Wednesday, November 29, 2006
It's the next-to-last day of the month, and we're also perilously close
to the end of the Fall semester. I'll start this week's update with a quote:
"The most perfect technique
is that which is not noticed
at all."
I think those few words perfectly and accurately reflect and sum up
the goal of every audio editor/mixer/producer. They belong to Pablo Casals, a famous Spanish cellist and conductor. The fact
that he was a person who achieved fame in an audio profession makes his simple statement that much more eloquent and on target.
OUT-OF-CLASS
RECORDING/EDITING/MIXING PROJECTS
There are many details and particulars concerning your PERSONAL
STORY #3 and FINAL AUDIO STORY projects in the previous update (uploaded November 15). Here are additional things you need to know to successfully complete both.
First, your third and last PERSONAL STORY ("First
Time") this semester is due Tuesday (December 5).
Please turn in to me your script and an audio CD copy of your "final
mix." On your script, please indicate: on what computer your project files are saved (room 103 or room 105);
the names of your edit decision list(s) – you may have one for your
"voice master" and a second one for your music mix – and your final mix wave (.wav) file; and the name(s) of the music
cut(s) you used (include the CD#/Track #/Track Title) to open and close your story.
As you work on your FINAL AUDIO STORY, please
keep in mind that I will be looking (and listening!) for you to use multiple tracks (sensibly) to layer (overlap)
sounds and to fade audio in/out when/where appropriate. Pay careful attention to ALL of your levels, beginning with when you
record audio into the computer. Remember to use the meters as a guide/reference – your ears should be the ultimate judge,
though! – to help you determine fader adjustments and the proper mix (and, possibly, panning) of sounds.
One reminder about writing/recording/editing dialogue: people –
in real, normal conversations – talk over each other, cut each other off, and do not always speak in complete
sentences. If your story includes conversation/dialogue, you want to make it believable!
Just like Personal Story #3, you only are authorized to use music from
the Fresh Music Library in your final production. You cannot use popular songs nor music on commercial releases.
QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK (PART ONE)
Let's cover some "people in the news" in this first set of questions.
The television and film industries mourned the deaths of CBS journalist
Ed Bradley and movie director Robert Altman this month.
Bradley was born in Philadelphia and like many people you've heard/learned
about this semester (including sound effects expert Randy Thom), his "career" began in radio. At what Philadelphia AM radio
station did Bradley "moonlight"/volunteer/work while he was teaching sixth grade, fresh out of college? (Correct
answer is worth two points.)
Director/producer/writer Altman received an Honorary Award at the 78th
Academy Awards® Show on March 5, 2006, which acknowledged "a career that has repeatedly reinvented the
art form and inspired filmmakers and audiences alike."
A radio show was the subject of Altman's last film, which played
in theaters this past summer. Name the movie and the film's "tag line," which references the visual nature of good radio/audio. (If you correctly answer both, you will earn two points.)
Eliot Spitzer, meanwhile, is very much alive and was elected Governor
of New York State on November 7 with 69% of the vote. He will succeed George Pataki in 2007. As the current New York State
Attorney General, Spitzer has successfully investigated/prosecuted crimes related to a "scandal" involving record labels
and radio stations. The same type of scandal rocked the American radio/music industries in the 1950s. What is the (one) word
used to describe this illegal practice? (Correct answer is worth one point.) For an
additional point, provide a definition of the word.
There are more questions further down.
In the meantime ...
TERRY
GROSS and IRA GLASS INTERVIEWS on AUDIO CD
Your current
LISTENING ASSIGNMENT is two audio segments where two National Public Radio "stars" act as both interviewer/interviewee.
Your job is to write a reaction paper (two pages) – based on your listening and any additional "research" you do –
where you detail at least five major points concerning radio interviewing, audio storytelling and any unique advantages radio
and/or audio have as effective communication media.
Terry Gross is the esteemed host of NPR's "Fresh Air," produced at WHYY (90.9 FM) in Philadelphia. "Fresh Air" reaches over four million listeners each week and is one of public
radio's most popular programs, airing on WHYY from 3:00 until 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and rebroadcast each night
at 7:00. Gross is the author of "All I Did Was Ask: Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists."
Ira Glass is the producer and host of the highly-regarded/praised public
radio documentary series "This American Life," which airs on WHYY-FM at noon Sundays and again at 10:00 p.m. Wednesdays. It is a weekly, one-hour program, based in Chicago.
The Showtime Networks is producing a cable TV version of the award-winning program and has committed to a six-episode run,
tentatively scheduled to air in "the first few months of 2007."
I strongly encourage you to explore the program's
Web site where you will find a lot of useful information concerning audio storytelling. I have provided
a link to one of the articles on that Web site on this Web site (go to the "Links" page). It's labelled "Ira Glass' Manifesto" on how to make radio (in three parts).
