Mark Time/Ogle Winners 2008

It's always a pleasure listening to all the great audio drama submissions... here are this year's winners!

Here are the winners of this year’s Mark Time Awards for Science Fiction Audio and the Ogle Awards for Fantasy/Horror Audio Productions. They will officially be presented on Thursday, July 2 at Convergence 2009 in Bloomington, MN.
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MARK TIME AWARDS

GOLD

The Outpost
Written & Produced by Julie Hoverson
19 Nocturne Boulevard

SILVER

The Return of the Bogman Mummy
Written & Produced by Roger Gregg
Gaiety School of Acting, Dublin, Ireland

OGLE AWARDS

GOLD

Waiting For a Window
Written by Fred Greenhalgh
Finalrune Productions

SILVER

The Halloween Tree
(based on the novel by Ray Bradbury)
Produced by Chris Snyder
Exec. Producer: Mark Vanderberg
Colonial Radio Theatre

[Thanks Jerry!]

Sonic Gold Gearing up for April Launch!

"And the Audio Hits Just Keep On Comin'"
Jack Ward and Shannon Hilchie of the Sonic Society just announced in their last episode, that the long awaited "Sonic Gold" project will begin in April 1st.
Sonic Gold is a new subscription based show that will bring the very best of paid audio content to your podcatcher. As a member of Sonic Gold you'll get 36 weeks of amazing professional audio drama that you can't get anywhere free on the Internet.
So why buy audio drama?
As Jack Ward puts it, "If we're going to help revitalize the market for audio drama across the world, we need to prove that people are willing to pay for it. And after all, who wouldn't want to see someone like Gregg Taylor from Decoder Ring Theatre get paid to put out a new show?"

What's it cost of an subscription to Sonic Gold?
Early bird sign up is just 20 dollars a year. Get in on the ground floor and you can get a whole lot more than that, but things are moving fast.
Check the great deal and details Sonic Gold and sign up!

The Dream Realm Update!

Lots of things still happening over at Dream Realm Enterprises. Not only are there new Dr. Who episodes, but they have also been re-releasing the first season of Robotz of the Company, as well as podcasting their Sci-Fi and horror mini-series, The Realm Weaver!

When you need to escape the influx of family during tomorrow's Turkey Day- be thankful for audio cinema! ;-)

Time To Visit Powder River!

Back in January the good news came in that Colonial Radio Theatre was going to podcast some of their work through The Sonic Society. Well, the time is here!

The first two episodes of Colonial's hit western series, Powder River, entitled "The New Owner," and "The Moment of Truth." are available now!

http://sonic.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=312243

Also included is an interview with Powder River's producer Chris Snyder.

They are teenagers! From outer space!

Schlock Audio (who is now partnered with Texas Radio Theatre) is back and in full cheese-mode with all new B-movie goodness! Teenagers from Outer Space-ace-ce-e....

"Earth has been invaded by diving helmet wearing, gorilla-suited aliens hell bent on universal domination! Humanity is but one family away from extinction! This is an exciting episode that CANT BE MISSED! HURRY! Put your audio goggles on and tune in as an epic battle rages, bubbles are blown, and the fate of our world is decided, ALL IN ASTOUNDING TECHNICOLOR 3-D STEREO!!!!"

As with every Schlock audio, I must have popcorn while listening. You can also hear a very funny blooper reel which is up on the podcast feed. The feed sports both Texas Radio and Schlock productions- and I'm sure Teenagers from Outer Space will be in the feed soon!

Podcast: http://texasradio.libsyn.com/

After month hiatus, Robotz return! And get naked!

Take one beautiful, romantic evening, add a romantic dream and a desire for Kika to be a little um, closer to her sweet sweet Brisco, and you have Robotz turned human for 12 hours!

Exactly how did they become all fleshy and hormone-crazed? What does our crazy crew sound like in human-form? Listen to the lastest episode of Dream Realm's smash hit Robotz of the Company and find out! Definitely one of the raciest episodes of 'Botz to date- and hilarious!

Click the subject line to link to the podcast, or get the podcast feed HERE.

Praise the Company, hubba-hubba!

Colonial Radio getting some podcast play!

