Episode 7 - Always In Season

I have read thousands of feature film scripts.  Really.  My mind boggles.  Some were painful, some were just okay, many were pretty good, and a few were great.  But there are only a handful - maybe ten/twenty out of a thousand - that made such an impression that they stuck with me to this day.  Scripts that were terrific reads and stood out as complete works of art on their own.  Some guy named M. Night Shyamalan wrote something called The Sixth Sense that scared me, fooled me and moved me.  Andrew Niccol wrote a couple of profound pieces called Gataca and The Truman Show - both very moving reads as well.  (Note:  I'm talking about the scripts, not the final products that appeared on the screen (some fared better than others)).  And then there was one called Every Good Boy Does Fine - a thriller written by Jonathan Dees.  It hasn't been made yet.  It's been in what's known as Development Hell, but I won't be surprised when it appears on the screen that is silver.

To this day whenever anyone asks me what my favorite scripts are - that's the one that usually springs to mind.  A terrific piece of writing that imprinted on my grey matter.

So you can imagine how great it was when he agreed to write something for Earbud Theater.  (Can you imagine?  Are you picturing dancing and frolicking?  Ah, then I guess you can.)  The result is the very cool ALWAYS IN SEASON.  Mr. Dees has written something to be very proud of and we're thrilled to bring it to you!

We hope you enjoy Episode 7 of Earbud Theater:  ALWAYS IN SEASON!

Written by
Jonathan Dees

Performed by
Peter - Jeff Cannata
Debbie - Sabrina Stoll
Old Timer - Matthew Henerson

Music by
Freescha

Produced by Aaron Drown & Casey Wolfe
Directed by Casey Wolfe

The Granddaddy of all radio dramas...

We just realized Orson Welles was punk-rock-Elvis.  Y'know, young, skinny, arrogant badass gains public awareness by creating chaos, outrage and timeless art - and then dying all fat and drunk.  (eh, but to be fair, dying is a lose lose situation as far as grace and dignity go unless you fall on a grenade to save your platoon while riding a great white shark).

Welles himself said, "I started at the top and worked my way down."  Which is kinda true, though being a voice in the 1986 Transformers animated movie isn't the absolute rock bottom of cinema - that would come years later with Michael Bay's live version of Transformers.  But we're not here to talk about the bottom and we're certainly not here to remind you about THIS horrible gift incident.

We're here to remind you about this:

You see, Johnny Rotten had a group called The Mercury Theater and as one did in 1938, he and his band performed radio dramas... adapted performances of classic pieces of literature... cover songs if you will.  And while they did okay with their covers of Bram Stoker's Dracula and The Thirty Nine Steps by John Buchan, but it wasn't until the eve of Halloween that they did a performance so powerful that there was anarchy in the USA.

War of the Worlds was not only an innovative and ingenious adaptation, it was also a shrewdly calculated social experiment.  It's worth listening to if you've never heard it, but we also recommend this podcast that RADIOLAB put out a few years back.  They not only dissect Welles adaptation, but a couple others that you may not have heard about.  Check it out or live your life in ignorance.  Your choice.

AND COME BACK MONDAY FOR A BRAND NEW PODPLAY!  WHEEEEE!!!

Hey, it's 2013, you got any plans?

Yeah?  Big plans?  Gonna conquer the world?  Make those dreams come true all while dancing in the streets?  Cool.  We support that.  We encourage you.  And if we can spare them, we may even send minions to help out.  But during your year of world-domination don't forget about us.  Don't don't don't you... forget about us.  We give you permission to take twenty or so minutes out of your day once a month to chillax with a bit of Earbud Theater.  "Earwax chillax" we call it around here.  

We don't call it that, really, in fact that doesn't even make sense.  Sorry.

Before we launch into 2013 - big, big thanks to all the participants in 2012's episodes.  The world is a better place thanks to talent such as y'all and you're welcome back anytime.

Now, you're wondering what's in store for 2013 and I have to start with: 'strap-on dildo.'  Yes, one of our episodes features a strap-on.  Just wanted to give you a heads up so maybe you can listen to that one yourself and not share it with the kids unless you have really progressive kids and/or you're very good at explaining things and/or dodging questions.  But it's not all strap-ons (which, I should add, is merely an element, not the central conceit), we also have creepy murderers, superhumans, The Golden Record (know what that is?) and the oh so long and awaited ALWAYS IN SEASON by author Jonathan Dees.  

In fact, Always in Season will be our January release so look for it in the coming week.  Hm?  Wait, you don't believe me?  Well, I guess I can understand that, it's been on deck for a long time, but for real, we have it.  And it stars Sabrina Stoll, who played Mrs. Jessup in Beneath the Basement, Jeff Cannata  making his first appearance on Earbud and Matthew Henerson, who is still touring the nation with in the stageplay version of Flashdance The Musical.

You still don't believe me?  Well here's photographic proof! 

Jeff and Sabrina not acting.

Jeff and Sabrina acting like they're pretending to act while also 

acting like they're not annoyed there's a camera in the room.

That's talent.

