Do It Ourselves Challenge
The best part of this experience for me was creating an an audio clip that was reviewed and in some instances critiqued by objective listeners. This is something I crave while I plug away on my own projects here in what can be a very isolating locale -- southeast Idaho. While I have friends who give me feedback, they aren't necessarily as obsessed with public radio as I am, or as the kindred souls I've met here.
I don't know about you, but I'm eager to jump back in and try again. Practice makes perfect, right? I am super excited about uploading work onto PRX, but I don't feel like I'm 100 percent ready ... yet. This is where you come in.
Anyone interested in practicing our skills necessary to create compelling audio for a public radio audience is warmly invited to pitch ideas here to help create the beginnings of what I'm calling, the "Do It Ourselves Audio Challenge."
While the PRTQ dangled money in front of the contestants, the only reward here is the feedback we give each other. The ultimate prize would be the creation of an audio clip we can be proud of and possibly market to a larger audience (via PRX, our local public radio stations, etc.)
Some of us kicked around some preliminary ideas in the Losers Lounge thread. They include, but are in no way limited to:
-Creating a single short clip, 5.5 to 6 minutes long (is this a good length? what do you think?) that will sort of baby-step us into longer features.
-Everyone participating should pick the same theme, for example, music, science, religion, environment, crime, education, etc. ... (we could be more specific, too.) in order to see how someone else would tackle an issue.
-We still need a time-frame that will work for anyone who wants to jump on board. (suggestions, something that will work with everyone's schedules. This would NOT be a contest for creative speed. Or should it be?)
-We will critique each others work and offer tips and suggestions along the way... This wouldn't be a competition between each other, rather a challenge to make ourselves better through mentoring and collaboration.
What do you think? Anyone out there interested in moving forward with a new personal challenge?
-ez
delicious
diggfor taking the initiative on this. I will participate in any way I can. I am also very open in helping anyone with less experience or if you just need someone to listen.
I love the idea.
I'm also continuing to work as a guest host on the Secret Identity Podcast. A lot of folks here that had great ideas and great peices ought to look into bypassing NPR all together and starting their own podcasts.
Love comics? Anime? Sci fi? Gaming? Firefly? Star Wars? All the above? Then get Geek on NPR! Vote for Red Shirts Rising! http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/1202
If we find out the assignment the finalists have to tackle, we can play along and do it as well. Then we judge each other. And no waiting for phone calls.
I'd sure like to do it if I can afford it...
I suspect you'd need $500 to complete the next challenge. ;)
I am open to any format. Perhaps throw out a single title and we all get to show our viewpoint/take on it. But for me, whatever....let's roll!
Vicki Flaugher
creator of http://www.SmartWomanGuides.com
Cool. I'm going to update this post later today and start figuring out a timeframe. Glad you're in!
ez
This is exhilerating. Great energy.
I started a little parody piece a couple of weeks ago. (Radio Open Source.) Got as far as putting down a knockoff of the theme music. I need to spend more time listening to Christopher Lydon to feel like I'm doing a good impersonation. But I would love some feedback on it when it's farther along.
The only reason I picked that show is for the obvious parody title: Radio Open Sores. Has that been done by anybody yet?
You get three versions of your entry... (or something)
In this way, one can get the feedback. Think about it, work on it, and re-record it for secondary evaluation?
Or, is the one-shot thing more appropriate?
Jimmy Bear
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No, I like that, having three versions. Sort of like rough drafts. I wonder what everyone else thinks?
ez
Yes, three versions is a good number. Getting two do-overs after input from this crowd should produce some really good work.
Jim Barfuss
http://www.publicradioquest.com/user/2824
“I've always been a joiner.
Al B. A. Joiner
Yes to three tries. When I attend writing conferences I bring in a pre-written piece (1), have it torn apart, cry for two days, give up my stuff-take advice and bring it back (2)and then I get one more shot at final buffing and editing with my peers(3)finally I submit it to a conference contest.
