Captain Radio Visits Pendant Productions

May 25, 2011 By 3 Comments

Captain Radio Audio Reviews

Graphic - FunGraphix.com | Theme music - Shane Lamb

Title: Pendant Productions
Executive Producer/Founder: Jeffrey Bridges
Type: Drama
Genre: Multiple – Anthology, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Horror, Super Hero, Fan Fiction

Rating: Primarily adult fare similar to graphic novels*
Availability: Free – PendantAudio.Com

 

Greetings, Audionauts – Captain Radio here with a visit to mega audio drama site, Pendant Productions.

Pendant Productions Logo In 2004, with the support and participation of friends and family, bound together by a love for all things Star Trek, Jeffrey Bridges launched Pendant Productions and its first series, Star Trek: Defiant. His goal was to use fan fiction to produce old-time radio chapter serial excitement for modern audiences. Not surprisingly, the second Pendant offering was Superman:

[SOUND BYTE]

When Bridges began to podcast, his energy, excitement, and prolific success at producing fan fiction audio drama readily infected others. Soon additional series from a small horde of new associate podcast producers and their minions virtually doubled Pendant output.

In this way, Batman, Wonder Woman, and The Martian Manhunter, among other DC super heroes, joined Superman, while Star Wars and the original series, Earth-P, joined Star Trek. British super-spy, James Bond, and archaeologist extraordinaire, Indiana Jones, round out a stellar fan fiction podcast lineup.

With so much low-to-no-budget production ongoing, and with so many producer “buddies” getting into the action, Pendant early pioneered remote recording techniques. Far-flung actors read and record their lines with on-hand equipment, then somehow post their recordings to the program “mother ship” to mix new shows.

Pendant Productions Logo
Taking a slightly new tack in 2007, Bridges struck an alliance with Genesis Avalon producer, Kathryn Pride, to develop an anthology series, Seminar. Each futuristic episode opens with a reverbed Instructor introducing a class learning experience which can be as simple as retrospectively “observing” actors Richard Castro and Bernadette Groves enjoying an enriching, if ultimately sad, Moment of connection:

[SOUND BYTE]

In 2009, Pendant premiered Green Arrow (voiced by Mark Bradford) who enjoys quite different “moments” of connection with gorgeous, tough, and icy hip crime-fighter, Black Canary (voiced by Anna Rodriquez). G.A. scripting neatly combines mundane scenes of witty alter ego realism with obligatory punchy super hero banter:

[SOUND BYTE]

Individual Pendant series producers strive conscientiously to hit their own personal high marks while enjoying the heck out of what their doing. The result, at minimum, is a Pendant Productions virtual mega-mall of entertaining, enjoyable, and frequently escapist audio drama featuring something almost certain to tantalize any listener.

Explore Jeffrey Bridges’ massive audio drama site, Pendant Productions, by visiting PendantAudio.com.

Pendant Productions stats (at time of review):
Total available episodes: 869
Total runtime: 433 hours, 15 mins, 08 secs
Commentary tracks (not included in runtime): 441
Total podcast hits: 46,748,000
Total mp3 downloads: 11,050,000

Until next time, Audionauts, this is Captain Radio, signing off!

 

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Captain Radio Visits Pendant Productions

 

* Rating based on the Audio Drama Directory Ratings System.

 

Filed Under: Articles, Captain Radio Reviews, Jeffrey Bridges, Pendant Productions Tagged With: , ,

Sound Design How To Video: Dreadgloom Swamp Scene from Spirit Blade

January 29, 2011 By 1 Comment

Another great sound design video via Paeter from Spirit Blade Productions.

He explains how they created the “Dreadgloom Swamp” sequence from the audio drama “Pilgrim’s Progress: Similitude Of A Dream”!

Says Paeter:

I’ve been asked multiple times exactly how this sequence was created, given all of the water involved. It was easily one of the most challenging to record! (But still a lot of fun as evidenced by the video.) And for the first time you can see how it was done!