In his introduction to the article (which is on Transom.org, another great Web site you should explore!), Jay Allison (who hosted/narrated the "Sonic Memorial"
audio segments I played in September) writes that "Ira's ... Manifesto begins with his utter lack of talent at this work."
That knowledge alone can provide more encouragement to students who reacted positively to Randy Thom's exhortations to experiment
in your work and to risk making mistakes. Indeed, "Failure" often is the greatest teacher.
By the way, David Sedaris – Time magazine's "Humorist
of the Year" in 2001 and a best-selling author – introduces the Gross/Glass CD. He frequently contributes original radio
pieces to National Public Radio (and specifically "This American Life") and he was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2005
for Best Spoken Word Album and Best Comedy Album. His sister is the actress Amy Sedaris.
QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK (PART TWO)
On Tuesday (November 21) we watched/listened to five stories from professional
storytellers Donald Davis, Carmen Agra Deedy, Rex Ellis, Syd Lieberman and Waddie Mitchell (but not in that exact order).
The stories we saw/heard were: "Belle of the Ball"; "My Dad The Healer"; "That's
What Mamas Do"; "There Is A Season"; and, "You're Gonna Miss Me."
Simply match the storyteller with his/her story. (If
you correct answer all five, you will earn four points.)
Next, Many people regard Ted Koppel
– the former ABC News journalist and "Nightline" anchor, who left that program and the network this time last year –
one of broadcast journalism's best interviewers. I include myself in that "many." He now works for the Discovery Channel and
in June he added the role of senior news analyst for National Public Radio to his credentials. Koppel began his broadcasting
career at WMCA Radio in New York.
Anyway, in one of the handouts I distributed
in class on Tuesday (November 28). Koppel says that what makes Terry Gross a highly-respected radio interviewer is something
"that sounds like an obvious thing for an interviewer to do, and it's amazing to me how few do it." What does she do, according
to Koppel? (Correct answer is worth two points.)
Still more questions are coming up! Keep reading!
Remember ...
... that your COMPLETE JOURNAL FOLDER – including your final Weekly Essay #12
– is due Tuesday, December 5. You must turn in your folder with ALL 12 entries.
... that there is a $15.00 ($14.15 + Tax) materials fee
for this course (to be paid to Jim Templeton in cash – I have ones and fives to make change – or by check).
... that as of Wednesday, November 29, we have three classes remaining for you to execute/complete the two
in-class group assignments we've been talking about and that you've started working on (the picture/sound effects mix and
the Communication Department audio segments for a commercial). Again, the goal of both is to increase your knowledge of –
and practical experience in – audio production.
... that you will have a chance to fill out the department/university course/instructor evaluation form at
the start of class on Thursday, December 7 (our last class meeting).
QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK (PART THREE)
Here are two holiday-related questions to wrap up this week's update.
First, I hope everyone enjoyed a Happy Thanksgiving!
The holiday means many things to many people ... and football could be on your list of "things." So what is the significance
of the 1934 Thanksgiving Day game between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears? Your answer should have a radio component
to it. (A complete and correct answer is worth four points.)
And second, with holiday tunes already on the airwaves
(B101 in Philadelphia has been playing all Christmas music for a couple of weeks now), the American Society of Composers,
Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) on Monday (November 27) announced its Top 25 most performed holiday songs for the past five
years, based on performance data tracked by radio airplay monitoring service Mediaguide.
According to these ASCAP rankings: What is the most-performed holiday song? What is the
newest song on the list (making the Top 25 for the first time)? And what is the most-recorded holiday song (which is #5 on
the list)? (Each correct answer/song title is worth two points, for a total of six points here.)
E-mail me (Jim) the correct answer(s) to any or ALL of the above questions (in three parts!)
by 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 5, to earn up to twenty-two (22) points on your "Homework"
grade sheet.
Good luck with everything you're working on, and please let me know if/when you have any questions or concerns.
The opportunities you have to make sure you get everything out of this Audio Production class you wanted to walk away with
are becoming limited, so please make good use of the time we have left together this semester.
I started this update with a quote and I'm going to end with one, too. Another prominent person who passed
away in November is Bebe Moore Campbell, the author of three New York Times bestsellers. She was a prolific writer
and (I see a constant theme here!) a regular commentator for "Morning Edition," a program on National Public Radio. She was
born and raised in Philadelphia and later lived (and died) in Los Angeles at the age of 56 from brain cancer. Her favorite
quote on being a writer was:
"Discipline is the servant of inspiration."
Jim Templeton
P.S. You can access earlier "editions" of this
semester's "Latest News" by clicking on the appropriate date/link:
