[spoiler intro=”I’m going to include some of my Lilly Looking Through experiences because this is about the Chapmans, and frankly I want my kids to know later on that I got to do what I always wanted to do. That said, I don’t want to distract from the kids too much, so I’ve hidden this experience as a spoiler… click ‘Show’ to the right to read the interview.” title=””]

Geeta Games Interview With Daran Chapman

This month we interviewed Daran Chapman, our Technical Artist on Lilly, and we are glad we did, as we even learned a few new things about him!

Q:What is your name and what kind of work do you do on Lilly Looking Through?

A:Hi! My name is Daran Chapman, and I’m a Technical Artist. That means I take pieces that the artists and animators at Geeta have been producing, put them together, and add interactivity.

Q:How did you get involved in working on Lilly Looking Through? When did you know you wanted to work in games?

A:While I was visiting Kickstarter, I recognized Steve from our days ushering at a movie theater long ago, and sent him some messages just to catch up. We talked a lot about games, and it turned out that our philosophies are very similar. It also turned out that my skill set was a good match to help bring Lilly Looking Through to fruition. Steve invited me to help with the project. I’ve always wanted to work on a proper video game, and the game itself grabbed my attention immediately — so I jumped at the chance!

Q:What work are you most looking forward to doing on Lilly Looking Through?

A:Sometimes I’m animating a bouncing glow, or I’m making the turn of a wheel actually have an effect, and other times I’m adding layers of a level together and making them seem to breathe. I’m so enjoying the variety of what I’m working on, it would be hard to say what I’m looking forward to next. I guess the short answer is “more!”

Q:What’s the best thing about working on Lilly Looking Through?

A:The best thing about working on Lilly Looking Through has got to be the people. I’m collaborating with very talented people that believe in themselves, each other, and the end product. I also love that Geeta’s smaller number of people means that no matter where an idea comes from, it is not only heard, but has a possibility of being implemented.

Q:How did you become interested in games?

A:I fell in love with the first video games when I was very young; I’m talking as far back as Pong. It has been great to live my life watching video games grow, and for some titles, become accepted as an art form.

Q:What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into game development?

A:I’ve been a projectionist, graphic designer, edutainment and web programmer, and animator. I think the craziest part of my employment history has been how varied it has been over the years; usually something involving entertainment or graphics, but constantly evolving to meet the work available to me.

Q:What project in the past did you have the best time working on? What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?

A:Other than Lilly, I’d have to say my favorite project was an entry into a music video contest run by Valve Software for a song by a band called The National. I dedicated many late nights to writing a story, as well as modeling, animating and directing. I don’t feel like what I did was perfect; far from it — but with limited time I told the story I wanted to tell, and for that I am proud of what I put together. I must have done something right, as Valve deemed it the “Best Turret Story” in the contest. Click here if you’d like to see it.

Q:What is your favorite animated movie and why?

A:It is hard to narrow down my favorite animated movie. At one point in my life I would have said Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira, but raising a few kids can change a guy. I’m more into the likes of Studio Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service or Brad Bird’s Iron Giant. I guess I’d say Iron Giant is my favorite; it does a lot of things well stylistically, has a great story, and a lot of personality… plus a big freakin’ robot.

Q:What are 2 of your favorite games and why?

A:Oh, this is a tough one. I’d have to start out with Ico. There are layers of sensitivity in that game: the contrast between dark and light, natural and man-made, and what it means to be alone versus having even just one other person around. Without a single word of understandable dialogue, Ico invited the gamer to care about an AI character and help them through the game — and I found myself truly caring.

During a particularly cold and quiet winter, I played and adored Riven, the sequel to Myst. At the time there was nothing like it, and it was very engaging to me – the visuals, the audio, the storyline. It is equal parts awesome, humbling and terrifying to be working alongside Mark, who helped make the game; and Steve, who used to work at Cyan as well.

I know the question said “two” but I’d be remiss if I didn’t do a shout out for Tribes:Aerial Assault, one of the first decent networkable games on the PlayStation2. I was part of a tight knit community that played that one game for years and years. We formed teams, ran tourneys and created prizes. While doing so I made some life-long friends. I suppose sometimes it takes other players to make a game great.

So that’s it for my two favorite games. Oh, except Beyond Good and Evil. And Bioshock. And Shadow of the Colossus. And Portal. And Minecraft. And XCOM. And Fallout. And Halo. And Skyrim. And Braid. And Limbo.

Q:What movie made you cry?

A:When I was little I had to be physically removed from a theater during a pivotal scene in Bambi due to excess sobbing. [/spoiler]

Dialogue, May 18th
Nina in a sing-song voice:“I found a penny! A penny! I found a penny, my penny. My penny and I found it. Hey Daddy! Guess what? I found a penny and I found it myself…. from Ian’s ba-aag!”

Dialogue, May 18th
Ian, observing a squid: “Why does it have a mouth on its butt?”

Dialogue, May 19th
Ian and Nina make each other surprise pictures. Daddy’s reaction: “I cannot imagine more thoughtful children… in regards to this particular project.”

Dialogue, May 20th
Nina learning to deal with solicitors? Picks up phone:“Hello, who’s there nobody? Good byyyyyye”

Dialogue, May 20th
Nina, from potty to Ian:“Can you leave me alone? Because i need my own minute for a minute.”

NINA DAYCARE NOTES:

Daycare Notes, Wednesday, May 1 Nina’s caregiver: “Nina chatted the whole way to the park with her friends about what she was going to do when we got there-I’m surprised she wasn’t out of energy! She was very excited. When she was climbing up the steps to the slide, she started to sing, ‘Jesus loves me, yes I know, Old Mc Bible tells me so…’ I laughed so much-she has such a cute little voice and way with words.”