Don’t miss his previous video, Making A Dragon SFX, or our feature of his show from a year ago

Filed Under: Articles, How To, Radio Drama, Spirit Blade Tagged With: , , , ,

Top 5 Best Things I’ve Done (And Will Continue to Do)

January 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Radio Drama Revival 3 Years in ReviewIn our final installment of our three-year anniversary special, I look back at some of the experiences and strategies (intended or accidental) that have made this show what it is.

Are you looking to start your own podcast?  Want to be a bigger part of the audio drama community?  Then I hope these tips help out a little bit.

  1. Reach out to the community

    When I started this show, I had no idea where all of the content would come from.

    The very first thing I did is send out a blast to the Radio Drama Listserv looking for content and WOW did they respond.  I have never actively seek new content since (though, of course, I still do).Huge kudos to Craig Wichman and Jay Stern who let me air their work without having any idea what I would be doing with this show.

    Quicksilver Radio Theater has gone on to be one of our most appreciated, and frequent, guests, and having them on the show brings me to the next point…

  2. Interview a Lot of People

    As I said, Craig Wichman and Jay Stern were happy to be interviewed way back in the early days – also special thanks to Scott Hickey and Brian Price who got involved early on.Interviewing all these storytellers, producers, writers, and directors has taught me a lot.

    I’ve learned who people are and where they’re coming from.  What starts people down the mad course of becoming a radio dramatist – the challenges they’ve faced, the fun they’ve had, and the things they’ve learned and would do differently next time.

    Not only has this been great content to share with all of you, but it’s taught me a lot in my own life as a dramatist.

    I picked up field recording early on, avoided some missteps, learned the rigors of live recording, and have gotten the jist of how you make a production happen and what good audio sounds like.

    So, for everyone who’s ever been so generous to spend some time to talk to me, THANK YOU.

  3. Do a Halloween Feature

    Bob Arnold has started calling October “Audio Drama Month” and I’m in agreeance.As a lark, for the first year of RDR I produced a month-long series of spooky stories and saw traffic to this podcast blow up.  The audience continued to grow at a steady basis until 2008, when I for the second time did a whole month of horror programming – kaplam!

    Another big spike in traffic.

    And this year, when I was running myself ragged with lack of sleep putting together my own live radio drama for Halloween, traffic spiked again, higher than ever, for Halloween 2009.

    October is huge in audio drama.  Milk it.

  4. Share the Love

    What makes the audio drama community so great is that it is full of pretention and egos.Unlike, well, some other performing and produced arts, audio dramatists are laid back, geeky people who you can have a beer with and talk shop.  You’ll especially notice this if you have the opportunity to go to the National Audio Theater Festivals.

    So, I make an effort to give back all the gifts of time people have given me by linking out to their shows, promoting stuff they’ve got going on, and connecting them with other people who might be able to help them out, or dig their work.  It’s what numerous other people have done for me, and the least I can do is pay it forward.

    And so far, it seems to be working.  Radio Drama Revival continues to grow.

  5. Pay Attention to Google

    In case you were ever wondering why this show is called “Radio Drama Revival,” not “audio drama revival,” it’s because of Google (well, RDR is also a little more catchy).Though we dramatists tend to call our work “audio drama” or “audio theater,” people who are looking for it for the first time tend to call it “radio drama.”  And so, I pelt it out, week after week – radio drama, radio drama, radio drama…

    I am a search marketer by trade, so I have a bit of an unfair advantage, but plenty of people can do what I’ve done without knowing all the other junk I know.

    Get set up on WordPress, install a few SEO plugins, and name your posts things that actually mention “radio drama” or maybe the genre of the show you’re featuring.

    It’s not rocket science.  And hell, if producers want me to give an introductory course on SEO for audio producers, let me know!

    Also, things like making sure your mp3 files have ID3 tags, are named consistently, have artwork that comes up right in iTunes, etc… are all really subtle, but make your podcast look more professional and polished.  RDR is produced for essentially $0 but that doesn’t mean I have an excuse not to look pro.

And so concludes our week of self-reflection…

I probably won’t do this again until we hit the big five-er :)   But, things continue to grow in audio drama, and believe me, you’ll see some pretty exciting news on this blog soon.

