding and created atmospheres are, but the EMOTION. THE EMOTION. GOOOO read something of hers and you’ll instantly know what I mean---good luck getting through not completely overwhelmed with feeling!

And Miles to Go Before I Sleep: Humans are the size of insects, warriors ride dragonflies into battle, and an eldritch god-ant rules with absolute power.

Symphony Number Five: Evka Sekerak, composer and musician, directs the Teplirov Symphony, and is commissioned to write her fifth symphony by the military officials who keep her city captive.

@waterfallwritings: HECK MATE. JASON. DUDE. WHERE DO I START? YOU’VE BEEN TOSSING COMPLIMENTS MY WAY ALL DAY WHAT. But seriously though, this kid is best. Best Friendo of the Quill. Jason is hugely supportive throughout my writing and throughout my real life since I met him, and his own writing is basically the main inspiration behind why OSS even exists in the first place. We’ve had absolutely so much fun reading through each others’ works and joking around, and talking with him has helped me to discover and develop so many things about my own wip. Not only that but!! His writing is marvelous. His characters are all so fun in their own ways, and I’ve loved watching as they’ve developed to such three dimensional personalities in a story full of epic adventure and intrigue!

A Selkie’s Home: After a storm and a shipwreck, a selkie missing her skin, a triton disguised as a human, a morally questionable sea witch, and a hapless lover of the ocean end up on the same island. When the selkie is kidnapped, the remaining three have to form an unlikely alliance to get her back.

@bookenders: ENDERS IS A REAL DARN NEAT PERSON OKAY. She is the cool 🌵 friend!! She’s a wondrously creative and kind person, and so much fun to talk to! Her STS asks are always so interesting to answer and I just. And I! Just! Love! Her writing oh my stars it’s the best thing ever. Her characters are always so relatable and lovable, with such wonderful personalities and are always so detailed that they feel like real people. She’s also the creator of several of my favourite characters (see: Fred from H2H and Ryan from FF). Her description is astounding, and the way she experiments with different formats and styles is so, SO inspiring, and she always does it in such a skillful way, that reads so nicely!

Heart to Heart: After a series of half-drownings in the lake near the small town of Lindsay, a strange woman appears on the shore, refusing to speak. The local apothecary is sent in to try and help, and now... they’re roommates?

Fish Food: Now assigned to facing the villains of the lowest threat levels after suffering severe losses from his fight against the supervillain Nightmare, Iron Will has to team up with the worst villain he’s ever seen to fend off the threat of a conspiracy that could destroy their world as they know it.

@abalonetea: OKAY FIRST. Amazingly supportive. Amazingly friendly and creative and an absolute delight to talk to! Katie is marvelous. Her art and her moodboards are so cool and so wonderfully fitting to her characters and stories. And her writing? Oh. Ohhh. Her writing is to die for. Her unique skill of manipulating different text formatting to match the emotion and thoughts of her narrative is just. Stellar, and sets her writing apart from anything I’ve read before. It’s so full of emotion, the way she writes dynamics is INSPIRATIONAL, and her worldbuilding is so wonderfully detailed and engaging. I just. I just LOVE. OKAY. I don’t normally ship characters but Red and Bolte will always be my favourite. And Katie’s message of hope being able to stick it through the worst of it is such a wonderfully motivational theme!

Groundhog Day: Two versions of the same classic rpg video game, one the gritty reboot of the other, glitch together, switching the games of one of the characters with his counterpart—Red and Blue. Now they have to try and find their ways back amidst the formation of friendship and family and the threat of a new war.

As Time Passes On: Two classic pirates form a precarious alliance to set out to find the Eighth Sea, and a device that can turn back time.

@livvywrites: I’ve only more recently been getting into Livvy’s works but. Wooooooow. WOW. Her writing is fantabulous. Her graphics are gorgeous. I LOVE her characters, so so much. They’re all so distinct in personality and backstory and situation, and the way they’re all involved in the story is marvelously fascinating. SPEAKING OF THE STORY THO. Livvy’s worldbuilding is???? SO IN DEPTH. It is the most deep worldbuilding for a magic type world I think I’ve yet to see on writeblr? I am sooo very excited to see how she integrates it into the plot! But also Livvy is an absolutely magnificent person all around and so supportive and creative and sooo fun to talk to. Love ya, darling~

The Martyr Queen: Alinora Mynerva is visited by one of Death's Reapers, and told she was never meant to exist. She is asked to become his Champion, to stop Fate from destroying the world. Alinora isn't sure she's willing to fight a god... but she is willing to fight the man who took her homeland from her 10 years ago.

Pirate’s Bane: [Quill legitimately can’t summarize this one in so short a space because it’s so delightfully complex, but it’s a brilliant continuation of the previous book above! Go click the link to read the synopsis on the intro post~]

@mvcreates: I’M SORRY FOR ALL THESE TAGS DEAR MINA BUT YOU DESERVE THEM. Probably just the most interactive person in the writeblr community, Mina’s events and ask games and onwards all are so wonderful, and her engagement with reblogging and commenting on people’s original content is inspirational. AND I’M SAYING IT FOR THE THOUSANDTH TIME BUT THAT DOESN’T DECREASE IT’S MEANING: heckin’ poetic like prose with how much symbolism she fits in there and how lovely it sounds to read aloud, wonderfully clever dialogue and banter and characterization, and characters you love to root for. And her ART. OH MY STARS HER ART. *swoons at majestic colours and shading and textures*

Retrocognition: An investigative journalist with a paranormal gift joins forces with a cantankerous federal agent to expose a Reno-based politician’s (murderous) corruption.

The Vizier’s Apprentice: An alternate universe retelling of a classic Persian love story: One Thousand and One Nights.

@dogwrites: Venturing into the world of Crime of Mind has only been a very recent endeavour of mine, and I’m only two episodes in at the moment, but gosh golly yarn darn it this story is MARVELOUS. Dog’s ability to write memorable characters with such distinct and identifiable personalities is lovely, their dialogue is wonderful and the body language and description is so heckin’ engaging, and puts you right in the scene with them. And Dog’s also a marvelous artist holy wow. NOT TO MENTION just how awesome Dog is as a person?? Heckin’ ridiculously nice, leaves such insightful and appreciated comments that charge me on. AH. JUST A LOVELY LOVELY THAT I HAD SUCH AN HONOUR OF MEETING. YES.

Crime of Mind: Dr. Benji Russells, an autistic federal agent, is the youngest member of the Behavioral Analysis Unit, whose knack at viewing individuals and their behavioral chemtrails turned her into a viable asset---but delving into the minds of the country's most insidious leaves none unscathed in the end.

@ardawyn: OH. MASTER OF DESCRIPTION, HERE. All of Sophie’s writing feels like it could have been written in the world of the story itself despite being very clear and lovely to read, with a vaguely medieval vibe to it all that adds so much to the reading experience. The way she describes environments just puts you right into the scene with the characters, characters that are all written marvelously with beautifully lovable personalities and dialogue and dynamics. And her graphics? Oh, ohhhh. Sophie is probably my greatest inspiration for making graphics and aesthetics for writeblr. Every single one of hers are instantly eye-catching and fit the mood and theme sooo well. Plus, the comments she leaves on my content are just the sweetest thing, and always warm my heart when I read them. <3

The Dawnbringer: A niece of Issarien’s king, Tilda fights against the constricting expectations of her role, making it her mission to find her brother after his disappearance. Rajani is given rooms in the castle of the Prince of Hallrein after being caught stealing, offered a perilous deal she has no choice but to accept. But these two women are connected in an unknown way...

Night Crystals: Amaria was raised an assassin at the orphanage The Obsidian to serve the king of Calastari. But after discovering a secret, she must make the choice whether to stay and swallow lies, or seal her death sentence trying to leave.

@radley-writes: Although I haven’t interacted much yet with Radley, I’ve fallen completely in love with their writing and ideas. Their art is so lovely and professional and clean, and the body language and personality it portrays is marvelous. But their writing? Outrageously good, and brilliantly hilarious. I’ve mainly only been following His Majesty’s Starship so far, but the way that Radley is able to match the vocabulary and narrative to the time period of the story is so skillful and inspiring, and is absolutely wonderfully engaging by placing you right into the setting like it’s real. The integration of worldbuilding is done extraordinarily well and I am in love with all of the distinct personalities and dialogue of their wondrous cast of idiots.

His Majesty’s Starship: The Eurasian powers expand their empires to the furthest-flung reaches of the solar system – as well as their endless wars. As nations and companies vie for control of the Off-World Colonies , a trio of utter imbeciles come into possession of a secret that many would kill for. A secret that changes everything…

Anywayssss there are sooo, so many more wips that I consider favourites of mine, and so many more writeblrs that I think are the absolute bomb, but Quill’s energy isn’t limitless!

That said, maybe I’ll make up a simpler post of a bunch of recommendations later... hm..........

ANYWAYS YEAH GO CHECK THESE LOVELIES OUT

#writeblr #writeblr positivity week #writeblr recs #writeblr recommendations #wpw #writeblr friends #Quill's recs #writeblr community

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satoshi-mochida · 5 years ago

Link

Square Enix has released new information and screenshots of Final Fantasy VII Remake highlighting the Turks, Avalanche, more of the battle system and materia, the Chocobo & Moogle summon, and the church and Aerith’s house in Sector 5. Additionally, Square Enix revealed two new visuals featuring Aerith and Barrett and shared 11 developer comments.

Get the details below.

■ New Visuals

■ The Turks

The Investigation Sector of the General Affairs Department of the Shinra Electric Power Company. A small, elite organization that carries out special operations, the Turks operate behind the scenes and handle everything from scouting out SOLDIER candidates to protecting VIPs, intelligence activities, and even assassination.

Reno (voiced by Keiji Fujiwara)

A member of the Turks, the Investigation Sector of the General Affairs Department of the Shinra Electric Power Company. With fiery red hair and a cynical smile, he always does his own thing. He is agile in battle and uses a specialized weaponry to unleash a multitude of attacks.

Rude (voiced by Taiten Kusunoki)

A member of the Turks, the Investigation Sector of the General Affairs Department of the Shinra Electric Power Company. A giant with a shaved head and sunglasses. He is not one for mindless chatter, and faithfully handles his duties. He does not carry a weapon, but rather fights using only martial arts that put his strong body to work.

■ Avalanche

An anti-Shinra group acting to protect the planet. Mako is the life energy of the planet, and Avalanche alleges that Shinra Company is draining the planet’s lifespan. There are currently several factions within Avalanche, and the group that oversees Midgar, which consists of Barrett and company, is a dynamic one that does not hesitate to use force.

Biggs (voiced by Shuuhei Sakaguchi)

A member of the anti-Shinra group Avalanche. The sharpest and most capable person on the team, he is in charge of strategic planning. He calmly follows Barrett, who has habit of going wild one way or another. He has a tidy personality, and loves taking showers and cleaning.

Wedge (voiced by Takayuki Asai)

A member of the anti-Shinra group Avalanche. He uses his connections and charm to gather information and conciliate with opposing forces. He also plays an important role in taste-testing new menu items for 7th Heaven. A mood maker, he is the indispensable lubricant of the team.

Jessie (voiced by Satomi Moriya)

A member of the anti-Shinra group Avalanche. She is in charge of procurement for Avalanche, getting everything necessary to carry out its operations, from explosive to fake IDs. She is also a skilled engineer, and manufactures and sells things such as water filtration devices to earn income. She is caring and has a weakness for handsome men.

■ Battle System: Classic Mode

By changing the difficulty level to “Classic,” you will switch to “Classic Mode.” In Classic Mode, characters automatically take action while the ATB gauge accumulates. Players can battle by selecting commands such as “Ability,” “Magic,” and “Item,” which consume the ATB gauge, similarly to the command-based battle system of the original Final Fantasy VII. While in Classic Mode, you can switch back to action-based gameplay at any time.

■ Battle System: Cloud

Cloud can “Attack” with his sword at close range with the Square button and build up combos by repeatedly pressing Square. By holding Square, Cloud can unleash a radial attack.