Daycare Notes, Thursday May 2nd. Nina’s caregiver: “Nina had a great time at the YMCA this morning-she was singing the village people song on the bus and all the way down the hall when we arrived-she got a lot of giggles from the Y members.”

Daycare Notes, Friday, May 3rd. Nina’s caregiver: “Overall Nina had a great fun filled morning. On the playground Nina sang ‘I’m going to the YMCA in my spaceship.'”

Daycare Notes, Monday, May 6. Nina’s caregiver: “Nina, Liv, Natalie, and Mia were playground buddies this morning-first they were pretending to be sisters, then they were all babies. They ran all over the playground, holding hands in a little chain-every once in a while I would hear Natalie call out, ‘come on-let’s go sisters!’ And off they’d go again-Nina had the biggest grin on her face!”

Daycare Notes, Tuesday, May 7. Nina’s caregiver: “Nina loved our hike this morning-she and Liv held hands and went up and down the hill together with matching smiles. They have become such good friends! You spend a lot of time picking out just the right rock for her ‘pet’-she was very pleased with her choice!”

Daycare Notes, Wednesday, May 8. Nina’s caregiver: “Nina got messy this morning, making beautiful chalk paintings all over the pavement. She, Mia and Brady made ‘pizzas’ out of the circle-shaped steps on the climber. They topped them with woodchips and dandelion heads-such creative people.”

Daycare Notes, Thursday, May 9. Nina’s caregiver: “Nina was very brave on the rock wall this morning- twice, then got to swing on the rope twice and had lots of fun! We ran on the track again too-she was so fast- the Y members cheered all the kids as they passed. Nina just beamed and waved!”

Daycare Notes, Friday, May 10. Nina’s caregiver: “Nina had a great time in science area. She also love reading books. She wanted to read them over and over again.”

Daycare Notes, Monday, May 13. Nina’s caregiver: “Overall Nina had a wonderful morning! She was so excited to put together her rain stick / bottle. She made sure I knew what she was putting in her bottle. Nina also really seemed to enjoy putting all P’s on the letter sheets!”

Daycare Notes, Tuesday, May 14. Nina’s caregiver: “Nina ran and ran out on the park playground this morning! Between the climber and the kites, she was constantly in motion. She was very chatty on our walk and broke into song several times today. We love hearing her little voice – so adorable!”

Daycare Notes, Wednesday, May 15. Nina’s caregiver: “Nina had so much fun this morning she got covered in dust from the corn in our texture table, where she spent a lot of time, early morning. Our color game was a favorite-she did very well identifying and sorting the colors that corresponded to the spin of the wheel. Mixing up our cookies was the best, and even better with eating. Yum!”

Daycare Notes, Thursday, May 16. Nina’s caregiver: “We had so much fun with our cocoa art this morning. She took her time and brushed on a lot of cocoa. I was a little worried that the paper might not hold up! She told me at least five times ‘Miss Erin-I like chocolate,’ while she painted.”

Daycare Notes, Friday, May 17. Nina’s caregiver: “Overall Nina had a great morning. However we really worked on using words with friends when she was upset. Nina was so very excited to play on the sandhill. She was so helpful with friends needing some help going up the hill.”

Daycare Notes, Monday, May 20. Nina’s caregiver: “We had a great time making cake in the sandbox this morning. It was chocolate – a little gritty, but delicious! Nina loved the new dramatic play items, especially the purses! At one point she had a purse over her left shoulder, one over her right shoulder, one around her neck and one in her hand — there was another purse inside it. So funny!”

Daycare Notes, Tuesday, May 21. Nina’s caregiver: “Nina says the funniest things. She walked up to me on the playground this morning and told me “I’m so confused” when I asked her why, she said ‘I don’t know what Mommy’s saying to me all the time!'”

Daycare Notes, Tuesday, May 21. Nina’s caregiver: Nina’s progress report – only beginning skills are scissors, everything else was under higher categories.

Daycare Notes, May 15 Note from daycare about something funny Nina said: “My potato head needs his butt filled up, so he can have a walk and talk all over the place.””

Daycare Notes, Wednesday, May 22. Nina’s caregiver: “Nina was so enthusiastic about everything today! She played busily in dramatic play, driving and chatting on her cell phone, shopping for groceries-she was busy! She sang and chatted all throughout our walk and had a messy sticky ball with our orange art.”

Daycare Notes, Thursday, May 23. Nina’s caregiver: “Need had a great time bouncing all over the indoor play space this morning; she was on the hoppity ball almost the entire time! She really enjoyed switching classrooms with OT and getting to play with both new and familiar toys. Nina loved getting messy with goop-she said it felt ‘silly!'”

Daycare Notes, Tuesday, May 28. Nina’s caregiver: “Nina was very busy and dramatic play this morning-she put me on to put on the blue dress and told me ‘I’m a rescuer!’ then she cooked up a big meal (singing songs to herself all the while.)”

Daycare Notes, Wednesday, May 29. Nina’s caregiver: “Nina had a lot of fun ‘working over’ Ms. Sarah in dramatic play this morning-she administered a medical checkup, complete with blood pressure check and temperature taking, while other friends made Ms. Sarah sandwiches with play food and did her hair. Nina is a very thorough doctor!”

Daycare Notes, Thursday, May 30. Nina’s caregiver: “Nina loved the snakes! She kept scooting closer to the front of the circle to get a better look at them. Outside, she did a lot of painting. Her rain boots came in very handy when one of her friends tripped over one of the bowls and splattered paint a Nina’s feet!”

Daycare Notes, Friday, May 31st. Nina’s caregiver: “Nina had a wonderful day. She really loved the movie and popcorn treat this morning-when it was over we headed outside and ran around the playground. She enjoyed chasing Miss Sidney with all her friends.”