Escapist Podcast Project
An Escapist iCafe project has been attempted in the past. A pity that it didn't work. Instead, we're going to have a podcast. That's a half-hour or so (time may vary depending on interest and content) downloadable program, which will be released every two weeks. As a fortnightly thing, there'll be ongoing programmes and features which continue from podcast to podcast. Sort of like the regular features here on Escapist. This will be based on the community and on gaming, though we're not opposed to subject matter which goes outside of that in terms of stories and the like.
The download will be available from one of the many file-share sites on the net, we'll have a direct link to it posted on the site, probably on the Escapist Facebook and if all else fails, I'm in IRC most of the time, I'll have it.
Some of the program ideas which have been tossed around are:
Radio Comedy. This would be an ongoing feature, either with an evolving storyline or episodic storytelling where each segment is a short in and of itself, with the characters continuing. Think of The Goon Show if you'd like a point of reference. If you've never heard of that I suggest looking it up.
Radio Drama. Like comedy, except with less giggles. Radio drama doesn't have to be script-based, it can also be the reading of stories with sound effects, different character voices (one for narrator, one for character A, etc.) and the like. Short stories, long stories, anything really.
Spoof News. In this segment the presenter takes a story like say, the abandoning of Duke Nukem Forever and puts a different spin on it. Like the idea that the publishers gave up after realising that outright porn was a better industry to go in. An Australian example would be Good News Week, in which political news is satirised.
Review Discussions. We have a user reviews sections, this is a little like that, but more along the lines of people talking over a game from different perspectives. There would be critical analysis involved, no doubt more than a little humour as well. The whole thing is pretty light-hearted.
Best-Of. An overview of the fortnight talking about the threads which were epic, the articles we really liked, all that kind of thing.
Interviews. (Edit) This would be pre-recorded interviews with people. Be they staff, users, game developers or webcomic designers. We'll take them if you've got them, or if you can get them. We might even provide rope to restrain the interviewee.
Now, Escapists one and all, I have a request of you in this. I want your submissions for scripts, stories, user reviews, jokes, suggestions, threads and ideas. Mmm.. tasty ideas. While short comments and suggestions are welcome here on this very thread I'd prefer if people could email scripts and longer pieces to us, and write a comment with an overview of it here for other people to look at.
Email us at [email protected] with the title of the piece, what it is (script, whatever) and your username as the subject. Including this as a top line in the email itself will be appreciated.
A few notes with this. I'm looking for high quality stuff, and will be editing scripts mercilessly to keep everything up to scratch. Baby Tea will do the same with the recordings. This is an all-or-nothing kind of thing, either we do it well or not at all.
Radio, obviously, also needs people to present it. Baby Tea and I want users in on that too. However there are some guidelines from the Producer (Baby Tea) himself.
Production requirements would be as follows:
- I would need all audio by the end of the deadline week. Every last bit of it. The earlier the better. If it's not in the segment doesn't run. I may make exceptions in a few cases, but trust me: Those will be few and far between.
- If there is a script, I need that too. The script will always have any mention of any needed sound FX.
- If someone is going to use the audio from a youtube clip (Game trailer, movie trailer, whatever), then I need the URL as well as my in and out cues.
Example: 0:23 - 1:20
- If you are using special Sound FX (Light-saber, special game noise, whatever) then you provide it. I can provide a heck of a lot of basic and simple SFX, but as a general rule: If it's special, you get it.
- If you're recording and you fub a line from a script, back up and say that line again. I can piece it all together and make you sound fine, but make sure you say it again. If you flub a word and you're not in a script, back up anyways and just repeat that sentence. Again: I'll piece it together.
- Check your levels. Make sure that you aren't distorting the mic by talking super loud, or talking too softly. Just touching zero dB is perfect. Every recording piece of software I've ever seen has a level (dB) gauge of some kind. Use it.
- Practice. Avoid 'uhh' and 'ummm'. You think ZP is done in one take? No. Practice and know what you're going to say. Script the whole thing out if you have to, but have direction in anything and everything you say.
- I do this for a living, so if anyone has any questions or wants help with something then please let me know. I want this to sound good, so I'll help in whatever way I can so make sure it does.
Recording Instructions
There's a sound recorder which can be found in the Start menu of Microsoft PCs. Go to Programs - Accessories - Entertainment - Sound Recorder. A warning, it's not a very good program. Other options are to use freeware programs such as Audacity [http://audacity.sourceforge.net/] or, if you're really determined, you can buy something like Reason and record into that.
Once recorded, save the file and either attach it to an email, sent to the address above, or upload it to a fileshare site such as any of those mentioned here [http://goodblimey.com/archives/2006/09/02/huge-list-of-upload-services/] and email a link and description.
Copyright
We're doing this on zero budget. Paying people for scripts and recordings just isn't an option I'm afraid. By uploading recordings and sending material you're allowing us full use of it, with a credit given to say what you were involved in when the link to the podcast is published. I'm going to go with screen names for this, but if you would prefer a real name instead, let me know. It'll also have what you did for example "Baby Tea - Producer". If that isn't your kind of thing no hard feelings, but it's a pity.
Music royalties are also not an option. Baby Tea has a whole range of royalty-free music which is available for use. Users are also free to record their own music, but it's subject to the same things as scripts and voice recordings. If you've got specific permission from an artist to use their work please send a copy of the agreement to the above email address. PDF format is preferred. The idea here is that we don't want to be caught out inadvertently. We want all this to be entirely kosher so that we can keep doing it without too much stress.
This thread, and the next three weeks, are for raw submissions. Feeling out ideas which may be used later in production. The pilot programme could take a bit to produce, and from there the entire process will take a little to get smooth. It's a long-haul situation. If you don't think you can keep up your part of production give the ideas over to someone with more time. There will be some lee-way with that kind of thing, and we want variety so individuals should have plenty of time to do what they need but it's not endless. Just like a publication has a deadline so will we. Think very carefully before taking a huge amount onto your plate.
Anyway! Comment away, and if you need more info on the production process I suggest contacting Baby Tea [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/profiles/view/Baby%20Tea] above me. I'm always up for answering questions on editing and the like. Earl Gray's the man for everything else.
