A week of rest, Link’s Hideaway podcast and Q&A #19

The people over at Link’s Hideaway were kind to invite me to a podcast to answer some more questions. Some are probably repeated from previous interviews, but I still managed to go on for an hour… So, for anyone interested, here it is, available for download.

Thanks to Ryan and Austin for the opportunity!

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The audio for the Giant’s Aria has been recorded, and now all that is left to do is finish the video.

I am taking a week off to rest my mind, as my writing speed has been decreasing dramatically. I am in need of some time to rest.

Here is a long Q&A for your enjoyment, and I’ll see you all in about a week!

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kram1032: Will you have “optional” parts in the opera aswell? Stuff that won’t work on every stage or with every cast but given certain opportunities, it could be added?

I’ll let you in on a secret: Almost every stage production in the world has those.

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Joseph Murse: Oh yes a quick question for the Q&A, will Kaepora Gaebora be showing up at all? He’s the only character in the game to say that the fate of Termina is to fade and he may work as a great foreshadowing device. Of course, the problem is that he is… well an Owl. Kind of difficult to show that on stage.

He does work great as a foreshadowing device, but as he appears mostly to Link and has no relation to the rest of Termina I chose to leave him out. The fact that he is an owl doesn’t help, obviously. Instead, the Happy Mask Salesman kinda takes his role as a narrator, albeit a bit mad. That helps to bring about a sense of instability.

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YourFriendlyNeigbourhoodGerudo: I know someone has asked about child singers, but what about child dancers? Is your answer the same?

A child dancer is way easier to include, in my opinion. Although I don’t really see where that could apply. It would look strange for the Deku soldiers that battle Odolwa to be smaller than the “civilian” Deku from the choir, for example.

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Zul: Are you planning on releasing MP3s of the demos at some point (free or otherwise)?

That has been thought of, and it’s very likely. If they do, the way they will be released depends on the definitive road this project takes.

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BlackBelt002: Will this opera be available on Youtube? Or will it be in a particular state?

If you hadn’t asked about the location, this would have been identical to a previous question and subsequently ignored, as I have said before. Location-wise, I am from Portugal, and this is still too early a stage to know when, how or where anything might happen.

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PieStealer: Silly question of the day: What are some of the craziest things your actors have used for their ‘costumes’? Since I’m sure there are liberties, considering everything is behind a curtain for the time being.

Liberties aplenty: Pillows to enhance body size, paper for hats and even duct-taped wrapping paper and cardboard hair!

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TOMBRAIDERLARA36: Hello I love what you’ve done but saying this wouldn’t talking about Pamela and her father also be considered a tangent? I have a feeling I’ve missed something and I also feel that not including Romani and Cremia would be a shame.

I would have liked to include the ranch as well, but it is a location that does not make sense in the story’s progression, nor does it fit well in the way the sets are programmed to flow.

Pamela and her father are definitely not a tangent, since Ikana Valley is a climactic location for the opera’s plot. After all, Sakon’s hideout is in the valley, and that is just part of the events that will unfold in that part of Termina.

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f(x)=12/x: While revising the opera, do you plan to add “translation tips”, or even a Portuguese version to start from? I mean, I’m sure you know Romance languages have longer words (among the rest) and sometimes don’t allow a  faithful translation.

I am horribly picky with translations and dislike most. I think that when something is designed to fit a certain language it never sounds or reads 100% well in any other.

I am, however, very inclined towards the subtitle solution. It’s not invasive, it doesn’t replace content and it serves as a support, even for English speakers themselves, since operatic singing rarely comes with perfect pronunciation.

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BowserTheSecond: Just a quick question, will the seahorses be in the play at all?

Seeing as I want to keep this as humanoid as possible to avoid puppetry and to enhance immersion, they do not. Also, they would probably have no purpose in the story.

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Mischifer6: Also, will other characters in Ikana be in this opera? (Garo, Stalchildren, Keeta, etc.?)

I have said before that King Igos du Ikana is an important character, and I can tell you that the Garo Master does appear as well, as he plays a vital role.

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thedivinity24136: Do you plan on actually making this an opera?

No, this is clearly a bowl of soup.