Unique Ability

Pressing the Triangle button activates a character’s unique ability. Cloud’s unique ability switches him from his balanced “Assault Mode” to the attack-specialized “Punisher Mode.” In Punisher Mode, Cloud’s movement speed is reduced, but his attack’s become more powerful.

—Assault Mode: “Attack.”

—Punisher Mode: “Strong Attack.”

Abilities

—Triple Slash

Cloud slashes surrounding enemies with three consecutive strikes. Its power increases by hitting multiple enemies.

—Blade Burst

A long range attack in which Cloud fires a magic burst from his blade.

■ Weapon Enhancement

By unlocking the abilities of the core materia in weapons, you can upgrade them to increase their power.

—Cloud’s Buster Sword. You can also increase the character’s stats and increase the materia slots.

Weapon Abilities

Each weapon has a dedicated weapon ability that increases in proficiency each time it is used. By increasing a proficiency to the maximum level, you can learn the weapon ability to use at any time, even when that weapon is not equipped.

■ Materia

Fire

Materia that enables the use of flame-attribute magic such as “Fire.” It evolves from “Fire” to “Fira” to “Firaga.”

Sense

Materia that enables the use of “Sense.” By using Sense on an enemy, you can see that enemy’s traits, resistances, and weaknesses.

■ Summons

When equipped, summoning materia adds an additional gauge that, when filled, grants you the ability to call forth otherworldly entities to fight alongside you for a limited time. These summoned beings possess a will of their own and will engage enemies independently, culminating in a devastating attack they execute before departing the battlefield.

Chocobo & Moogle

A world-traveling moogle riding atop his partner chocobo. It is cute on cute, the simple sight of which provides healing.

—Ability: “Mog Bomb.”

—Ability: “Stampede.”

■ Locations

Locations from Final Fantasy VII have been faithfully recreated in high quality. Several locations that could not be explored in the original version have also been added.

Church in the Slums

The old church at the edge of the Sector 5 Slums. The building is old and houses the crashed test rocket launched by Shinra. One of the few places where flowers grow in the ruined slums, Aerith takes care of the garden there in her spare time.

Aerith’s House

A house located in a corner of the Sector 5 Slums. Aerith and her mother Elmyra live there. They grow a variety of colorful flowers in their garden, and every day Aerith delivers them to the residents of Midgar. Clear water flows down from the cliff behind the house, which coupled with the loveliness of the house itself, make for a beautiful scene unseemly of the slums.

Screenshots

—Playing darts in 7th Heaven.

—A bike battle against Shinra with Jessie on board.

■ Developer Comments

Yoshinori Kitase (Producer)

In the several years following 2009, when I was running around all over the world promoting the Final Fantasy XIII series, I had opportunity to speak to many fans and journalists. The question that I always got as we got up to part ways was, “When are you making the Final Fantasy VII Remake?”

It was to the point where it almost felt like an alternative way to say goodbye, so eventually I started pre-emptively giving my response to the question before they’d even asked it. “If we were to create a remake of that now, it would be an enormous amount of data, and who knows how many years it would take. But, if the ‘right time’ comes along, we might just do it someday!” This is how I’d respond back then, who knows how many hundreds of times. To all the people I had a chance to meet with back then, the “right time” has finally arrived.

For the Final Fantasy VII Remake, developers who worked on the original game have come onboard once again as core members, including myself as Producer, Tetsuya Nomura as Director, Motomu Toriyama as Co-Director, and Kazushige Nojima on Story & Scenario.

Additionally, we also have people like Co-Director Naoki Hamaguchi who are now part of the core development team, who was just a fan of Final Fantasy VII back then. And, to my delight, creators from younger generations all over the world have come forth upon hearing news of Final Fantasy VII Remake’s production. While ensuring that the spirit of the original game is kept intact, these members are adding to it the power of a new generation.

As a result, the game that is about to be born surpasses even my own expectations as the one who voiced the desire to take this endeavor on in the first place. In fact, the one who’s looking forward to playing this game the most right now might actually be me.

Tetsuya Nomura (Director / Concept Design)

I started up the Final Fantasy VII Remake project around the time of Compilation of Final Fantasy VII. We’d gone through Advent Children, Before Crisis, Crisis Core, and Dirge of Cerberus, and I was planning this by myself for about a year as the fifth and final entry in the compilation.

Since that initial plan and my first ideas, other projects took-shape and I became very busy as they moved forward, but I never stopped thinking about VII. As such, I feel like I’m looking forward to the release as much as anyone, as I’ve been carrying around these ideas for a long time.

Opportunities for discussing our true intentions are few, but with regard to the size of the game that many are asking about – there’s no reason at all to worry. Even in this Midgar portion alone, the density and volume are so great that I had to give directions to lighten them.

With regard to new characters, of whom I said during past interviews that there would be “none” – though they aren’t main characters, their numbers ended up growing considerably in the process of creating a rich depiction of Midgar. When you think of Midgar’s final boss, you probably think of the M.O.T.O.R., but in this game new bosses will appear and add to the excitement of the story even more.

We’ve already begun working on the next one as well, but I’m confident that playing through this title will expand your expectations just like the world that extends beyond Midgar.

Until next time.

Kazushige Nojima (Story / Scenario)

It must have been in the very beginning stages of developing Final Fantasy VII Remake that I got to see the Remake version of Cloud for the first time. It wasn’t post-Advent Children Cloud, with kindness brimming from within. Rather, here was a young man with fiery features, looking straight at me through the screen with aggression in his eyes. I knew right t hen: “Oh, this is it.”

This time, it was this Cloud that I needed to depict. When Cloud came to Midgar and was hired by Avalanche, this was the sort of look that he would have had on his face. So I revisited the experiences that he’d had in his life so far, thinking of the effect that each individual event would have had on him. His attitude toward his childhood friend Tifa. How would he act toward Barret? What sort of distance would he keep while interacting with passers-by on the street? I picture the scene of Midgar in my mind and imagine Cloud moving through it. Write new lines of dialogue to add for him. This is how Cloud in the Remake Version came to be.

It was an exciting task to introduce a new current of wind to Final Fantasy VII, but at the same time, there was some fear. The original game used cartoon-like, stylised art, and the story was completed by players using their imagination to supplement portions that couldn’t be depicted as a result. Even if they were seeing the same scene, the information they took away from it and how they interpreted it differed depending on the viewer. Perhaps it’s what might be considered a narrative form of storytelling nowadays.

In Final Fantasy VII Remake, there will be much less room for player imagination. This fact will probably change the feel of the story considerably. People who know the original might not know quite how to take it. Such is the fear that I have. But I also have conviction. It should be possible to feel a much deeper connection to Cloud as you join alongside him. It would be amazing if you could feel that fiery flame together with him.

Naoki Hamaguchi (Co-Director / Game Design / Programming)

When the original Final Fantasy VII was released, I was just another student who dreamed of being in the gaming industry. I of course played the game, but I also re-read the guidebook over and over again, my heart stolen by the engaging universe. I remember wishing strongly that I’d be able to create a game like it someday.

Twenty-two years later, that student who dreamed of Final Fantasy VII is now involved in developing the remake. I can’t help but feel like it’s fate.

In this title, I handled overseeing the development team overall, such as deciding development milestones, constructing a workflow using Unreal Engine, and taking responsibility for game design.

Here, I met staff members who were involved in the original game, who entered the industry with childhood dreams of Final Fantasy VII just like me, and those who were drawn by the allure of Final Fantasy VII and joined the dev team from overseas. It was a gathering of amazing creators with passion and ambition towards the game. All I have is gratitude for having the opportunity to meet this team.

With all this in mind, I’ve considered the following phrase important: “respect for the original.” Final Fantasy VII Remake takes on the challenge of creating something that’s created specifically thanks to the technological power and entertainment quality that matches the current generation, while treating the captivating elements of the original game with respect.

For those who’ve played it: “new but familiar.” For those who haven’t played it: “experience the charm of Final Fantasy VII which moved the hearts of many, now created with the most exciting modern technology available.” I hope you enjoy it!

Motomu Toriyama (Co-Director / Scenario Design)

For the original game, I joined the project as a planner who was just starting out on my career, and I worked on Sector 7 slums and Wall Market.

In producing Final Fantasy VII Remake, the thoughts and feelings I had when I was just starting out back then were revived, and at the same time, I took on the challenge of new methods of expression that I’m able to execute now that I have the experience.

The original version was a forerunner when it came to RPGs that used 3D CG, but the characters were made of polygons, the dialogue was in text only, and cameras weren’t able to be used for cutscenes.

In Final Fantasy VII Remake, we’re using the newest visuals, voice acting, and character facial expressions to redesign the Final Fantasy VII universe to be more realistic. By increasing the realism of the universe within the city of Midgar, which is made prosperous by mako energy, we of course also reimagined the characters who reside there, like Cloud and Tifa, more vividly as living and breathing human beings, depicting their daily lives and feelings in a more in-depth manner.

We took care to remake not only the main characters, but also characters like Johnny and the Shinra Middle Manager who I created back then. Please keep your eye out to see how they make their new appearances. Additionally, when remaking the Honey-Bee Inn at the Wall Market, we revived it is as a pantheon of entertainment, which couldn’t be realized back then. Here, the scene that many of you have been eager to see, where Cloud disguises himself. Please enjoy.”

Shintaro Takai (Graphics / VFX Director)

I created the effects for the original Final Fantasy VII. Back then, the scope of development was so exorbitantly massive that I just threw myself into the tasks for which I was responsible, without even fully understanding what sort of game we were creating.

Near the final stages of development, when I finally tried playing the test version, I remember being surprised by the graphics and the depth of the story, as well as how fully realized it was, and I remember enjoying the game as a player. It’s been 22 years after that, and I’m participating in the Final Fantasy VII Remake project as a developer, and today, I’m able to experience the impact and fun similar to that of the previous title.

For the remake, I’ve mainly directed the effects section, while also crossing over into other sections for decisions and directions on overall graphics.

Among the many major games that are celebrated for their photorealistic graphics, FINAL FANTASY VII is a little different. Not only is it realistic, but I believe you’ll notice that it incorporates “playfulness” in the design and colours for an originality not found in other games. Effects are an area that is particularly conducive to expressing various elements of “playfulness.”

I hope you’ll enjoy various effects that are not only beautiful, but also convincingly portray realism and magic!! Various elements of game design and graphic design have been packed into every corner of the vast Midgar. I hope you enjoy it!!

Teruki Endo (Battle Director)

When I played the original version, I wasn’t on the game creation side of things, and I remember enjoying it as a player and feeling constant surprise at the evolution of games. The three-dimensionality of the stage and the dynamism of the battle scenes have left a strong impression on me. Back then, I never even imagined that I would someday be on the side of creating games, or that I would be able to be involved in that game.

Speaking to my own personal experience, I had mostly been creating action games thus far, so for this title, I took on the challenge of remaking a system that was not of an action game originally and incorporating action elements into it.

Production was completely different than that of a pure action game, and the need for new design philosophy often arose. Production involved constantly searching for the best balance between action and command elements, but I believe we’ve managed to do this in an exciting new way.

In order to create battles that are surprising and never boring, we worked hard to create a variety of strategic elements for each boss and enemy. Also, in constructing battle systems for each character, we wanted to respect the image of the original version while additionally introducing many new abilities. I hope you’re able to find your own style of battle by combining those abilities with Materia.

Takako Miyake (Environment Director)

For Final Fantasy VII Remake, the graphics team worked to the theme of “how would Midgar look if it existed in real life?” As such, as the environments team, we examined those portions that were once left to the players’ imaginations, fell outside of the on-screen area, or were between scenes, and tried to supplement them in detail.

For all the fans out there, we worked our hardest in hopes that you’ll be able to relive an experience that also surpasses your memories.

For all of you who are playing for the first time, we worked our hardest with the sole hope that you’ll experience this amazing universe that has remained beloved by so many for 22 years, and to be able to convey its charm.

