Largehearted Boy on WBHM’s Tapestry
Late last year, I pitched a story to WBHM’s Tanya Ott. I’ve been a long-time reader of the blog largehearted boy. A highly regarded music and literature blog based out of Birmingham seemed an excellent fit for WBHM’s monthly cultural magazine Tapestry. Happily, Tanya agreed.
In February, I drove up to Birmingham, borrowed a studio from WBHM, and interviewed David Gutowski using my own gear. I dutifully checked the recording during and after the interview and drove home to Auburn. When I sat down in my studio that evening and slipped the card into the reader I was puzzled to find the file would not open in Adobe Audition. Puzzlement turned to dismay when I discovered that the quarter-GB file on my card resisted every program I threw at it. I solicited opinions from friends and colleagues, but after a week resigned myself to the fact that the interview was lost to an unexplained equipment glitch. I contacted David, who was very understanding, yet his busy schedule and my busy schedule thwarted subsequent efforts to get together. I resigned myself to the idea that it was a good story idea that would never quite come to pass.
Then, late in the summer, a post appeared on the Association of Independents in Radio (AIR) message board suggesting a solution to my problem. David Fender had taken the time to dig into the hexadecimal code of similarly corrupted file and had found a solution. He posted a detailed explanation that worked like a charm.
I’m very pleased with the final feature, which aired on Tapestry’s October edition. It also, I think, represents the best of what a professional organization like AIR has to offer. David Fender tackled a thorny problem that has been an infrequent, but frustrating issue for his colleagues and promptly and freely shared his fix far and wide. I am truly in his debt.
Credit, too, to Tanya Ott. I have wanted to work with her for a long time and the experience far surpassed my already high expectations. Her edit was clear and concise and made this a far better feature than it would have been otherwise.
The Place + Memory Project: The Rabbit Hutch
Last month, I had the good fortune to provide a small contribution to a radio feature for The Place + Memory Project. Shea Shackelford produced an excellent audio portrait of a northern Alabama restaurant, The Rabbit Hutch. I drove up to Decatur, Alabama for a phone sync at the home of the delightful Ann Venz. The story aired on Weekend Edition Saturday. A longer director’s cut is available for listening on The Place + Memory Project site.
WTTS: David Byrne Ticket Giveaway Promo
I don’t post a lot of my work with WTTS. This is a quantity issue rather than a quality issue. I like the work, there’s just so much of it.
I really liked this promo, though. It’s not just the production, but the overall concept and execution. I never would have considered going with the concept were it not for the talents of a great voice-over artist, Ross McIntyre. I have him a script and asked him to take a swing. As usual, he knocked it out of the park.
Auburn University Theatre: The Complete History of America (abridged) Radio Commercial
The only thing better than happening upon a creative concept you like when writing a radio spot, is working with a talented group of people who really bring that concept to life. Working with the students at Auburn University Theatre is such a pleasure. They bring tremendous enthusiasm and hard work to the process. The three actors for this production of The Complete History of America (abridged), Payne Hopton-Jones, Emily Stephenson, and Jim Taylor all did excellent work, but I have to admit Emily’s vocal inflection on, “Hurry!” really makes the spot for me. There was no real coaching or direction on my part. I set the actors opposite one another on the mainstage, two on one mic, one on the other and rotated them around each reading each line of the script on the individual track. The overall result was the kind of great work that happens when the voice talent really embraces and settles in with the script.
The WTTS World Class Rock Report
With this morning’s publication of the second podcast and the first feature for week three loaded to the stream, I’m happy to announce WTTS World Class Rock Report is officially launched.
Auburn University Department of Music: Jeremy Samolesky Piano Recital Radio Commercial
This spot is pretty straight forward, though I do have to say that I’m pleased with the spin I took on the traditional testimonial.
The real story behind the spot is a small bit of tech behind it. I came into the spot counting on the Department of Music’s ability to provide the piano recording, for which I expected we would use the set up in the recital hall. As it turns out, they recently purchased a Kawai PR-1 CD Recorder. Kawai says, You’ve never seen anything like the Kawai PR-1…” and they’re right. It sounds just great!
Auburn University Theatre: A Shayna Maidel Radio Commercial
I complain about writing and producing 30-second radio commercials, but in the end the brevity of the format often brings out my best work. A Shayna Maidel presented an interesting challenge beginning with the title. If the listener never gets past the unfamiliarity of the title, there won’t be much hope of delivering any kind of pitch to come out and see the play. I like to think the solution I settled on gives the listener a succinct explanation while setting up the personal, emotional distance between the sisters that is at the heart of the play.
