How Sound

Andy Mills won "Best New Artist" at the 2011 Third Coast Filmless Festival. Well deserved. Have a listen.

Tobacco warehouse, Richmond, Virginia, circa 1918. r Keys to good storytelling: strong, simple writing; solid voicing; professional recording and mixing; compelling characters; a seductive narrative; visuals..... What else? John Biewen says "sure-handedness," a compelling, internal logic where one idea flows seamlessly into the next. John's a freelance radio producer and the Audio Program Director at the Center for Documentary Studies (CDS). He's taught techniques for sure-handedness to hundreds of students and shares a few of those tips on this edition of HowSound. We also listen to a CDS student production from 2003 about Edward Stephenson, a tobacco auctioneer. It's produced by Mara Zepada and Kate Waters. John says it's a great example of sure-handedness. And, with all your spare time, check out a slew of CDS-produced stories at PRX. Ciaodah, Rob r

r The Third Coast International Audio Festival is three days of ear candy. Producers from around the world travel to Chicago to share work, talk shop, and, most importantly, listen. Unfortunately, Third Coast only happens every other year. So, 2012 is a Third Coast year. However, the geniuses at Third Coast went and invented the Filmless Festival for the off years. It's a full day of audio hijinks capped with an awards ceremony. This year, the Filmless Festival is Sunday, October 23. Tickets are still available. On this edition of HowSound, I present one of the stories featured at this year's Filmless Festival -- "Seizure's Lament" by Canadian producer Carma Jolly. It's a well-crafted mix of first-person essay and sound art. You might want to wear headphones for this one. Then, when you're done, make your way to Chicago for more. Keep listening, Rob r

Natural gas well. Photo by Long Haul Productions. r A little bit of criticism is okay. It's good to hear constructive (and, sometimes, not-so-constructive) feedback. However, a LOT of criticism, especially if it's pointed, well.... that's just plain hard to take. National Public Radio received a slew of listener complaints about Dan Collison and Elizabeth Meister's July 8 story "The Natural State" which aired on All Things Considered. Robert Siegel and Michele Norris even read a few 'jabs' on-air. "The Natural State" is part of Dan and Elizabeth's on-going series Song+Story where they meld traditional reporting and song writing -- an adventurous approach to storytelling. But, apparently, it's too adventurous for NPR's listeners. Dan and Elizabeth talk about the public reaction to the story on this edition of HowSound. And, of course, we feature the piece, too. Have a listen. Cheers, Rob PS - Here's a link to all of Dan and Elizabeth's work posted at PRX.

Katie Davis reports from her porch.* r Katie Davis doesn't look very far for the stories she produces. In fact, they often come to her.... on her front porch. For many years, Katie has reported stories for public radio direct from her home, the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, D.C. And, these aren't news-maker stories. They're the stories about "how people live and what they value," what former Washington Post writer Walt Harrington calls "intimate journalism." Dispatches from the corner store. Observations on trash, the neighborhood hoarder, and conflict resolution on the basketball court. Her essays are simultaneously local and universal. For this HowSound, we feature Katie's essay produced in the aftermath of 9/11 -- An Inner-City Reality Check. I think she was brave to write this essay given the climate in the country at the time. So was NPR for broadcasting it. Currently, Katie is Senior Producer at "The Story." She's eager for story pitches from independent producers. You should contact her! thestory@wunc.org Happy listening, Rob r * For the record, this photo was on the porch at the Center for Documentary Studies, not Katie's actual porch.

The amount of effort Sally Herships put into her first investigative journalism piece..... well, it's enough to drive you to smoke! "The Five Percent Rule" is Sally's 10-month-long foray into investigative reporting, a story on the under-pricing of tobacco on military bases. The piece aired on Marketplace in June of 2011 as part of a series on tobacco. On this edition of HowSound, Sally talks about some of her behind-the-scenes work on the project. It's a bit startling, actually. Huge spreadsheets, hundreds of phone calls.... even a new pair of special glasses to prevent the headaches she was getting from looking at a computer screen too long. Sally says she received assistance from I.R.E. -- Investigative Reporters and Editors. They were a tremendous help for this kind of deep reporting and exacting work. Have a listen then let us know about your investigative work. Ciao, Rob PS - Here's Sally's blog for "The Five Percent Rule." And, no, Sally doesn't smoke. PPS - This edition of HowSound was produced on Hindenburg software rather than ProTools, my usual audio editor of choice for a good dozen years. I haven't switched to Hindenburg, but I sure like it a lot.  

  In 2005, Richard Paul produced a story for Studio 360 called "Fighting With My Dad." Richard hasn't talked to his dad since. "I can’t think of anything more fraught," Richard says, "than doing a story that explores intimate things about your relationship with your parents." On this edition of HowSound, Richard talks about interviewing his dad and the epiphany that lead to breaking all ties. Later, after listening to the story, check out Richard's website. He produces a considerable amount of content for non-broadcast outlets. Perusing his site might give you some ideas for new clients and production projects.    

  News on July 30, 2011: We're now up on iTunes. Go ahead and subscribe. The button is in the sidebar.  Here it is, the first HowSound, the backstory to great radio storytelling. And, we kick things off in a graveyard -- hopefully, that's not foreshadowing! The story I'm featuring is called "Four Feet Under." The thing that strikes me about the piece is an out-take from an interview with the graveyard superintendent. Wow. Wait 'til you hear it. Crikey. Clay Bolton produced the story and while he was reporting it, he was on the hunt for a universal -- something that links the story to larger concerns that resonate with most listeners. Clay knew the superintendent would be able to provide the universal but, getting the tape was not easy. Clay and the superintendent were oil and water and I have the tape to prove it. Have a listen and let us know what you think. Post your thoughts here. Oh, and by the way, HowSound is the continuation of a podcast about radio storytelling called Saltcast. All eighty-two Saltcasts are online and available at iTunes. Go scoop'em up. Best , Rob