Additionally, in order to create a fitting backdrop for the drama unfolding around the main characters, and in order for it to be a stage where the various characters living in Midgar can be their vibrant selves, all of teams, including the environments section, came up with ideas and worked collaboratively. Midgar is a closed city. However, I would be very happy if by experiencing the drama unfolding around its residents and the main characters who go through it, you feel as though Midgar actually exists.

I am a Final Fantasy VII fan, so being able to take part in the Remake was something that made me happy but also nervous. It’s been an unforgettable development experience. I truly hope that everyone enjoys it.

Iichiro Yamaguchi (Lighting Director)

Final Fantasy VII, for me, at the time when I was in school, was a very impactful game. It really pierced my heart as I was at such a sensitive age, with not only a rich story, but charming characters, world setting and music, not to mention that it was the first in the series to be in 3D polygon format. This was the piece that really brought out my interest in CG in general.

When I was able to join the Final Fantasy VII Remake team, I started by thinking back to how I felt when I first played it. Midgar, with its’ abundant mix of different elements and original characters like Cloud, became something unbreakable and the “standard” for me in Final Fantasy VII.

In the world of the game, just like in real life, if there is not some form of light then you won’t be able to see anything. So when putting up lights just anywhere, Midgar could lose its token Midgar-ness, and Cloud wouldn’t be Cloud anymore. I’ve taken as much care as possible to recreate the world that I had saved in my mind and attempted to remake it to a fresh and modern standard.

The positions of the few lights that illuminate the entirety of Midgar, the adjustments made to each and every voluminous cut-scene… it’s all a lot of work to do! However, alongside the rest of the wonderful lighting team we feel that we’ve brought something great to the table. We’ve left in the elements that will have you going “Ah, that’s what it was like!”, and yet you’ll still be able to enjoy the world of Final Fantasy VII in its new and fresh style!

Masaaki Kazeno (Character Modeling Director)

I was among those who bought the original game on the day of its release and played it constantly, clearing it in under a week. Those that also have cleared it will understand this, but I also wasn’t quite satisfied with the locations, so I continued to play it after clearing in the same places as well.

And so, my memory of Final Fantasy VII was how I actually started studying CG, after being left with the strong motivation to want to create a Final Fantasy game when playing it and truly being moved by it.

So I just made my mind up and bought a PC to help me study – something that I had never even touched before. So for me, someone who had been so strongly influenced by the original, to be working on the characters of the remake, I want to do everything I can to make them in a way that shows both a charm and freshness whilst keeping that nostalgia.

So I want them to reflect in a fresh way that that also allows players of the original to remember the time that they played the original, as well as make them detailed and charming enough to give first-time players the understanding of just how charming they are.

I’ve ensured to arrange things like hairstyles and outfits to re-create the design from the original, so I encourage anyone to take time with their camera angles when playing to take a look. Also, there are several characters that stand out other than just the main characters that you’ll find. So please see for yourself as to what kind of appearance and characteristics they have! Other than that, we’ve got enemies in there perhaps too close to the original, and there are many surprises coming in the Remake for you to all look forward to! Keep your eyes out!

Yoshiyuki Soma (Animation Director)

When Final Fantasy VII came out, I was actually more of a Sega Saturn fan, so I didn’t play it straight away. However, when it was decided that I was to join SQUARE, I was put on the development of Final Fantasy VIII, and so I thought to myself “I’m screwed if I don’t know about Final Fantasy VII!”. That’s when I bought a PlayStation and played it so much.

Those memories feel like only yesterday. So I can’t say this too loudly, but I actually started it out of obligation rather than as a fan. However, I was absolutely enthralled by the world and lore as soon as I picked it up!

For the animations; each and every member of the team – from those responsible for battles, fields, simple events, cut scenes, mini-games, facial expressions, to swinging things in the background, actual behavior settings—have all worked together to improve as one.

We’ve done our best to ensure that whatever you do, it feels like the characters are alive there with you. We really hope you enjoy the story of Midgar on a huge screen, with Cloud and his friends.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is due out for PlayStation 4 on March 3, 2020.

View the screenshots at the gallery.

#Final Fantasy VII Remake #Final Fantasy 7 Remake #Final Fantasy VII #Final Fantasy #Square Enix #Gematsu #long post

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takuchat · 5 years ago

Text

Final Fantasy VII Remake

Today we got a huge amount of Final Fantasy VII Remake Information as well as a ton of interviews and pictures. Below you can see a large compilation of the information.

There may be some redundancy in here as I gathered info from multiple sources.

Weapon abilities

Each weapon has its own unique weapon abilities that increase in proficiency the more they are used. When an ability’s proficiency level reaches the maximum, that ability is then learned by the wielder and can be used when wielding any weapon.

Here we see Cloud’s Buster Sword upgrade screen. The different options allow you to improve the wielder’s status or increase the number of Materia slots available.

Switching to Classic mode

Classic Mode can be activated by selecting “CLASSIC” from the difficulty menu. In Classic Mode, party members will act automatically, with the ATB gauge filling up as they do so. In this mode, the player only needs to select which abilities, magic, and items they will use their ATB charges for. This brings the feel of the gameplay closer to the menu-based battles from the original FFVII but with the amazing immersive graphics of the remake.

It is also possible to revert to direct control at any time during Classic Mode by pushing buttons on the controller.

Using characters’ unique abilities

The triangle button activates each character’s unique ability. Cloud’s unique ability is to switch between different fighting styles. He can switch between “Operator Mode” which has a good balance between attack and defense, and “Punisher Mode” [pictured] which is geared heavily towards offense. In Punisher Mode, Cloud’s movement speed is reduced, but his basic Square button attacks are upgraded to even mightier blows.

Assess Materia

Assess – Materia that allows you to use the Assess ability. When you use Assess on an enemy, you can see their resistances and weaknesses, making it easier to defeat them in battle.

Up close with Avalanche

We have some new screenshots of fan-favorite members of the anti-Shinra group Avalanche: Biggs, Jessie, and Wedge.

Biggs is calm, cool and collected, even in the most extreme circumstances. He’s tidy by nature, and loves nothing more than cleaning and taking a shower.

Jessie is in charge of procurement for Avalanche. She can get her hands on everything from explosives to fake IDs. She’s also a skilled engineer, and earns money for the group by fixing water filtration units and devices to sell on. She does have a weakness for handsome men though…

Wedge is an invaluable member of Avalanche, who uses his wits and charm for to gather information and defuse tense situations – including those within the team. He also has another very important role – he tastes new menu items in Seventh Heaven. Well, someone’s got to do it, right?

Meet the Turks

The Turks are a small, elite organization with Shinra. The shadowy group does everything the company needs it to – be it scouting out candidates for SOLDIER, protecting VIPs, or even assassination. Here’s a look at a couple of them.

Reno has flaming red hair and a cynical, aloof attitude. In battle, his agility and specialized weaponry and attacks make him a real threat.

Rude is instantly recognizable thanks to his shaved head, sunglasses and imposing stature. A man of few words, he relies on martial arts and his strength in battle, and completes missions as efficiently as possible.

Getting to the action

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE features a fast-paced real-time battle system that gives you lots of choice in how you approach combat.

Each character a unique ability – in Cloud’s case, he can switch between Operator and Punisher Mode.

Operator Mode offers a good balance between strength, defense and mobility.

A press of the triangle button puts Cloud in Punisher Mode. Movement speed is reduced, but his attacks become much more powerful.

Cloud also has access to powerful attacks, including Triple Slash, which hits all enemies nearby with three consecutive strikes…

…and the ranged attack Blade Burst:

For a detailed rundown of how FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE’s battle system works, check out our full article on the subject:

So how does FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE actually play?

See our Impressions of the game here!

Switching to Classic Mode

For those players who prefer overall strategy over moment to moment action, or want an experience closer to the turn-based gameplay of the original FINAL FANTASY VII, Classic Mode is for you!

In this mode, characters perform basic attacks automatically, and when the ATB gauge is full, you can select a special ability to use from the menu – similar to how the original game played.

Here, you can see the option for Classic Mode in the difficulty menu:

Iconic locations reimagined

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE faithfully recreates beloved areas from the original game. It also adds new areas that couldn’t fit into the original game.

Here we can see the iconic Church in the slums. Just a stone’s throw from Sector 5, it’s one of the only places in the slums where flowers can grow, making it a very special place for Aerith.

The next shot is of Aerith’s home. Nestled in the corner of Sector 5, it’s a beautiful house that contrasts with the slums surrounding it.

Let’s Assess some Materia

Cloud and company are able to use special abilities, including magic, summons and more.

It’s all thanks to materia – orbs of crystallized mako energy that, when equipped, imbue the wielder with incredible power.

Case in point, here we can see Aeirth using the spell Fire:

Of course, not all Materia is about offense. Take the Assess Materia, pictured below. It shows you an enemy’s specific strengths and weaknesses, helping you refine your strategy when you take it on. Knowledge is power after all!

Meet the new Chocobo and Moogle

Summons are a special, exceptionally powerful form of Materia. Equip one, and once the summon gauge is full, you can call a powerful ally into the fight.

In the past, we’ve showcased the firey Ifrit and cool-as-ice Shiva. Today we can reveal a new Summon that’s just as powerful, but a little… cuter: Chocobo and Moogle.

Moogle can Blast foes:

The dynamic duo can also use Stampede to trample the enemy with a herd of chocobos. It’s adorable… although probably not for those on the receiving end of it:

Side activities and minigames

These new screenshots highlight some of the additional things to do in FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE.

If you need a break from battling Shinra, you can play a game of darts in Seventh Heaven:

You can also enjoy fast-paced bike battles. In this shot, we can see Cloud and Jessie in a thrilling chase with Shinra operatives.

Time For the Interviews!

YOSHINORI KITASE – PRODUCER

In the several years following 2009, when I was running around all over the world promoting the FINAL FANTASY XIII series, I had opportunity to speak to many fans and journalists. The question that I always got as we got up to part ways was, “When are you making the FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE?”

For the FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, developers who worked on the original game have come onboard once again as core members, including myself as Producer, Tetsuya Nomura as Director, Motomu Toriyama as Co-Director, and Kazushige Nojima on Story & Scenario.

Additionally, we also have people like Co-Director Naoki Hamaguchi who are now part of the core development team, who was just a fan of FINAL FANTASY VII back then. And, to my delight, creators from younger generations all over the world have come forth upon hearing news of FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE’s production. While ensuring that the spirit of the original game is kept intact, these members are adding to it the power of a new generation.

As a result, the game that is about to be born surpasses even my own expectations as the one who voiced the desire to take this endeavour on in the first place. In fact, the one who’s looking forward to playing this game the most right now might actually be me.

TETSUYA NOMURA – DIRECTOR & CONCEPT DESIGN

I started up the FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE project around the time of Compilation of FINAL FANTASY VII. We’d gone through Advent Children, Before Crisis, Crisis Core, and Dirge of Cerberus, and I was planning this by myself for about a year as the fifth and final entry in the compilation.

With regard to new characters, of whom I said during past interviews that there would be “none” �� though they aren’t main characters, their numbers ended up growing considerably in the process of creating a rich depiction of Midgar. When you think of Midgar’s final boss, you probably think of the M.O.T.O.R., but in this game new bosses will appear and add to the excitement of the story even more.

We’ve already begun working on the next one as well, but I’m confident that playing through this title will expand your expectations just like the world that extends beyond Midgar.

Until next time.

KAZUSHIGE NOJIMA (STELLAVISTA LTD.) – STORY & SCENARIO

It must have been in the very beginning stages of developing FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE that I got to see the Remake version of Cloud for the first time. It wasn’t post-Advent Children Cloud, with kindness brimming from within. Rather, here was a young man with fiery features, looking straight at me through the screen with aggression in his eyes. I knew right t hen: “Oh, this is it.”

It was an exciting task to introduce a new current of wind to FINAL FANTASY VII, but at the same time, there was some fear. The original game used cartoon-like, stylised art, and the story was completed by players using their imagination to supplement portions that couldn’t be depicted as a result. Even if they were seeing the same scene, the information they took away from it and how they interpreted it differed depending on the viewer. Perhaps it’s what might be considered a narrative form of storytelling nowadays.

In FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, there will be much less room for player imagination. This fact will probably change the feel of the story considerably. People who know the original might not know quite how to take it. Such is the fear that I have. But I also have conviction. It should be possible to feel a much deeper connection to Cloud as you join alongside him. It would be amazing if you could feel that fiery flame together with him.

NAOKI HAMAGUCHI – CO-DIRECTOR (GAME DESIGN / PROGRAMMING)

When the original FINAL FANTASY VII was released, I was just another student who dreamed of being in the gaming industry. I of course played the game, but I also re-read the guidebook over and over again, my heart stolen by the engaging universe. I remember wishing strongly that I’d be able to create a game like it someday.

Twenty-two years later, that student who dreamed of FINAL FANTASY VII is now involved in developing the remake. I can’t help but feel like it’s fate.

In this title, I handled overseeing the development team overall, such as deciding development milestones, constructing a workflow using Unreal Engine, and taking responsibility for game design.

Here, I met staff members who were involved in the original game, who entered the industry with childhood dreams of FINAL FANTASY VII just like me, and those who were drawn by the allure of FINAL FANTASY VII and joined the dev team from overseas. It was a gathering of amazing creators with passion and ambition towards the game. All I have is gratitude for having the opportunity to meet this team.

With all this in mind, I’ve considered the following phrase important: “respect for the original.” FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE takes on the challenge of creating something that’s created specifically thanks to the technological power and entertainment quality that matches the current generation, while treating the captivating elements of the original game with respect.

For those who’ve played it: “new but familiar.” For those who haven’t played it: “experience the charm of FINAL FANTASY VII, which moved the hearts of many, now created with the most exciting modern technology available.” I hope you enjoy it!

MOTOMU TORIYAMA – CO-DIRECTOR (SCENARIO DESIGN)

For the original game, I joined the project as a planner who was just starting out on my career, and I worked on Sector 7 slums and Wall Market.

In producing FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, the thoughts and feelings I had when I was just starting out back then were revived, and at the same time, I took on the challenge of new methods of expression that I’m able to execute now that I have the experience.

In FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, we’re using the newest visuals, voice acting, and character facial expressions to redesign the FINAL FANTASY VII universe to be more realistic. By increasing the realism of the universe within the city of Midgar, which is made prosperous by mako energy, we of course also reimagined the characters who reside there, like Cloud and Tifa, more vividly as living and breathing human beings, depicting their daily lives and feelings in a more in-depth manner.

SHINTARO TAKAI – GRAPHICS & VFX DIRECTOR

I created the effects for the original FINAL FANTASY VII. Back then, the scope of development was so exorbitantly massive that I just threw myself into the tasks for which I was responsible, without even fully understanding what sort of game we were creating.

Near the final stages of development, when I finally tried playing the test version, I remember being surprised by the graphics and the depth of the story, as well as how fully realized it was, and I remember enjoying the game as a player. It’s been 22 years after that, and I’m participating in the FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE project as a developer, and today, I’m able to experience the impact and fun similar to that of the previous title.

For the remake, I’ve mainly directed the effects section, while also crossing over into other sections for decisions and directions on overall graphics.

TERUKI ENDO – BATTLE DIRECTOR

TAKAKO MIYAKE – ENVIRONMENT DIRECTOR

For FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, the graphics team worked to the theme of “how would Midgar look if it existed in real life?” As such, as the environments team, we examined those portions that were once left to the players’ imaginations, fell outside of the on-screen area, or were between scenes, and tried to supplement them in detail.

For all the fans out there, we worked our hardest in hopes that you’ll be able to relive an experience that also surpasses your memories.

I am a FINAL FANTASY VII fan, so being able to take part in the Remake was something that made me happy but also nervous. It’s been an unforgettable development experience. I truly hope that everyone enjoys it.

IICHIRO YAMAGUCHI – LIGHTING DIRECTOR

FINAL FANTASY VII, for me, at the time when I was in school, was a very impactful game. It really pierced my heart as I was at such a sensitive age, with not only a rich story, but charming characters, world setting and music, not to mention that it was the first in the series to be in 3D polygon format. This was the piece that really brought out my interest in CG in general.

When I was able to join the FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE team, I started by thinking back to how I felt when I first played it. Midgar, with its’ abundant mix of different elements and original characters like Cloud, became something unbreakable and the “standard” for me in FINAL FANTASY VII.

MASAAKI KAZENO – CHARACTER MODELING DIRECTOR

I was amongst those who bought the original game on the day of its release and played it constantly, clearing it in under a week. Those that also have cleared it will understand this, but I also wasn’t quite satisfied with the locations, so I continued to play it after clearing in the same places as well.

And so, my memory of FINAL FANTASY VII was how I actually started studying CG, after being left with the strong motivation to want to create a FINAL FANTASY game when playing it and truly being moved by it.

YOSHIYUKI SOMA – ANIMATION DIRECTOR

When FINAL FANTASY VII came out, I was actually more of a SEGA Saturn fan, so I didn’t play it straight away. However, when it was decided that I was to join SQUARE, I was put on the development of FINAL FANTASY VIII, and so I thought to myself “I’m screwed if I don’t know about FINAL FANTASY VII!”. That’s when I bought a PlayStation and played it so much.

For the animations; each and every member of the team – from those responsible for battles, fields, simple events, cut scenes, mini-games, facial expressions, to swinging things in the background, actual behaviour settings – have all worked together to improve as one.

We’ve done our best to ensure that whatever you do, it feels like the characters are alive there with you. We really hope you enjoy the story of Midgar on a huge screen, with Cloud and his friends.

–Sources-

PSBlog

Square Enix

Squares Twitter

New Final Fantasy VII Remake Pictures, Summons And Interviews Final Fantasy VII Remake Today we got a huge amount of Final Fantasy VII Remake Information as well as a ton of interviews and pictures.

#action #aeris #aerith #Aerith Gainsborough #berret #cloud #Final Fantasy VII Remake #jrpg #square enix

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itscoldoutsidefilmsthings · 5 years ago

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A 3rd year film festival retrospective.

Scumdance (Reno’s premiere underground film festival) has just completed its third year. As such, this would probably be a good time for a little retrospective and as the festival’s sole proprietor/curator I would be glad to let a little light shine into the inner workings of what it takes to start a film festival, what it takes to keep it running, why I do this in the first place, and the lessons learned along the way.

How did we get here? In late 2016 I was having conversations with friends, co-workers, bandmates and fellow film nerds about how there was real lack of local film festivals geared towards horror, exploitation, underground, B-movie, etc. types of films. At the time our band’s practice space was in a warehouse on the edge of town where a loose artist’s community of sorts had taken shape. Pottery studios, sculpture gardens, graffiti murals, custom hot-rod builders, welding shops, theaters, antique dealers and so much more was all happening in this row of warehouses. One particular spot became hugely inspirational. Next door to our practice space was an event location (for lack of a better term) called the Black Rock Drive-In. A novelties collector had taken several old cars cut them down, installed benches within and parked them in front of a movie screen like an old-time drive-in movie theater, complete with a western setting sun mural painted on the warehouse’s interior. Combine this with his collection of Airstream trailers, mid-century furniture and appliances, and WWII memorabilia and you had the makings of a great film set.

Standing outside that warehouse on a chilly evening, post band practice, and musing with our bass player Perry Disgrace, the thought was born… “We should totally put on a mondo-bizzaro film day with crazy movies and bands and just throw a party.” In the true DIY spirit of punk rock, the idea was born and efforts were put in place to manifest this reality. When mentioning the idea to co-worker and fellow film nerd Gilbert Leiker, he responded “You should call it Scumdance and have the skanking guy from the Circle Jerks albums carrying a camera.” Boom. Done. Within 20 minutes I had the logo and artwork in place. I have a habit of taking ideas and running with them, even if they are not my own. As Pablo Picasso is reported to have said “good artists borrow, great artists steal”… most likely he “borrowed” this from T.S. Eliot.

As for the details of what it takes to put on a film festival, it’s honestly not all that hard. All you need is a laptop, a projector, a screen, a sound system of some sort, some chairs, a venue, a Film Freeway account and a website. Having submitted a good number of my short films to a variety of film festivals and having received all manner of rejection (more on that later), the drive to experience critical evaluation of films from the other side was also a strong motivator in bringing this festival about. I already had a website devoted to my filmmaking endeavors. Adding a page listing the event details and linking it to a Film Freeway account was straight forward. Acquiring the necessary hardware and physical assets was just a matter of pooling resources and gathering items that I already had. The matter of finding a venue has at times proved challenging. The aforementioned Black Rock Drive-In closed. Our favorite dive-bar, in which we hosted the event’s first year, has closed. Finding the right venue that has a bar, allows outside food to be brought in, while having the right mix of size, space, seating and availability hasn’t been easy; but we have been fortunate enough to work with some fantastic bar owners who have been very accommodating.

The festival itself, wouldn’t be what it is without the amazing filmmakers who have submitted some truly incredible films and the ever enthusiastic judges. The panel of judges was built from a pool of friends some of whom I’ve worked with on previous film projects, some just having shown an overwhelming interest in film and some asked to join the panel after having submitted to previous year’s festivals. It is this last group with whom I am most excited to work.

So why would anyone do this? It’s a question I ask myself every year. Does it pay off when you consider: The countless hours spent watching, rating, and reviewing the films; scheduling a date, finding and coordinating with the venue ,updating FF and the website, attending local meetings to be included in Reno’s Arttown, writing press releases to be distributed on horror sites, selecting the films, sending out acceptance and rejection letters, scheduling a run of show, setting up all the equipment, running the festival, bringing food and snacks? By the time I finish up the event I find myself exhausted. It wouldn’t seem that sitting in dark room watching movies all day would be that taxing, but mentally, and emotionally it takes a toll… hoping nothing goes wrong technically, hoping that everyone (or at least most attendees) find something enjoyable in the films, hoping that the venue owner and bar staff are not completely annoyed with the films and are making a decent amount of tips, and hoping that there is enough attendance to make it all worthwhile. While it might be “easy” to put on a festival, putting on a quality festival takes effort. That’s effort I’m willing to put in. I want to make it the kind of thing I would be delighted to attend.

Of the benefits that come from running a festival, the number one has to be the relationships established. This is the reason we make films in the first place. It’s all about human connection. As I was saying above it has become our practice to ask previous year’s submitters to become next year’s judges. George Sukara, a producer from a film submitted in the first year (HELL! The musical), has become an instrumental part of the festival. His critical insights in judging and undying support have been phenomenal. It was great to have him at the festival, hosting one of the Q&A sessions, and bringing with him a crew of folks from San Francisco. One of the other connections made that first year was a gentleman by the name of Michael Joy who brought us a film (Red Christmas) with Dee Wallace of Kujo fame. I’ve been working with Michael on spreading the word about Scumdance through his connections with Artsploitation Films and Horrornews.net. The second year brought us some great filmmakers from Canada and Indiana, in Grace Mathisen and Adam Laughlin respectively. Their films were superb, and it was great to have them there in person. They too have gone on to become valued Scumdance judges. This last year, brought us filmmakers from Toronto, Houston, and Los Angeles. The Audience favorite, Llamageddon (it’s exactly as it sounds) was written and directed by a young woman who was going by the name “Howie Dewin.” Her astonishment at winning overrode even her astonishment at being entered in the festival at all (apparently someone on her production team entered the film without telling her as a fun prank). Even after having a breakfast coffee and a decently long discussion with her, I never did find out her real name. We’ll be stoked to have her as part of the judging staff next year, that is if she responds to her “howiedewin” email.

One of the other great benefits of running a festival (or being a judge) is the experience gained by viewing so may films, of all quality levels. You learn all the things not to do when making a film. You see time and again, the overused tropes, the stock and often pointless dialogue, the desire to shock without attention to narrative, and films that are far, far longer than they need to be. After all this one quickly gains an appreciation for audible dialogue, well thought out story lines, character development, motivated camera movement, inspired score/soundtrack, and tightly edited scenes.

