Project Update
Los Suelos, CA is off to a great start! We received more than 160 pitches for story and art ideas, and now we're working with over 40 contributors to develop a rich, interactive multimedia universe. We have launched a partnership with the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, such that all proceeds from the Los Suelos, CA project will directly benefit farmworkers and other disadvantaged communities right here in California. We anticipate a February 2022 launch.
Progress on objectives
Develop all the necessary infrastructure for a collaborative multimedia universe
We have engaged an experienced web developer and Coil consultant (previous Grant for the Web awardee Sam Allemang) who is in the process of building our website. We set up social media pages and a Discord server for contributors. This website will serve as the platform for a wide variety of interactive media.
Create a baseline of creative work
Over the last 3 months, we have worked to identify contributors for our fiction anthology. They have begun sending us drafts and further developing the universe. Other contributors are developing visual art pieces, audio works, and other components to add to the shared universe of Los Suelos.
Develop a creative platform that fairly compensates artists and writers from diverse backgrounds, and benefits charitable organizations in California
Thanks to the grant from Interledger Foundation, we've been able to pledge professional rates to all contributors. Our contributor agreement ensures professional pay on a work-for-hire basis, while also allowing creators to reproduce their work in a personal anthology in the future. We have partnered with the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, who has already helped to boost our project within their donor network.
Key activities
As the project has gotten underway, we've been able to improve and expand upon its initial scope, energized by the input and ideas of our contributors. Rather than a simple point-and-click map, we are now developing an interactive narrative RPG that synthesizes many of the stories and artworks for the project, which will be Coil monetized. We are also in post-production for several musical and audio components to supplement the Los Suelos, CA universe. Other planned project components such as fiction works, the Coil-monetized website, and visual art are progressing as expected.
Communications and marketing
We have created multiple social media channels (twitter, instagram, facebook), including some in-world accounts. The Discord server, while currently limited to editors and contributors of Los Suelos, CA, will eventually be opened to readers, making the experience even more immersive. The project has also gained visibility through our partnership with CRLAF.
What’s next?
The editorial work is just getting underway as we continue to collect drafts (literary and visual) from contributors. The game is in development and we'll begin beta testing in the near future. As the anthology develops, we're planning to get more exposure through public announcements of our contributors, press releases and reviews of our game and music.
What community support would benefit your project?
Social media support and word of mouth are always needed! Any press releases, especially mentioning the CRLAF partnership.
Relevant links/resources
www.lossuelos.com/
www.twitter.com/SurfaceDwellers
www.twitter.com/CRLAFoundation
Top comments (1)
This great and exciting to see come to life. Excited to learn more how you will be using Web Monetization and how you might convert users to that process. Lots of folks have worked on these issues, so good to look to other projects for advice.