The Day of the Shoot

The continuing saga of my novel: Jettison

, 1999

Troy said 8:30AM.
I said fine.
I get up at 6:15 and bathed. A full sized tub. Nice. My house in Fremont has minitubs.
I flexed sore shoulders (nice) and dressed. I limited my makeup (turned out to be a mistake) - just enough not to scare people - because I will get made up today. And I am to be photographed today.
And then, after two coffees, I do what women do. I iron.
Or try to.
The red vest does not want to submit to this (the metallic one - the one in the photo that we end up choosing for the cover). Not much of the velvet does, including the outfit I am wearing.
I prevail as best I can and have my stuff assembled. Vests. Pins. Scissors. Thread. Last minute stuff.
I put my stuff into the car.
The boys however......
Troy (looking drop dead sexy in a tank top and shorts and a baseball cap) cruises through the parking lot and heads for the gym to pump up a little. Missed a chance to photograph that.
He looks very good.
My son finally buzzes through (I had called him - he had slept through the alarm and wakeup call.) and goes after Troy.
I stand at the side of the car, writing on the roof, enjoying the sunshine. It is so rare that we see it in Northern California.
They passed each other.
They wander around - Troy in the spa - my son checking on us both.
We have time. I want him relaxed.
Finally assembled, we hit the IHOP (we know where it is - I was in its parking lot last night looking for a light to read the address by).
We have egg white omelets for breakfast. Oatmeal is ordered to eat there and to go. Big men consume much more than I do.
Especially ones with muscles.
We drive to the studio - easy - since it is just blocks from my San Diego house.
Ron Jones is already setting up.
The plant people are late but Doris is ready so we get Troy into makeup. Like he needs it!
The plant people arrive and deliver an interesting assortment of tall and short foliage (Good Earth) and round rocks (fake). There are real rocks (flat) in the studio and moss and a white backdrop. A stock photo (angry sky) will be dropped into the white space.
Troy has two belts - I like the silver one. He has his gold neck chain on (keep it). A silver watch (futuristic). Earrings. (Leave them.)
A bit of a pirate.
He has another chain on his wrist (keep it).
Black pants.
Black boots.
He chooses the silver belt - and puts it on backwards.
And provides one very well defined tanned body to go with.
Lovely.
The gun has survived the trip. A big gun.
Almost as big as Troy.
Laser canons are big. Kind of like a Terminator gun. An Aliens gun. A big blaster.
We get him into the first vest - metallic red one. The one that didn't want to be ironed. It is too big - so I get to pin him into it.
Oh, I don't mind that!
Does Troy ever look good!
The rocks are hard for me to step over - or get one leg up on - we had used me to test the focus.
Troy is taller but it is hard - he has to stretch. And balance at the same time.
We set the stage - leading 93 survivors to safety - alert for that tiger (read the book) - the gone-native survivors of a previous crash (hostile) and that man-eating plant (there is one in Africa - man-sized - does eat the unwary - as I said, read the book).
Captain Troy (Captain Daniels) at the ready, climbing up to crest the hill, taking the lead, just before he gets it with a spear (read the book).
Get those eyes!
Show those muscles!
I have to calm down. I have sample issues of RT. Solo male covers. Like this but....
Get that shot.
Troy and the photographer hit it off - they work very well together.
John helps, gets to play gopher, and shoots four rolls himself. Document the shoot.
I empty two cameras.
Why not?
Troy is concerned - he doesn't want me to get his profile!
He wants to change his nose.
I warn him - 40 women will descend on him and spank him! Leave that sexy face alone!
Doris and I keep telling him, "There are no bad shots with you".
He's got some ideas of his own for posing - good work!
He stops to pump up once in a while. Drops and does pushups.
Oh be still my heart!
I have one shot of him on the floor doing this!
I have to behave. I have to be professional. I try not to be too distracted.
We try the different vests.
Dark red, red, blue green and the black Ranger vest.
I get to pin him in all but the blue-green one (I was in makeup).
My photo shoot - I get to dress him! So there!
Of course, the pins take a few minutes to work into the fabric.
Ho. Ho. Ho.
Didn't bother me any!
We do five hours - almost straight through (pauses to reload cameras, change positions, sip coffee, change vests, drink water.)
I watch to see that he doesn't get too tired and fall off the fake rocks!
Don't want real blood!
Of course, if he had been bashed in his competition - we would have shot it anyway. My Captain gets banged up on the way to the shuttle (read the book).
It's hard work to hold the heavy gun, flex both arms, show those abs, watch the mouth, the eyes, the expression, and be stretched out in an awkward position with one leather-pants covered leg up on a rock, leaning into the camera and not falling off the rock.
He does this well.
He wants this to be good.
Oh Troy!
Don't worry!
There were several:
"Hold that!"
"Get that!"
"Right there!"
We really had useable shots on the very first roll. (The one chosen for the cover is with the first vest.)
We try for variety.
When it was all over, Ron told me I would probably have too many to choose from.
(He's right. I have WAY TOO MANY GOOD PICTURES FROM THIS SHOOT!)
Way to go!
Need a model who is a delight?
Call Troy!
I'm already planning my next book.
Make that, the next two books.
And guess who I'm gonna call?
And he does look good in red.
Black isn't bad on him either!

Requiem for Amelia - let's see - deep red Regency dressing gown - open just enough......leaning on the library door.... Oh dear!