Another wonderful discovery has been the insight into cultures and communities throughout the world that one would not have accessed otherwise. It has been amazing to see films submitted from the US, Canada, The Netherlands, India, the UK, Austria, Iran, Italy, Mexico, and even Belgium. In particular the films we receive from Iran have been nothing short of mind blowing. There is something so special about those films. They tend to be intensely creative, original, inspiring, and chock full of touching humanity in a way that almost makes me reluctant to place them amidst our other less wholesome faire. Also of note, are the LGBT films we receive. This year we had a film dedicated to trans-persons from Nepal, that was a rare insight into portions of the world not ordinarily seen.

As previously promised, I think it’s worth mentioning the feedback process. One common thing that I noticed from festivals I was submitting to, was a lack of quality feedback. For way too many festivals, it doesn’t seem they could even be bothered to change the judging status on Film Freeway… or if they did, it wouldn’t be changed until well after the event date. For other festivals, they would change the status and send out the standard generic rejection emails. While they were intended to soften to the blow of rejection, they would do little to inform or provide one with any sense as to what could have been improved on the film…. no information on what exactly about the film caused it to fall short of the mark. It was with this experience in mind that I personally made the decision to include judge’s commentary in both the acceptance and rejection letters. I feel it’s the least we can do to provide the filmmaker with meaningful feedback.

This decision has mostly been met with appreciation, but in some cases the feedback was viewed as “arrogant, presumptuous, and dismissive.” I can certainly understand how after spending the enormous amount of time, energy and effort that it takes to make a film how one would be incredibly protective of the work. One exchange with an initially upset but later apologetic filmmaker, gave me clear cause to stop and think about my intentions and motivations. Was I intentionally levelling overly harsh criticism against those who submitted to my film festival, as a way of feeling superior for the failings of my own films? It’s certainly something I need to be cognizant of going forward. In the future, I hope to continue providing the judges commentary, but will most likely do so after an explicit opt-in scenario.

In regard to my own films, I’ve come to realize with much more clarity than ever that my films were being rejected for completely valid reasons. I’ve seen what it takes to make a good film and the number one rule is to be entertaining. In the age of short attention spans and a bajillion choices, it’s difficult (but more important) than ever to gain and hold someone’s attention.

So what’s next for Scumdance? One exciting possibility discussed with the San Francisco crew is the idea of taking Scumdance on the road. Perhaps we select the best films from the past 3 years and do a screening in SF or LA. At some point it would be nice to get Scumdance into a proper movie theater as well, a but the lack of any historical or art house theater in Reno limits our options. Another exciting possibility is the idea of bringing in a real host… someone with real entertainment value... someone like the subject of this year’s winning documentary, the Phantom Troublemaker.

Of course, I couldn’t do this without the love and support of my wonderful wife Amelia. In all it’s been a great experience that has promoted growth in me as a filmmaker and as a person. It’s been the impetus to build meaningful relationships that I otherwise would not have done and has given me cause to provide much needed exposure to small films. This is something I want to keep doing, while growing the festival in organic and manageable ways.

Viva Le Scumdance!

Travis Calvert

#film #film festival #indie Film #diy projects

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titusreno · 6 years ago

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titus reno--flash forward chapter bc i had a stroke of divine inspiration

Titus

Reno turned. He held the bag in one hand, trying hastily to stuff it into his shirt. From the rafters, I couldn’t see the expression on his face.

“The jig is up, asshole,” Jenny said. “I have a fucking shiv.”

Reno put his hands up. “Look, I don’t want to fight anyone. I don’t want to beat you up.”

“Well, that’s handy,” Jenny said. “Because no matter what happens next, you’re not beating anyone up. You either hand the fucking K-po over or I stab you in the fucking jugular. This is my fucking turf, you pathetic meathead. I’m the one who distributes this shit.” She laughed, and then paused. I could hear Reno’s ragged breathing. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, then launched himself at Jenny, his hips propelling a punch that would have knocked her out had she not ducked out of the way. She sliced across Reno’s face, and I heard him yell. He tried to push past her, but she kicked the back of his knee and with one fluid jab stabbed him in the arm. His blood looked black in the dim light of the shed.

“Now!” she called up to me.

I dropped down and landed on his shoulders, wrapping my legs around his neck. I yanked his head back by his hair as he fell forward, caught off balance. He tried to right himself and threw himself into the wall, slamming my head into the shed’s door. He was as heavy as a truck. The impact made stars dance in front of my eyes. I might have fallen down, but Jenny kicked him again, and his foot caught. Three boxes of fertilizer came down with him. The crash was probably audible from the guard tower, and I hoped the orderlies were asleep. When we landed, I scrambled to pull out the penknife. It caught on my thumb, but within a couple seconds of hitting the ground I got it open and pushed it against his neck.

“Don’t fucking mess with us,” I said to him. I yanked his hair up and put my foot on his hand before he could move. Jenny stood above us, panting.

“Fucking hell,” Reno said. “I wasn’t trying to—”

“Don’t try to tell us what the hell you weren’t trying to do,” Jenny said. “You’re in my fucking shed with a big bag of my K-po in your sweaty boy tits.”

Reno struggled to get up. He was strong enough to knock me off if he really tried, even though there was a box on his leg. I pushed the knife against his jugular more, so he could feel that it was sharp. Jenny kicked him in the eye. Reno let out an animal groan.

“You know I haven’t kept my shit in order by being nice,” Jenny said. “I’ve messed with people. You think you’re going to replace me as supplier when you’ve been taking K-po for all of three weeks?”

“No,” Reno said, under me. “Look, Jenny, I like you, this is a big misunderstanding, I swear.”

“Is it?” Jenny said.

“My friend wanted me to pay him back for the times he’s paid you. I was just taking enough to pay him back.”

“Stealing from me,” Jenny said. “This is my territory. This is my turf.”

“I didn’t think you would notice.”

“No, you didn’t think I’d bring a weapon.”

“I wasn’t going to be a supplier. I know it’s your—look, I’m sorry,” Reno said. He sounded unexpectedly desperate. He was on the verge of tears. “I really like you, Jenny. And I like Titus too.” He swallowed.

“You won’t like me so much if I cut off a piece of your tongue,” I said to Reno. I shoved four fingers into his mouth and wrenched the penknife so its point sat against the roof of his mouth. He whimpered in a way that gave me a hot, sweet sensation of being in control. He was crying. He tried to say something, but the words were muffled. “You think you can slam me against a wall and get away with it?”

“No,” Reno moaned around the knife. “Look—stop.”

Jenny reached down and took the little bag of K-Po from inside Reno’s shirt. “This was all it was?” she held it up. “Just a few grams?”

Reno nodded.

“I think we should strip search you to make sure,” Jenny said. Her grin spread wickedly from ear to ear. The last time we’d caught someone trying to get into the garden shed I’d seen the same delight on her face. It was a cruel streak that I knew I had too, but seeing it on her and feeling Reno shake under me with sobs made something shift in how I felt. I was, abruptly, sick to my stomach.

“Wait,” I said, hastily, before Jenny could move. “Let’s ask him first. Reno, do you have anything else that belongs to Jenny?”

I suddenly felt like the whole situation might be overkill. Reno hadn’t been very hard to take down. He was huge, but he didn’t have the same grit as Benja or Rustler when it came down to a fight. I had expected to maybe lose a tooth. I couldn’t quite tell what his deal was—if he was a junkie for K-po or what—but he seemed like he was ready to give up. There was something off about it, but I didn’t want to hurt him any more, not when he was already pleading and groveling. I felt like showing him some mercy might work out better than making him grovel or hurting him more. I took the knife out of his mouth, though I still held it near his face in case he tried to throw me off again.

“I’ll give you it back!” Reno said. “I’ll give you it back. It’s in my fucking dorm. I’ll get it back.”

Jenny looked at him carefully, and then glanced at me. I shook my head slightly at her. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

“You know,” she said. “I have some nurses here who I am on very good terms with. So good they even let me use the computer sometimes.”

“I know,” Reno said.

“I can change people’s records,” she said. She crouched down in front of Reno and put her shiv against the cut she’d already made in his face. “Say you’ve had a seizure, maybe. Or passed out when a nurse was doing rounds at night. What do you think if a few of those kinds of incidents got marked down? The nurses would treat you differently. It wouldn’t take long for people to notice.”

Reno wanted to say something else, I could tell. He was shaking. When I had had the knife in his mouth, he had been drooling, and now a skein of spit connected him to the floor.

“People would say, there’s Reno. He’s sick. He won’t last long. They’d stop treating you like such a prince. You know how people get around piggos who are on their way out.”

“Jenny,” I said. “I don’t think we need to do all that.” Never mind that she was bluffing.

“Or Titus could take out your eye,” Jenny said. She was on a roll now, I could tell.

“Jenny,” I said, more firmly.

“What, Titus?”

“He’s a fucking mess, Jenny. He’s sorry.”

She looked taken aback.

“I am sorry,” Reno put in, underneath me. “It was a really big, um. A really big miscalculation. On my end.”

Jenny looked at me, wild-eyed, and for a second I thought she might be angry, and I wondered if she would lunge forward and stab me with the shiv. But then she took a deep breath.

“I’m glad you realize that, Reno,” she said. Her voice descended from the murderous pitch it had been at and became something closer to the voice she used with clients. “I’m really glad.”

“Fuck. I was just—you know. It’s my friend. If he stays mad at me, it’ll ruin everything. I won’t have anyone.”

“This is the friend you were trying to pay back?” I asked.

“If I don’t pay him back, I have to fight him in a match next week. He’s bigger than me. He’ll crush me.”

“I’ll crush you, shit-pig,” Jenny said, but quietly this time. From her face I could see that she felt a little of the same guilt I was feeling.

“So fight him,” I said. “Fight him and lose, and that’s that. But you’re big, you can win.”

Reno sobbed again, and I felt so bad that I took my foot off his hand and got off of his back. I realized I had been clutching his hair the whole time I had been on top of him, and several strands clung to my hand. Reno slowly, cautiously sat up, pulling his leg from under the boxes that had fallen on him. He looked at Jenny and me carefully, and I could see Jenny tense, ready in case he tried to fight us. But Reno was done fighting.

“He’ll still find a way to make me pay him back. It doesn’t end there. It’s just it’ll destroy our friendship. I’ve known him for—since I was a letlet. And I know it’s my fault but it’ll just. Shit. He’ll make me pay him.”

“So pay him,” I said. “What, you don’t have any shit to trade?”

“I don’t. I haven’t had to before. I didn’t do anything. I’m big. That’s my thing. People are nice to me and give me stuff because I’m big.”

“Lucky you,” Jenny said sarcastically.

“I don’t—I mean, I have stuff from the worktown. I can’t—it’s important I keep that. I have this amulet my brother gave me. I have old flowers.”

“Dude,” Jenny said. “You’re like, so fucking dumb and tender it’s blowing my mind.”

“I know,” Reno said. “Look, I’m sorry. Thank you for not cutting my tongue. I’ll find a way to pay him back. I’ll leave your shit alone. I got myself into this mess, and I’ll get myself out. I promise. I’m sorry. I’ll deal with this myself.”

“Yeah, that’s your only option,” Jenny said.

But I realized, looking at him, that Reno was too dumb to handle his own shit. In spite of his social status, his enormity, and his health, all the things he had going for him, he was too dumb to manipulate people the way he needed to in order to survive. And I realized that this openness, this pure vacant idiocy and trust, was exactly what had prompted people to care for him for this long. But it wouldn’t last in times of crisis. At the core of his personality, where Jenny or I or any other piggo had gleaming, bitter embers of self-preservation, Reno had something else, something softer. He refused to admit that the world he lived in was sour and nasty, and let himself be surprised when it was. That was why he was so easy to take down.