So there you have it, world conquerers!  We're back!  2013 awaits!  CHARGE!

xoxoxo

Our November release!

Hello devoted listeners!  First, take a look at this:

Are you scared yet?  You should be.  Yes, we have our November release and it's titled "Beneath The Basement" and is written by comic book/videogame/screenplay creator Doug TenNapel.  A guy who is prolific and busy as all get out, yet took the time to pen a deliciously creepy podplay for us.  

If you're not familiar with Doug's work, check it out HERE.  My personal recommendation would be GHOSTOPOLIS and even though I'm biased (part of the team trying to bring this to the big screen), it is one of my personal favorites.  I mean look at this - is that a world or what!?

"Beneath The Basement" WAS supposed to be our Halloween episode (thanks for paying attention) but some technical difficulties (no, really!) really put the kibosh on the release date.  One visit to the repair shop later, though, and boom - you have new ear candy.  So without further ado enjoy our latest and feel free to leave comments below!

"Beneath The Basement"
written by Doug TenNapel

produced by Casey Wolfe and Aaron Drown

starring the voice talents of

Mike Duffy as Neville

Lindsay Zana as Jean

Matthew Henerson as Dr. Fullbright

and
Sabrina Stoll as Mrs. Jessup

Oh, one more thing.  Big congratulations to Matthew Henerson (man of a thousand voices) who just landed a big gig in the theatrical tour of Flashdance The Musical.  Coming to a city near you, so be sure to catch it.  (I am refraining from saying "What a feeling."  You're welcome).

earbud OUT

Happy Halloween!

You're waiting for the promised Halloween Earbud piece aren't you?  You're so cool that way.  I knew there was a reason we like people like you.  Well it's coming!  It maybe a few hours late, though, because this frightening concoction of audio terror is going to require some more powdered fingernails, ectoplasm and eye of nNewt.  ;)

It's better to burn out than it is to become smashing.

So as we enter into what might be one of our favorite weekends of the year, let us know how you plan to spend it (what are you listening to?  watching?  reading?).  We're dying for a good horror movie recommendation.

"Let's Celebrate... WITH SANDWICHES!"

As a matter of fact, this has been the worst year of my life.  Again, just as a matter of fact.  And I realize that as I say this maybe I'm being too pessimistic so let me rephrase:  worst year of my life... so far.

We all go through difficult times and I only bring it up to point out that even when we're slogging through the necessary unpleasantness life occasionally delivers there are bright spots.  And maybe because of what we're going through those inspiring moments shine a bit brighter than usual.  My highlights had to do with the support of friends and family and are of no interest to you (I don't blame you (and where is this going anyway?)).  One moment that does stand out is getting to work with Stephen Tobolowsky.

You don't know him, but you do because the guy has been in a trillion movies (or 217 to date if you're into accuracy).  He looks like this:

And also this:

And you most likely remember this:

I'm impressed with the guy, not just for his work ethic, but because of this podcast he has that's grown over the past few years.  It's called The Tobolowsky Files and was the brainchild of David Chen who writes for the excellent website /Film.  Dave saw the indie film Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party and wisely surmised that there were perhaps more stories Stephen had to tell.  He was right.  Stephen's criteria is "a good story well told," but he's underselling.  These are GREAT stories.  They can be moving, inspiring, informative or funny but are usually a combination of all these elements.

Tobolowsky Files hit me at just the right time.  When things go off-the-rails, it's cool to find something that gives you perspective.  Something that reminds you that we all go through heavy shit.  It's just part of the human experience.  And it doesn't have to destroy you.  TF was that for me, so I wanted to bring it up to YOU because if you haven't heard any of these recordings about "life, love and the entertainment industry" - DO SO NOW!

Stephen is currently touring the country, I believe, promoting his book The Dangerous Animals Club (and yes, I bought my copy) and I believe NPR just picked up The Tobolowsky Files.  So after you listen to CLANG! head over to /Film or iTunes and see what all the fuss is about.  

Once again, thanks to Stephen for being game enough to play in the Earbud sandbox.  Now.  Let's Celebrate... WITH SANDWICHES.  

EPISODE 5 - CLANG!

Well, we used our first Wilhelm (two actually).  And it makes me chuckle every time I hear it.

For some reason I get embarrassed by my own glee at hearing the finished podplays we create here at Earbud.  But that's absurd, right?  There shouldn't be shame in falling in love with something you've created, right?  Artistic creations are like children, after all, and we love our kids warts and everything, right?  Right.

Which brings us to the podplay at hand - CLANG!  Without giving too much away, that's what this episode is about - kids, having kids, and the lengths you go to to provide for your kids - but mostly about how children give us what we need most: perspective and robot hijinks.

This is definitely on the lighter side for Earbud Theater - we hope you enjoy it.

And OH what a cast we have!  Big thanks to the following:

Stephen Tobolowsky - Gern Steadfast

Meeghan Holloway - Betty Steadfast

Lindsay Zana - Tyler & Jack

Alex Wagner - Jenni & Ellie

and Sean Keller - The General & Gabriel Edgar Wech

Very special thanks to Mark McCabe for his assist on the robots!