So, as always and ever, keep your mind and your ears open and let’s be in touch.

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5 Most Memorable Interviews

January 20, 2010 By 9 Comments

Radio Drama Revival Podcast Audio to Listen to AgainToday we continue our three year anniversary special and self-reflective analysis.  Today we focus on the most memorable interviews I’ve ever done.

This was a really hard one to put together, because I’ve done a ton. In fact, here’s a link to all interviews on Radio Drama Revival.

Here are some of what I consider the very best:

  1. Roger Gregg @ Crazy Dog HQ in Ireland (Episode 117)

    I’ve had the huge pleasure of speaking with Roger Gregg on several occasions, but none more interesting than in his den of iniquity in Dublin, Ireland.

    Roger speaks of the promise and challenge of audio programming, and how innovative use of art is the way to keeping audio relevant in the YouTube age.

  2. Tom Lopez on ZBS Film Noir (Episode 127)

    This past summer I was looking for people to talk about the National Audio Theater Festivals (NATF) and it made sense to talk to Tom Lopez again, arguably one of audio’s most influential and creative producers.

    This interview was fun because we got to talking about short-form audio drama and experimenting with a visual component.  Like Roger’s interview, we got a veteran’s view of audio in our society and ideas on how audio can keep its place in an environment of media glut.

  3. Sue Zizza and Pat Fenton (Episode 84)

    In what I think is my only interview with both producer and writer, Sue and Pat talked about the work that went into the audio dramatization of Jack’s Last Call, including a lot of fun anecdotes about Jack Kerouac’s life and some gems about audio production.

  4. Scott Hickey and Brian Price Talk about the Slasher (Episode 81)

    Ihad the occasion to sit in behind-the-scenes in the recording of “The Slasher,” an – ahem – killer work by The Grist Mill and a great opportunity to see seasoned vet Brian Price do what he does best.  This interview brought in producer and director to talk about their ambitious approach to audio – producing stories by published authors – and getting together an incredible cast and a professional recording space for their show.

  5. Erik Bauersfeld and Jim McKee Talk About Radio Drama in the Bay Area (Episode 134)

    In case interviewing Tom Lopez wasn’t good enough, I got to talk to his mentor, Erik Bauersfeld, who’s been inspired by radio drama since he first heard the Witches’ Tale back in the 1930s.

    In this interview we touch on everything from his early days at KPFA doing Black Mass to his pioneering productions in field recorded audio drama.  By the way, Erik won the prestigious audio luminary award from Third Coast Audio Festival this year!

Did I miss something?  Disagree?  Leave your thoughts in the comments.

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5 Episodes You Should Listen to Again

January 18, 2010 By 2 Comments

Radio Drama Revival Podcast Audio to Listen to AgainWelcome to day two of our three year anniversary special and self-reflective analysis.  Since Jan 2007, I’ve had a chance to feature a LOT of good work on the show.  75 hours and counting of audio goodness so far!

It’s impossible to feature everything that’s good, particularly because there are episodes in so many different genres, from a heavy dose of horror to holiday tales, classic retellings to contemporary drama, sci-fi, fantasy, and even a little bit of romance.

However, sometimes you just gotta pick your favorite babies.  Here are some episodes I think you should listen to again:

  1. Dialogue with Martian Trombone (Episode 13) – What can I say?  I’m a lover of jazz music and this absurd martian tale showcases the endless wit of Great Northern Audio Theater.  Having David Ossman and Philip Proctor from the Firesign Theatre certainly doesn’t hurt, either.
  2. Buried in Falling Sand (Episode 16) – While Dreamseeed has not produced much else, this gem of a sci-fi bears deserves a listen.This inspired, eerie tale does what science-fiction does best: use a society not so unlike our own to tell us truths we’d rather not know.  What WOULD happen if we had a drug that made us forget the work day?
  3. God of the Razor (Episode 94) - The Grist Mill has produced many fine tales, but God of the Razor may be the best.Moody, atmospheric, and unremittingly dark, Joe Lansdale‘s God of the Razor tells of the dark that lurks in the basements of East Texas… and in the hearts of men.
  4. The Salmon of Blackpool (Episode 52, Episode 53, Episode 54, and Episode 55) – Okay, here’s a cheat, because it’s a series of four episodes, not just one, but it is worth it.Crazy Dog Audio Theatre‘s “Salmon of Blackpool” is simply one of the most compelling produced and moving pieces of audio drama I’ve ever heard.  The only thing I’ve listened to that deserves the name “audio cinema.”  Give a listen and tell me you don’t agree.
  5. Hayward Sanitarium (Episode 126) – And let’s not miss this entry from the catalogue of audio suspense.While we only featured one episode of it, “Hayward” is a masterfully written and produced tale of the goings-on at one strange home for the mentally in coastal Maine.  The precedent for shows like Wormwood and Shadow Falls, even if they don’t know it!
  6. Medusa on the Beach (Episode 138) – Okay, well this is #6, but I couldn’t help myself.  I’m addicted to myth and Wireless Theatre Company‘s “Medusa on the Beach” retells the myth of medusa beautifully.  Cheeky, moving, and dark, I’m delighted from the first few minutes.

Did I forget one of your favorites?  Want to share what you thought about a great audio artist?  Leave something in the comments below.

Tomorrow, we talk about the greatest interviews with audio artists over the past three years.

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Reviving Radio Drama – 3 Years in Review

January 17, 2010 By 3 Comments

Radio Drama Revival 3 Years in ReviewIt doesn’t seem like so long ago that a chance opening at local radio station WMPG gave me a great opportunity: start my own weekly radio show dedicated to radio drama.

My goal from the beginning: expose more people to the medium of radio drama and give me an opportunity to share my own work with others.

Suddenly it’s 3 years later, and Radio Drama Revival has gone a lot of places I never expected and given me the opportunity to do a lot of cool stuff.

I’ve talked to lots of really awesome people, legends like Tom Lopez (two times), Roger Gregg (two times on the phone, and once in person), Tony Palermo, and Erik Bauersfeld, authors Mort Castle and Joe Lansdale, and all sorts of great independent dramatists, such as Brian Price and Jerry Stearns, Marc Rose and Geral McQuinn, Doug Bost, the guys behind Wormwood… the list goes on.

So, in light of all this, and a little sentimental, this week on Radio Drama Revival I’ll put posting some “top 5″ features – “best of,” if you will, from my heavily biased and nostalgic perspective.

We’ll start today.

5 Most Interesting Web Stats

It’s the digital age, and as a podcaster I have a LOT of data to try and comprehend. Here are some of the more interesting giblets:

  1. Radio Drama Revival has approximately 400 regular weekly listeners via RSS (as reported by Feedburner).  RDR has had over 300 subscribers since the end of October, 2008.
  2. Each episode gets 500-1000 (!) downloads right away, and stuff deep in the archives (episodes 100 and lower) still gets downloaded!Pretty much every archived episode gets at least one download a week.
  3. The single most popular day on Radio Drama Revival, ever, was October 31, 2009, with about 500 people landing on the website.Overall, the October horror stories effort has been a huge success which is why I keep doing it. I’ll talk more about that in a follow-up post.
  4. God bless Google.Nearly half of all traffic to this website comes from Google alone, particularly because of the good rankings I get for “radio drama” and “radio drama podcast”There seems to be some name recognition, though, because a decent amount of traffic comes from the word “Radio drama revival” and 20% of visitors actually return using a bookmark or typing in the domain by hand.
  5. It’s not a surprise that the biggest audience for RDR is the US (about 66%), but outside of the US, the show is quite a global force! 155 countries tune in to the show, with every inhabited continent representing (sadly, no listeners from Greenland). The top 10? U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Phillipines, India, and France. Radio drama is an international phenomenon!

Tomorrow, we’ll be going through the archives to find the Top 5 Episodes You Should Listen to Again.

And if it seems like I’m missing anything, do leave a note in the comments!

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