It was cute. Unspeakably cute. It was charming. It made some kind of heat come up in my gut that I didn’t know could come up. But I saved that thought for later. The important thing was that in this particular moment, we had more power than he did. And we could use that, and I knew that once Jenny understood what was going on, she would like the plan I had just thought of.

“How’s this,” I said. I looked at Jenny. “We’ll give a party for whoever wins the match. The match with your friend. The winner gets K-po on the house for the night.”

“What?” Jenny said.

I shot her a look. “That way, no matter who wins, your friend gets paid back.”

I saw that Jenny had caught up with my train of thought. She began to nod. “Yeah, you know what,” she said, “sure. It’s an exciting match. Whoever wins will have a reputation as the next big Fore. People will want to wind down and have fun after.”

“What?” Reno still had tears on his face. He looked at me wide-eyed with such glittering awe and vapid, uncritical hope that I felt fully disgusted with the thick streak of sympathy and near-affection I had felt for him a moment before. The boy was so, so dumb. “Why would you do that?”

“Because after that, we’re part of your clique,” I said. “Jenny and I could always use more friends.”

“What?” Reno asked. “What clique?”

“Let me spell it out for you,” I said, leaning in toward Reno and making him press backward into the pile of fertilizer bags. “This is a solution that works for everyone. We throw a party after the match. We cut your friends some deals. We collect a vast amount of data for Jenny. We ignore your misstep tonight and last night. In return, we’re part of your group. You protect us, connect us with stuff we might need, connect us to people who would like some K-po on the weekends,” I said. “We all make friends. And we don’t cut your tongue out or anything. Added bonus.”

Reno bit his lip. “I get what you’re saying,” he said. “I understand. I—I appreciate it. A lot.”

“Blood oath,” Jenny said quickly.

“What?”

“Blood oath.” Jenny nicked herself on the edge of her thumb with the blade of the shiv and held it out to Reno. “I cut you, I cut me, we swap blood. It’s a promise. If you don’t follow through and rep us constantly and insistently to everyone you know, we cut your eyes out.”

“Oh.” Reno took a shaky breath. “Okay. Sure.” He held up his thumb. Jenny cut him—a little deeper than she had cut herself—and pressed their thumbs together.

“Repeat after me,” she said. “I fucking swear that Jenny and Titus are my best fucking friends now and I will send all my friends to pay full price for their yummy, yummy K-po.”

“I fucking swear that Jenny and Titus are my best fucking friends now and I will send all my friends to pay full price for their yummy, yummy K-po,” Reno said.

Jenny sucked the blood off her thumb. “Good,” she said.

Reno put his own thumb in his mouth. “You know,” he said, “you both would be really good fighters. I know it was two on one, but you’re both badass. I thought I was going to die.”

“You still will, someday,” Jenny said. She started to stand. “But not tonight. Thank Titus for saving your ass. I was really gonna cut your eyes out.” She opened the door of the shed a little, checking the tower. “But I guess we all get to go home to bed and tuck ourselves in like besties now. He saved your ass.” She looked at us. “Also, the coast is clear. Light in the tower isn’t even on. I don’t know what they’re paying the guards but it is clearly not enough to do their basic jobs.” She opened the door and stepped out in the night. “Come join me, gentlemen.”

I followed her out. Reno stood, slouching, and followed me.

We crossed the garden and the highway division without incident. Jenny was right. The light in the tower wasn’t even on. I wondered if we shouldn’t try to just climb over the fence and escape. Was there anything really stopping us? But instead we crossed back to Caldegot, staying in the shadows in case an odd patrol came by. The moon was low and thin. We didn’t speak as we moved. We all had learned very young how to move at night to evade detection. You stayed low, you barely breathed until you were back inside a regulated building.

The window on Jenny’s dorm was still open, which meant that Eggie and Mop were at their boyfriends’ rooms. I hoped that Jenny would let me crash on her floor again. Jenny opened the locked door at the back of Caldegot with the thin iron strip she had gotten in a particularly good trade with one of the deliverymen the first year we were at Auxie. She moved through quickly—if the door stayed open more than thirty seconds, an alarm would sound. I was about to follow her, leaving Reno behind me in the dark. He got out—he could get himself home. But as I was halfway through the door, he caught my arm. The door swung shut. I hoped Jenny had seen that I hadn’t made it through. If Reno was going to unexpectedly pulverize me, this would be the place and time.

But he had that stupid, vacant, trusting look again. He pulled my arm. When we were both standing, with no boxes or mitigating factors on my side to even the score, he was so strong that I knew he could snap me in half, given the chance. He drew me unnervingly close to his chest.

“Can I ask you something?” Reno said.

“Yes,” I said, feeling for the knife in my back pocket.

“Can we be friends?” he asked. “I mean—after tonight? I don’t want you to be mad at me, Titus. I think you’re so cool. I really, really do.”

“I…you swore a blood oath,” I said. “After you stole from us and I told Jenny not to cut you. We better be friends.”

“Yeah,” he said. “I know. You really did save my ass, and you didn’t have to. And I’m sorry. I was really stupid and I will absolutely—uh, tell my friends to buy your shit. Or whatever. But I mean I want to be--really friends. Not just—not just a contract.”

I looked at him, and I felt, to my own shock and rage, that the heat in my gut that I had felt briefly in the shed was coming back. It was nice, the heat said, that he was holding my arm like this. It was nice that I was so close to him, and that he was too stupid and soft to consider how badly he could hurt me at this moment and how easy it would be to go back on the extremely unequal promise he had made in the shed. It was nice that he was so sweet and nice that his body was so close. It was nice that his eyes were so huge and liquid and soft.

“We’ll see,” I said. The tone of my voice was a lot higher than I had meant it to be. “It’s not—I mean, look, Reno, you’re…” I trailed off and tried to marshal control of the insistent, idiotic feeling swimming through me.

“What?”

“I don’t see why we can’t be. It’ll take time, of course.”

He breathed a sigh of what seemed to be sincere relief. “I know.”

I knocked on the door and Jenny let me inside. It was only after we were both upstairs in her room that I realized how fast my heart was still beating.

“What did he say to you?” Jenny said as we got inside, crossing to the window and shutting it so the cold air didn’t get out. “He didn’t try any shit, did he?”

“He said he was going to cut off my dick,” I said. I could heal my pulse in my ears.

“What?” Jenny turned toward me. “He fucking what?”

“I’m kidding,” I breathed out. I sat down on the bottom bunk Jenny slept on. “It was some bullshit about how he wants to be my friend for real.”

Jenny hissed. “He didn’t threaten you?”

“No.”

She considered this. “He’s hot for you.”

“He’s just stupid. Just really, really stupid.”

She took out her braids. “No,” she said. “You just almost cut his tongue off and he wants to be friends. He’s like…something’s going on.”

“Well, I guess we’ll see,” I said. “After the party. Sorry about that, by the way. I don’t know why I wanted to go easy on him. I thought I was being strategic.”

“No, you were,” Jenny said. She reached for her comb. “It was genius. We adequately intimidated him and he crumpled like a soycrisp and now we’re in with the it crowd. I knew there was a reason I kept you around.”

“Well, I’m glad I’m good for something,” I said. I leaned over and put my head in her lap. Jenny ran her comb through my hair.

“Oh, Titus,” she said. “You’re my right-hand boy. When the aliens come I’ll make sure they eat you last.”

#titus and reno #writing

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pubtheatres1 · 5 years ago

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INTERVIEW WITH JOHN PLEWS AT UPSTAIRS AT THE GATEHOUSE Cole Porter’s ANYTHING GOES Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate Village 14th December 2016 – 29th January 2017 Feel good show, for the festive season. Director, John Plews, talks us through what goes into putting on a top-quality musical. 1. Anything Goes, is so well known, how do you keep it fresh? First and foremost, the cast and creatives; although I’ve worked with the choreographer and design team before we’ve not collaborated on a Cole Porter musical in the past and we are all bringing our own ideas to the production. The cast have been chosen specifically for Anything Goes; they all have great triple-threat musical theatre skills. 2. What’s going to be different about your version? There are several difference versions of the script and I’ve chosen the one used for the 1962 Off-Broadway revival. There will be a few surprises for those who are used to the more modern version. 3. As a director, what are the most important things to get right with your performers? Right from the start I like my performers to take on my life-long belief that musical theatre should first and foremost entertain. I totally understand there should be room for the type of musical that educates, informs, and make an audience question the subject matter. However, Cole Porter and his contemporaries in the nineteen thirties, forties and fifties wrote tunes you could sing on your way home from the show. We are essentially recreating a classic piece of musical theatre. 4. How do you engage your audience? (Will there be any audience participation?) Although we are putting Anything Goes on at Christmas, it certainly isn’t a Pantomime. There will not be any direct audience participation, although we do want our audience to feel they are actually travelling the Atlantic on our good ship America. 5. Who’s the boss, you, or musical director Dan Glover? There’s a three in charge of any musical – the director, the musical director, and the choreographer – we are all at the helm together. 6. Upstairs at the Gatehouse has a large broad playing area, how are you going to turn this into an ocean liner? That’s the challenge I have given my design team. Although I have given them some advice, mostly based on the ten years I worked at sea and the many times I crossed the pond on the QE2 and more recently on the Queen Mary 2. 7. What do you think might have been different about this musical if the book had been written in the 21st century? Will your productions feel like an historical masterpiece or a musical for today? Our musical will hopefully entertain the audience now at I’m sure it did in 1934. In the 21st Century we have a little more help from the sound and lighting departments but hopefully Cole Porter would have been delighted with our production. 8. Finally, what are your top three tips for making a top-quality musical? A great composer, a totally talented cast and an audience who stamp, cheer and spread the word. Ovation presents: “ANYTHING GOES” 14th December 2016 – 29th January 2017 Music & Lyrics by Cole Porter Book by Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse By arrangement with Tams-Witmark Music Library, inc. 560 Lesington Avenue, New York Venue: UPSTAIRS AT THE GATEHOUSE, HIGHGATE VILLAGE, LONDON N6 4BD Box Office: On-line: www.upstairsatthegatehouse.com Telephone bookings: 020 8340 3488 https://upstairsatthegatehouse.cloudvenue.co.uk/anythinggoes Synopsis: Cole Porter’s ANYTHING GOES is an all singing, all dancing musical theatre classic set aboard the ocean liner SS American on an east-bound trans-Atlantic voyage in 1934. The show is a wonderfully entertaining story wrapped around Cole Porter’s magical score. Featured songs include: It’s De-Lovely I Get A Kick Out Of You Anything Goes Blow Gabriel Blow You’re the Top Creative Team: Director: John Plews Musical Director: Dan Glover Choreographer: Chris Whittaker Designer: Emily Bestow Lighting Design: Sam Waddington Performers: Taking on the role of Reno Sweeney is TARYN ERICKSON who is making her UK musical debut at the Gatehouse. Recent graduate JACK MCCANN is playing Billy Crocker, with JACK KEANE and SAMANTHA DORSEY (Les Miserables) as Sir Evelyn Oakleigh and Hope Harcourt. Musical Theatre stalwarts DAVID PENDLEBURY (Phantom of the Opera, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Beauty and the Beast) and NOVA SKIPP (The Sound of Music, The Smallest Show on Earth) will play Moonface Martin and Mrs Wadsworth Harcourt. Also in the cast are TIMOTHY BOOTH, CHLOE ADELE EDWARDS, LUCAS JAMES, LEWIS MCBEAN, LUCIE HORSFALL and CHLOE PORTER. PRODUCED by KATIE PLEWS for OVATION

#Anything Goes John Plews Upstairs at the Gatehouse

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sarahaltmanposts · 6 years ago

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A National Experience

May 14, 2019

Kadyn and I had our first experience at the Men’s Junior Olympic National Competition. This year it was held in Reno, Nevada, and although Mike and Kiernan weren’t able to join us, Kadyn and I had a really good time! The week was so full, it’s hard to pare it down, but here’s my takeaway.

To compete at Nationals, Kadyn had to qualify with a certain score at Regionals. In his level and age group, only 24 athletes in the country met that score. So just being able to participate in Nationals is a great accomplishment. Having said that, Kadyn went with two goals in mind: Hitting all his routines and making the US National Team.

