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Ds Set Design-01s — Description
“Sandy? Is that you?”

She froze in place. She was standing in a normal lane, but didn’t expect anyone at this hour. The voice sounded vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t place him. She looked down towards the little sidewalk.

“Closer to the end of the building. I’ll walk out to the intersection.”

There he is.. walking out, but at least seven or eight feet away.

“I’m sorry. I can’t see you that well from here.”

“Matt Hayes”

That sounded awfully familiar, but she couldn’t think any downsized guys named Matt.

“From NYU. I think you were a freshman… film school..”

Finally! it was coming back.

“Matt! The guy with those sweaters. I remember when you came in from the snowstorm.” It was coming back. He was one she really wanted to go out with. “

“You downsized?”

“No shit, Sherlock. Two years after graduating. It looked like a way to get better gigs”

She didn’t say what was going through her mind.

“What about you? I looked for you the next year.. maybe to.. ”

“Too expensive. I got a scholarship at RSDI in commercial art.” she swept her arms dramatically “And here I am.. set design.”

“I kinda figured you must be doing something like that .. I mean you’re here.”

“you? acting?”

“Just little parts. A few commercials. Like everyone else I’m working on my screenplay, but you know how that goes”

“But it’s cheaper now, right?”

“Yeah.. the saving grace.” He paused for awhile “I guess we’re sort of doing set work now. I’m doing detail carpentry… wish I had a role on this one, but..”

“I love that kind of work! It blows my mind.”

“You like set design?”

“Depends.. I started out with a network show, but they’re like batshit crazy. Half the time you wait and then it’s three twenty hour days. I switched to film and then some DS work came through about six months ago. It’s way more fun to build real towns and it’s really starting to grow. I just love this one - kinda like Paris!”

“Used to the scale?”

“It took a few months, but yeah. Once you get used to the idea you’re really doing architecture scale. I’m starting my own business on the side. I should show you some of the houses I’ve made. Right now it’s all on a ping pong table in my apartment, but I’m working on my fifth one now.”

“Live around here?”

“I wish. Simi Valley and the commutes a bitch. When it’s close to production I stay here and sleep in my car. I guess that’s a big plus for you.”

“I’ve got a place nearby and one in Venice.. a block from the beach.”

“Shit! That’d cost like..”

“It’s not bad. I pay nine hundred a year for the lot, utilities and security.”

“I’m eighteen hundred a month for six hundred square feet.”

“You’re way cheaper.. I’ve got twenty four.”

Both of them laughed.

“ Seeing anyone?” .

“No.. there aren’t many unmarried girls.. how ‘bout you?

“No. Two years, but it finally sunk in he loser material. That was six months ago… Why? Wanna go out? I mean are you ok with…?”

“I’ve gone out with a few normal sized women. Pretty weird at first, but you get used to it. And sure.. “

“Maybe you can give me some pointers on my work. I stay away from interior detail“ she held up her hands “it’d look pretty crude to you if I tried.”

“I’m pretty sick of my place here.. standard Mattel. Maybe I should look at yours.”

“What model?”

“Kentwood I think. I needed something right away and it was pre-furnished.”

“What’s it like inside”

“Cheap - all made in Vietnam. I’m pretty sure they just use normals.” he paused “no offense..”

“If you do carpentry, maybe we should work together.”

“what do they go for?”

“Fifteen to twenty one hundred - without interior detail, fixtures and appliances. I make about four hundred on each, but it’s part time.”

“You must do good work to sell for that… or they’re huge.”

“sixteen or seventeen hundred square inches usually”

“You have someone check it out inside?”

she shook her head “I use a minicam. The store has someone approve it. I just drop ‘em off and they contract with someone else to work inside.”

“Friday night?”

“I’m free after four”

“Hey.. you have the advantage.”

Even from this distance she could see he looked puzzled.

“You can see me, but I haven’t had a good look at you. Mind if I lay down?”

“Hey - it’s only been six years. I’ haven’t changed that much.”

“Sure, you’re exactly the same six foot guy”

She laughed as she started to get down.

Street’ll be dirty.. Ever picked anyone up?”

Feeling a bit embarrassed she shook her head. She had been around downsized people, but mostly at a respectful distance. In school they had been taught not to touch.

“Hand on the ground palm up.”

Thinking up an excuse, she looked around. She shouldn’t have asked for a closer look. Not yet. What if he really was as cute as she’d remembered?

“Let’s do a raincheck. It’s nearly seven. People will start showing up soon. Free for lunch?:

“Today?”

At least she could start over. Maybe with him on the same table or something. “I’m off at eleven for an hour.”

“OK.. eleven thirty by the town square?”

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The more detailed 4000 pixel final render goes out to donors