It is one of the BEST devices I know for serious artists. If you have the ability to take it on the chin, take the best throw out the rest, and move your idea around from novel to limerick to screenplay...then you can do it. (Or in radio: from drama, to humor to interviews)
Three shots is brilliant.
Sally
I would love to play! I've been thinking about pursuing some more audio work around the idea of parenting, raising kids, being a kid, etc. It would have been the show I wanted to create if I'd had a chance to pitch it. And I was definitely looking forward to accepting a creative challenge and seeing what came out if I'd made it to Round Two.
Perhaps one way to approach this is to pick an overarching theme, pick a time limit (kind of like we did for Round One--two minutes, three minutes), decide on a submission date and have at it! Since this was your idea Elizabeth, perhaps you get to be the host!
Just some thoughts in between reading "Commotion in the Ocean" to my two year old. My apologies if I've duplicated or overlooked ideas already put out by other folks! Multitasking is my friend (although perhaps not yours..sorry)!
Hannah
Listen to "Welcome to Kidville" http://www.publicradioquest.com/audio/user/2111 and check out "The Day My Mother's Head Exploded" on http://www.prx.org/
count me in...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHECK OUT MY ENTRY:
http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/1149
READ MY BLOG: www.akajesais.com
CONTRIBUTOR: www.SanDiegoBlog.com
This PRTQ has convinced me I need to be recording Mp3s like the rest of the FREE (albeit, affluent) world.
And thanks to Steve and a few others I will have my own recording studio as soon as my visa clears. ;0)
Pantyhose for *P* popper- CHECK
Blanket for baffles- CHECK
Lemonade - CHECK
I am a full time student at the University of Minnesota and work part time, but public radio is one of my main passions. The other is writing about current events, arts and culture, especially from the POV of people of color.
Hey when we can identify ways to turn our non-top ten or non-top 200 situation into a self-made lift-up, let's do this.
~~~~
Wright's Words start conversations...
...to Inform, Enlighten and Inspire.
Future NPR narrative journalist
WrightsWords.com
I'm going to focus on increasing the local audience for my own show, and posting specials to PRX for other stations to pick up. It was actually what I meant to do before I found out about the contest, and before I realized no grands forthcoming from CPB ;-x But hopefully I'll be a little more focused now.
Goodness knows I've been a font of information and a voice of experience, for better or worse ;-p If you want more of the same, or specific critiquing of present and/or future stuff, go ahead and contact me :-)
************************************************
Life is a matinee. BroadwayMatinee.com
Judge my hostiness in the PRTQ
Sign me up. I have about 4 samples almost ready to go. They didn't make my personal cut to be an entry...maybe they'll shine now.
Just keep me informed.
Speechguy
Your personalized cultural reference here!
1) It must be both fun and stimulating (Because you know me -- if it ain't fun or I can't make it fun I ain't doin' it.)
2) Unlike the results of this contest, I want to be able to tell my parents. I won't tell them, of course, because they have had it up to here with my harebrained schemes, but still. Otherwise, I feel too much like I'm going out to do some underage drinking in some cornfield.
3) Is Jim going to do it?
I feel too much like I'm going out to do some underage drinking in some cornfield.
HEY! I did some of my best underage drinking in a cornfield! Or near one. ;)
Jim Barfuss
http://www.publicradioquest.com/user/2824
“The Hubble telescope now lets us view the distant past. If we turned it around, could we see into the future?" Seymour B. Moore
When summertime and no more school officially descends.
Elizabeth
My entry at Public Radio Quest:
http://www.publicradioquest.com/audio/user/7572
My College Radio Myspace (feel free to friend me!):
http://www.myspace.com/girlsongprimerradio
I'm very in.
Especially the "grow", "constructive criticism", and "feedback" parts.
Besides... I'm not done with my haiku and limericks just yet.
Jimmy Bear
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