The culmination of his competition season, Kadyn was buzzing with nerves, excitement and anticipation as we arrived for his first training session at the Convention Center. Since he was a young gymnast, he’d heard about what a big deal it is to go to Nationals. I stopped at the entrance to freeze the moment. “Kadyn, you’re here. You made it to Nationals!” The look on my boy’s face will forever be imprinted in my memory- he was pure joy. He had a sparkle in his eye that reflected so much back to me. In that moment, he was able to justify all the hours of training, pain, disappointment and frustration and realize this was his reward. He was proud. He was happy. He was accomplished. He was excited and determined. It was one of the best moments of my week.

On the training floor those first few days, it was a different story. These workouts were open to athletes of all ages. So all the top Junior gymnasts in the country were training right beside him and some of the 17 and 18 year old boys were doing some fierce skills. Because his home gym has its fair share of champions that he trains with, I didn’t think this would phase Kadyn, but I was wrong. He looked terrified. He wasn’t alone, many other athletes looked the same. And it definitely affected him. I’ve had the opportunity to watch Kadyn train a lot and I’ve never seen him look as flustered as he did those two days. He couldn’t stay on any of the apparatus. He was falling on skills he’d been doing for years. It was a “Bad News Bears” experience. I prepared myself for a rough two days of competition.

But true to form, on competition day Kadyn stepped up and pulled it together. All season, he hadn’t been able to get through a competition without having a fall, but at Nationals he hit six for six on both days- without a single fall! He even landed a new vault to the delight (and possibly surprise) of his coaches. One of his goals: MET!

I had my usual competition experience, battling nerves and excitement, but also enjoying watching such amazing gymnastics. It helped that my sister, Evie, was there to share it with me. She knew when to talk and when to leave me alone and I was so grateful!

After Day 1 of competition, Kadyn was in third place…in the country! He was hoping that with a good performance on Day 2, he’d be able to move up to second place. But in the end, my son was awarded the Bronze Medal in the United States Junior Olympic Nationals Competition!

Unfortunately, because only the first and second place athletes were named to the US Team, his second goal of making the team was not met. So the toughest part of my week happened after the competition was over, when I watched my son wrestle with anger and disappointment. Angry because of the outcome. Disappointment, well, in himself. Despite the fact that he’d had two good days of competition, he still was unable to reach his goal of making the team and that’s a lot for an eleven year old to process. So I had to give him space and time to work through his emotions.

It had been such an intense week of gymnastics and suddenly I found myself unable to comfort my boy. I also had so many of my own feelings to sort through. On the one hand, I was so proud that he was third in the COUNTRY! But yes, I’ll admit that I was also feeling the same as Kadyn, albeit at a much lesser degree.

Part of what contributed to how he felt is that out of the twelve athletes from all the age groups earning the title of National Champion, three of them came from our home gym. That must normalize and possibly diminish his tremendous accomplishment of finishing third; one of the pitfalls of training at the top training facility in the country.

I knew how badly he wanted to be named to that team and it was so hard to watch him work through his feelings. But I put my stuff aside and focused on my job as his mom. I allowed him the dignity of his experience without trying to make him feel better, granting him the time to sit in that disappointment and anger. Yep, that was hard. I loved him through it as best I could and eventually we both moved through our feelings and came to a place of gratitude.

Now he is now more determined than ever to grab a spot on that team next year.

I’ve got so much to be proud of with this kid. Some of my favorite memories of his first Nationals are watching him meet up with other athletes from all over the country- boys he has been following on Instagram or watching on videos for the past several years. Although these boys are competitors, they’re also kindred spirits and when you throw them all in a room together you can catch a glimpse of the young boys they are outside the competition floor. They laugh and joke and have a fantastic time together!

And then there’s the relationships he has with his teammates. His home gym had 16 athletes qualify to Nationals- more than any other club team in the country. And this year, our gym’s Level 8 (Kadyn’s level) and 9 boys won the top Club Team in the country! Every day these boys push each other to be better athletes. Sure, they sometimes fight, but like brothers, they quickly make up. They cheer for each other louder than we do. (Well, maybe- but I can be pretty loud.) He’s growing up with them, learning all about gymnastics and other worldly things that I sometimes wish he wasn’t learning quite so fast! But these boys- they love each other. What a gift to witness!

Another highlight of Nationals was watching his coaches. All year long these coaches grill him, push him, teach him, guide him, sometimes yell at him, and also help him beyond the physical skills- teaching him about the power of his mind, discipline, learning how to listen and honor his body to stay healthy. They help him grow emotionally, behaviorally and physically. I believe they are some of the most influential people in his life. So witnessing these coaches celebrate his victories, knowing that he has reaped the benefits of all their hard work, that is just priceless.

And taking this journey with the other parents has been an amazing experience. Yes, we’re all crazy. Certifiable. Nuts. But we come together with a common love- our boys. And that has created a bond that will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

So one down, and if we’re lucky, seven more JO Nationals to go. Kadyn has a week off and then he’s back at the gym, working hard, trying new skills and setting his eye on next year.

Who knew gymnastics would play such a big part in our lives? With all that flipping and flopping, I’m hoping we’ll both land on our feet and stick it!

In loving,

Sarah

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ismael37olson · 6 years ago

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Yes, We Need a Little Christmas!

Happy Holidays from the New Liners! First of all... As I wrote in my last post, when you're heading to Amazon to shop for gifts this holiday season (and all year 'round), just go to Smile.Amazon.com instead. You'll end up in the same place except when you go to Smile, it'll ask you to pick a charity (you'll choose New Line Theatre, of course), and then whenever you buy anything through Amazon Smile (bookmark it!), New Line gets a small donation. And it really adds up! Last season the total in Smile donations was about $200! Imagine if all the New Liners used Amazon Smile this holiday season...! So what do you get for the musical theatre fanboy and fangirl who have it all? Funny you should ask. Sure, there's lots of cool musicals-related stuff on Playbill.com, Amazon, Etsy, Ebay, but here are some really cool, really special gift suggestions that most people won't think about... The Zombies of Penzance libretto Yes, available now on Amazon, the book and lyrics for The Zombies of Penzance, which just made its world debut with New Line last month, the entire text of the show, for you to read and giggle over. (Did you catch that reference to Aqua Teen Hunger Force?) And the Zombies of Penzance piano-vocal score will be published soon as well, and we're working on a live cast album... Stay tuned...

The 2019 New Line Calendar Every year, we produce a calendar with high-quality production photos by Jill Ritter Photography. This year the calendar includes photos from The Zombies of Penzance, Lizzie, Yeast Nation, American Idiot, Jerry Springer the Opera, Hands on a Hardbody, Anything Goes, Threepenny, Bonnie & Clyde, Sweet Smell of Success, Tell Me on a Sunday, and I Love My Wife. Order your calendar now, display it proudly in your home and/or office, and let it be a great conversation starter with your friends and family about how cool New Line is! Plus you get to look at really great production photos all year! New Line Gear We've got a lot of cool New Line gear on CafePress -- we've got New Line t-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs and glasses, greeting cards, teddy bears, rugs, lacquer boxes, pillows, clocks, jewelry, shower curtains, Christmas stuff, stuff for kids and pets! Some of this cool gear would make amazing holiday presents for St. Louis musical theatre lovers! It's a Musical! 400 Questions to Ponder, Discuss, and Fight About -- This quiz book is filled with 400 questions designed to make the serious musical theatre fan think about musicals, on Broadway and across the country, how they operate, how they interact with each other and with the Real World, how they are related, how they have and haven't changed over the years, what they have been and what they are becoming in this new Golden Age of the American Musical Theatre. Por ejemplo...

What theatre song always puts you in a good mood? Name a strong black leading character in a musical. Quote one dialogue line from a musical that totally encapsulates that show. What's your favorite Act II opener? Name a theatre song in which the singer is lying. What musical would be hardest to explain to someone who knew nothing about it? What's your favorite Kander & Ebb vamp?

You can flip through this book, land on any page, read a question, and test yourself on your knowledge, insights, and opinions about musicals. Or you can make it a game with your similarly obsessed friends. Or you can use it to humiliate posers who only pretend to know our beloved art form. Your choice. But wield your power carefully. The primary purpose here is just for serious, hardcore, musical theatre fans to have lots of musical theatre fun with other serious, hardcore, musical theatre fans. Or with themselves. But remember -- alone is alone, not alive. It has also occurred to me that this book would be a useful teaching aid for theatre teachers, to get their students thinking more substantively about our art form. It's a Musical! is now available on Amazon too!

The Poster Art of New Line Theatre -- Yes, we've published a (softcover) coffee table book of all our posters over the last twenty-seven years, all designed by St. Louis artists. It's an incredibly fun look back over New Line's amazing, unique programming, but also it's a veritable masterclass in graphic design for the theatre. It's the perfect gift for anyone who loves poster art. Tickets Yes, New Line has two really exciting shows coming up, and any musical theatre lover would be delighted by tickets to one or both. Our new, incredibly intimate production of La Cage aux Folles runs Feb. 28-March 23. Taking the show down to human scale will reveal so much in this beautifully crafted show. And in June, we managed to secure the rights for the new rock musical Be More Chill, based on the bestselling novel, running May 30-June 22. Even though the show opens on Broadway in March, we still have the rights, so you can see this wildly popular new show right here in St. Louis! You can buy La Cage tickets here, and Be More Chill here. Cool Theatre Books Over time, I've created lots of lists for my blog, including several lists of cool theatre books, videos, etc., all of which would make excellent gifts for musical theatre lovers! Take a gander at these links. Or you can browse the subject index for my blog, and find lots of other cool stuff...

Great Musical Theatre Books Great Non-Musical Theatre Books for Musical Theatre People Cool Lesser-Known Movie Musicals on Video Cool Novels That Musicals Are Based On Great Movies About Musicals Great Musical Theatre Documentaries Musicals Live on Video

My Books Yes, I'm going to do some brief self-promotion for a second. Take a visit sometime to my Amazon Author Page, with my six analysis books, one history book, scripts and vocal selections from a few of the shows I've written (Attempting the Absurd, Johnny Appleweed, In the Blood, AstroTurf, Head Games, A Hot Cup of Murder), my one novel, several collections to which I've contributed, and also something I've always wanted to publish, a collection of my songs from the nine musicals I've written, cleverly titled Songs from the Musicals of Scott Miller. You're bound to find something that looks like fun... Be More Chill If you don't know this novel or musical, you should. It's about to open on Broadway, and it's really special. If you haven't yet heard "Michael in the Bathroom," you will soon. Last year it was all about Hamilton themed gifts. This year it's Be More Chill. Here are the novel, the cast recording, and the vocal selections. If you don't get these for someone else, get them for yourself. Brian Reedy's Art This is one of the cooler things you'll find on Etsy, created by Brian Reedy, brother to New Line's resident graphic artists, Matt Reedy. He's already made a Hamilton woodcut, and an Audrey II linocut, both incredibly cool and both for sale in Brian's Etsy store. Broadway Pops I have fallen in love with Funko Pops figures -- they're so odd but so wonderful. In recent months, Funko has released several Little Shop of Horrors figures, as well as two versions of both Danny and Sandy in Grease.

But wait, there's more! I was fortunate enough to happen upon Amanda Tang's Broadway Pop store on Etsy, and it was like I had died and gone to musical theatre memorabilia heaven. She has custom Funko Pops for Hamilton, Newsies, Wicked, Book of Mormon, Phantom of the Opera... But it gets even better. You can commission special orders from her! Would anyone really think I could have that information and not act on it? I couldn't help myself. So I asked Amanda to create a trio of figures for me, Reno Sweeney, Moonface Martin, and Billy Crocker, in the 1934 Anything Goes. See the photo to see how cool they turned out! Amanda is totally open to suggestions... Imagine Pop versions of Dolly Levi, Lola, Zaza, Capt. Macheath, Hedwig, William Barfee, Harold Hill, Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart, Marvin and Whizzer, the Rent kids, the three American Idiot guys, the three Heathers, Edgar the Bat Boy... The mind reels... Surely all these great gift ideas will cover even the most difficult-to-shop-for artsy friends and family members. We just made holiday shopping totally easy on you. You're welcome. And finally, if that special someone really is impossible to shop for, make a donation to New Line in their name! What could be nicer for a musical theatre fan than to make sure New Line keeps producing amazing, unique, thrilling musical theatre. I'll leave you with one of my favorite theatre lyrics, which seems particularly potent these days, from the song "Christmas Day" in the musical Promises, Promises:

If Christmas Day is really in your heart, You don't have to save up All your love to give once a year.

