A Cupid Noir Anti Valentine's Day
Valentine’s Day always seems to me a bit too commercial for it’s own good. I mean, yes, I believe in love and romance. But, does it really require a ton of cash or can it be something more between two people, two partners, who are in love and want to celebrate what they share?
That’s where Cupid Noir sprouted from.
There are a lot of Cupids in the phone book these days. Most with better addresses than this dump. So, why’d she come walking through my door? Some days just start off bad.
What if?
What would happen if Cupid aged? What if it were a job, like any other?
You get up in the morning and put your wings on, one wing at a time, stare into the middle distance and ask yourself, “Well? How did I get here?” (David Byrne, Talking Heads)
It all started so innocently, with a little match making on the side. Sometimes, someone asks for an introduction. Next thing you know, it is 20 years later and those wings don’t always hold you up so surely now. And, maybe the introductions are not as honest as they once seemed to be, all covered in red glitter and thin layers of chocolate until you can’t tell if it is solid or hollow inside.
But, it’s about love, in the end. Despite everything else, or maybe because of it, you put your wings on every day.
Because of love.
The Cupid Noir Story
These days, there are a lot of Cupids in the phone book.
I should know, I am on the 6th page in the special section. You can see my display ad. All 3/4s of an inch of it. Right under the big guy’s half page, full color invitation to the big show.
Most of those guys have better addresses than this dump. They’ve got big, marble lobbies with receptionist/security guards. And, they probably don’t have to compete with an out of work tooth fairy for space on the building directory down the hall.
It’s a tough job but I get by. I get some referrals from them from time to time. But, the sweet jobs they keep for them selves.
And, then she pushed open my door. Tall, blond and rich, like they always say in those book. I couldn’t help but wonder if some intern at the big house made a mistake with their referral slip. There was no way she would stoop to getting ink on her fingers getting to my page in the book.
What was she doing here, anyway? Why’d she choose my dusty, cracked door?
Of course, I just had to wait until she opened her perfectly painted mouth to find out.
Already, I had a bad feeling about this…
- Tags: photo illustration, video
Related Stories from the Studio . . .
Our 20th Rocketboy and Gears Studio Holiday Card is out in the world. Here's a little about how we made our photo manipulation come alive. Happy Holidays to All!
Creating the Someone Who'll Watch Over Me poster was a special experience, especially since we had to concept, shoot and do post in less than 24 hours!
Photographing Fiddlehead Theatre Company's production of Andrew Lippa's A Little Princess
A Black Box Theater Poster photo shoot for Boston Teen Acting Troupe's inagural production of The 39 Steps. Minimalist in the photo studio.