Long Live the Musical! And Happy Holidays! Scott from The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre http://newlinetheatre.blogspot.com/2018/11/yes-we-need-little-christmas.html

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thesassybooskter · 6 years ago

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MAVERICK by Cheryl Brooks: Excerpt & Giveaway

NOW AVAILABLE / SOURCEBOOKS CASABLANCA

Zetithians are back. And they’re hotter than ever…

Having the Zetithian feline gene gives Larry Tshevnoe awesome beauty, fearsome strength, sensuality and sexual prowess unmatched by any other males in the universe. But it can make the quest for true love…complicated.

Enter childhood friend and fellow Zetithian Althea Banadänsk. Her empathic powers make her the only one who can show Larry what he truly desires, and she’ll do anything to help…even if that means hiding her desperate craving for him.

But when a distress call sends them off course—and into danger—they find more than their hearts are at stake. Now it’s up to them to become the champions of truth and justice throughout the galaxy…or risk losing it all.

Buy Online: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

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Excerpt

Althea giggled. “You sound just like your mother.”

“Yeah, well, there are worse things,” Larry said, laughing along with her. “I happen to like my mom.”

“So do I.” A note of sadness slipped into her voice. “I miss her—and all you guys. Seems like everything changes as we get older.”

“I guess so.” His smoldering gaze met hers and held it as every trace of mirth vanished from his face. “I figured we’d all grow up eventually, but I never thought you’d run off and leave us like that.”

“You’re one to talk,” she shot back, a tad defensively. “You went off on your own ship with only a Scorillian for company.”

“Yes, but I actually visit my family once in a while. Geez, Al. Four years and not a single word from you?”

Althea didn’t need to be an empath to feel his pain. The anguish was right there in his facial expression, the sag of his shoulders, and the wistful note in his voice.

“I know it sounds strange, but it didn’t feel like four years to me. Time took on a rhythm of its own and sort of carried me along. Besides, sending deep space coms from Barada isn’t exactly easy.”

He exhaled sharply. “If you’d bothered to ask me before you left—which you didn’t—I could’ve given you a comsystem with an extended battery life and a range that would reach any planet in the quadrant. But no, you had to run off to hide in the jungle where no one could find you.”

“You found me.”

“Only because I needed you, Al. Not because I missed you.”

His words were like a knife to her soul, hurting far more than she ever would have expected. “I’m sorry. I hadn’t realized—”

“Of course you didn’t. You’ve always been so aloof. The only feelings you have are the ones you pick up from other people. Never your own.”

Her jaw dropped. She might’ve expected him to be angry but not to resort to that kind of personal attack. “I have feelings.”

“Oh, come on, Al. You’ve always acted like you were a notch above the rest of us, and you know it. You were the only one of your siblings to inherit your mother’s powers, and you liked it that way, because it gave you an excuse to set yourself apart from the rest of us.”

Her own temper flared. Stomping her foot, she bared her fangs. “Dammit, Larry. My ‘powers’ had nothing to do with it. Out of the five litters born on that ship, I was the only girl. How did you expect me to behave? Like one of the guys?”

His expression softened slightly. “We all loved you, Al. You could’ve at least loved us back.”

“I did,” she insisted. “I do. I just…” She shook her head, trying to make sense of it all while at the same time hoping she could make him understand. “If you’d grown up with other Zetithian girls, you’d know that being standoffish is a part of who we are.” She threw up her hands in a gesture of futility. “It’s genetic, Larry. We can’t help it. And when you add the Mordrial witch line on top of that, we—”

He snorted in disgust. “Look, I know all about that ‘finding The One’ crap. Okay, great. So I wasn’t The One and neither were any of my brothers. Big deal. I don’t know who you’ll wind up with, but I do know you’re sure as hell not gonna find the one man who can father your children on Barada Seven.”

“I know that,” she said quietly. “I’d come to the conclusion that such a man doesn’t exist, so I quit looking.”

To her surprise, he laughed. “You’re all of what, twenty-five? A little young to be giving up, don’t you think?”

“Maybe. Or maybe I’m just taking a break. Seems like everywhere we went, there were guys who had hopes of being that man. None of them even came close. I didn’t feel the slightest interest in any of them. It’s as though my Zetithian blood has made the possibility of finding someone even less likely than it would have been if my father had been Terran or some other species.”

“What about other Mordrials? I know we went to their homeworld a few times.”

She shook her head. “Granted, we were never there for very long, but—nothing.”

“And that’s why you came here?”

“One of the reasons.” She hesitated, catching her upper lip with her teeth. Making him understand was more important than she ever would have dreamed. “I know I’m not likely to meet my perfect mate on a planet populated with skinny orange toads, and I’m pretty sure the toads know it too. But I can actually relax here. I don’t know if you realize what that means to me.”

“Are you saying you don’t want to leave?”

For a moment, she almost said yes. But this was Larry, her lifelong friend, and she’d already given him her word. “No. I said I would help you, and I will. Just promise you’ll bring me back here when I’ve done as you asked.”

Once again, she didn’t need to be an empath to know what he was thinking. His expression and his silence said it all. Although he might give her his promise, he certainly didn’t want to.

“If that’s what you want,” he finally said. “Just don’t expect me or any of your family—or mine—to like it.” His eyes narrowed, his brow flattening to a nearly straight line. “I can tell them where I’m taking you, can’t I? Your whereabouts isn’t a secret anymore?”

“No. I was wrong to keep you all in the dark for so long. I wouldn’t mind a visit now and then. That is, if anyone is still speaking to me.”

“Oh, they’ll speak to you. They might not speak to me when they figure out I’ve known where you were all along.”

“You guessed, Larry,” she drawled. “You didn’t actually know.”

“I wasn’t guessing.” Chuckling, he ran a hand through his hair, looking simultaneously guilty and pleased with himself. “That bag of yours has a tracking device in it.”

“How did you—”

“Know you were planning to leave? Geez, Al. It didn’t take an empath to know you were about to run off into the blue.”

“Was I that obvious?”

“Maybe not to anyone else.” With a sly grin, he added, “But you were to me.”

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About Cheryl Brooks

Cheryl Brooks is a former critical care nurse turned romance writer. Her Cat Star Chronicles series includes Slave, Warrior, Rogue, Outcast, Fugitive, Hero, Virgin, Stud, Wildcat, and Rebel. Her Cowboy Heaven series includes the Cowboy Delight novella and the Cowboy Heaven novel. Her self-published works include Sex Love and a Purple Bikini, Midnight in Reno, and the Unlikely Lovers series, which includes Unbridled, Uninhibited, Undeniable, and Unrivaled. As a member of the Sextet, she has also published several erotic novellas with Siren/Bookstrand. She is a member of RWA and IRWA and lives with her husband, two sons, two horses, four cats, and one dog in rural Indiana.

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MAVERICK by Cheryl Brooks: Excerpt & Giveaway was originally published on The Sassy Bookster

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newstfionline · 8 years ago

Text

Trump just gave white evangelicals a big boost

By Sarah Pulliam Bailey, Washington Post, May 4, 2017

During the election, Donald Trump made a promise that few people anticipated: He would do away with the Johnson Amendment, which in 1954 effectively barred pastors from endorsing or opposing candidates from the pulpit.

In recent years, religious liberty issues have gotten caught up in debates over contraception and LGBT rights. But Trump’s promise was a throwback to the 1950s, an era when many pastors felt they were freer to say what they believed. He repeated the promise to religious leaders during his campaign, and on Thursday--the National Day of Prayer--they saw him begin to deliver.

The president first announced his plans for an executive order on religious liberty to about 45 pastors in the White House on Wednesday night, according to Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Dallas.

The pastors, many of whom were on Trump’s evangelical advisory council during his campaign, were joined in the Blue Room by several members of the administration, including Vice President Mike Pence; Trump’s daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner; chief strategist Steve Bannon; and chief of staff Reince Priebus. Jeffress said administration officials were still working on the details, but Trump promised to effectively halt the Johnson Amendment. (It would take an act of Congress to change the law.) On Thursday, the president held a gathering of interfaith leaders at the Rose Garden.

Jeffress told the group that the amendment was a hindrance, saying that left-leaning groups have used it to “harass” pastors like him for speaking out on political issues. “It’s time to take the muzzle off pastors and allow them to speak openly,” Jeffress said.

The announcement was an “unexpected delight and pleasant surprise” to people in the room, said Ralph Reed, chairman of the Faith & Freedom Coalition.

Many religious conservatives who endorsed Trump have been waiting for him to continue fulfilling a series of promises he made during his campaign. After years of battling with the Obama administration, many of them see Trump as a breath of fresh air.

During the election, Trump made a special effort to reach out to white evangelicals in particular, meeting with several of them in Trump Tower and creating the evangelical advisory council that gave him feedback throughout the campaign. He received support from other religious groups, but white evangelicals voted for him overwhelmingly (exit polls showed 80 percent) compared to other groups.

While evangelicals vary in their views of Trump, a recent survey from the Pew Research Center found that white Catholics and white evangelicals who attend religious services regularly have a higher approval rating of Trump than those who don’t attend services regularly.

Before the news of the Johnson amendment this week, R. R. Reno, who edits the ecumenical magazine First Things, echoed many religious conservatives by saying he was still waiting for Trump to deliver on promises he made.

Trump had promised--saying, “I will fight for you”--to protect the religious freedoms of groups like the Little Sisters of the Poor, a group of nuns that battled the Obama administration over contraceptive coverage. But many religious leaders want Trump to permanently end Barack Obama’s mandate requiring contraception coverage, an issue that has gotten caught up in larger health-care battles.

“I think we have to take a wait-and-see attitude,” said Reno, who surprised many of his conservative friends by endorsing Trump. “It’s not disappointing, but he hasn’t thrilled us either.”

The biggest win for religious conservatives has been Trump’s nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, which they consider key to winning future cases involving religious liberty or abortion. Trump has also rolled back federal guidelines specifying that transgender students have the right to use public school restrooms that match their gender identity.

“Interestingly, as much as President Bush is revered by evangelicals, in a certain way, they have even more trust of Donald Trump,” Jeffress said.

Jeffress said evangelicals are especially pleased with Trump’s outreach to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He also expects Trump to turn his attention to persecuted Christians overseas, an issue Trump emphasized early in his term.

Other leaders are pleased with the continued access they’ve had to the White House.

“I think evangelicals have found their dream president,” said Jerry Falwell Jr., president of Liberty University--where Trump will give a commencement address on May 13. “I’ve never seen a White House have such a close relationship with faith leaders than this one.”

While several evangelical leaders who were involved in Trump’s campaign say they have good access to the administration, Catholic bishops do not have “one sure avenue of contact” with White House officials, according to Cardinal Donald Wuerl, who said they worked with the faith-based office in the past administration.

Catholic leaders in the United States have vocally opposed several of Trump’s policy moves, including those relating to climate change, health care and immigration.

However, Archbishop William Lori said the bishops see some areas of agreement with the Trump administration, including opportunities to advance their religious freedom and protect Catholic institutions, like hospitals. Lori, chairman of the U.S. Catholic bishops’ committee on religious liberty, said the bishops are also concerned about immigration and how budget cuts could affect the poor.

“Quite often when there are cuts to human services, real people suffer,” Lori said.

#Trump and evangelicals #Johnson Amendment #white evangelicals

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