The insanely popular Sonic Society has declared 2008 "The Year of Audio Drama" (what- not "pulp radio"? ;-) ) and they have found the best way to celebrate- with Colonial Radio Theatre! From the SS blog:

"Colonial Radio Theatre, who's amazing productions have included Captain Blood, the Father Brown Mysteries, Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine and Something Wicked This Way Comes as well as The Dibble Show, Powder River and more than 200 other titles has agreed to allow the Sonic Society an exclusive peek inside their vault.
This year Society Members will be taking a V.I.P. tour through the worlds of Colonial Radio thanks to creative force, producer, writer, and actor Jerry Robbins.
Every month in 2008- The Year of Audio Drama, Jack and Shannon will be adding an extra show to the Society feed to provide these bonus features."

Exciting stuff- and a great idea! What a fabulous way to tell others about your work- and a good place to do it, too. Click the title link for more information about what productions you will be hearing this year!

Colonial Radio's Next Big Thing- Zorro!

Jerry Robbins just amazes me. As soon as Colonial Radio Theatre comes off one production, he just seems to take a quick breath, and dives right into the next big endeavor. Captain Blood, Dandelion Wine, Something Wicked This Way Comes...I'm not even scratching the surface of all the Colonial productions out there. What's up next? Zorro! From the Colonial blog:

"...Colonial has teamed with producer John Gertz to bring ZORRO to the world of audio drama! Mr. Gertz owns the copyright to Zorro (which was aquired by his father in 1940 from Zorro's actual creator,Johnston McCulley), and he was co-producer on the recent motion pictures with Antonio Banderas. The book I am dramatizing for audio is ZORRO AND THE PIRATRE RAIDERS, and let me tell you - this is going to be one exciting story! I am finishing up the script now, and I hope to start production in January for a Springtime release. The show is being produced in episode form for radio, and will be released as a 2 CD set for retail."

By now you all should know the high quality productions of Colonial Radio, and this will be no different I'm sure. I'm excited for this- get me on a pre-order list!

Halloween Audio Links

I had intended to have many posts up showing you all the great Halloween fun in the audio cinema universe. I was all prepared to come home from my trip to the middle of the United States and do this for all my fellow addicts...

...and then I caught a (not so) lovely head cold. Which stole another week from me. *sigh*

So, since we are getting awfully close to that wonderful All Hallow's Eve, I decided to give you the condensed version! That way you can still head over and listen to these wonderful productions, and have a few chills creep up your spine in honor of the holiday. Mu-wah-hahahaaaa...

* Radio Drama Revival has an entire line-up of ghoulish delights awaiting your ears.. including Frankenstein: Modern Prometheus, as adapted by Quicksilver Audio Theatre.

* Broken Sea Audio is also celebrating with several Halloween audio happenings, both original as well as some readings from the suspense greats! (Also an awesome banner to get in the spirit of things!)

* The Sonic Society is celebrating with their Halloween show on the 30th with a new production from Sonic Cinema, Muse of Madness.

* Colonial Radio Theatre's adaptation of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes is now available too! I've listened to it (yes the review-writing hasn't exactly been as forthcoming as I'd hoped) and I highly recommend adding this to your repertoire of audio theatre classics! It's one of my favorite stories, as well as one of the first to scare me before my Stephen King fixation began. Colonial, as always, has a unique way of whisking you off to an entirely different place for a couple of hours, and this is no exception. You can get all the ordering details at their website!

* Ollin Production's Afterhell series is always available, and especially fits this time of year too!

UPDATE: Icebox Radio Theatre is podcasting their Halloween production from last year, "The Bats".

I am sure I have missed a few here and there. But if you click on any of the radio drama links on the sidebar, I am sure you will find many more Halloween-happenings. If you're not on the list- let me know!

The Red Panda Returns

It's here! It's here! Season three of The Red Panda is here!!

Well, it's been here for a few days now.. but hey it's there forever now...

"A pyromaniac is preying on the slums and tenement buildings of the city, bringing danger and misery to the lives of the some of its most vunerable citizens. The police are searching in vain for the firebug who holds the city in a grip of terror. But if a certain masked duo is right, there may be more to this arson spree than meets the eye. Can even the Red Panda and The Flying Squirrel withstand the flames of... Brimstone Alley?"

I also noticed there is a Director's Cut of the Season Two ending- complete with a deleted scene- now un-deleted!

"They say the hand is quicker than the eye... but when a baffling jewel robbery proves that someone's hands are quicker than a hundred eyes, the Red Panda is on the case! And when the culprit adds murder to their crimes, the hunt is on in earnest... and it's Rabbit Season!"

Welcome back Red Panda!

Creepy Colonial Radio

Oh my favorite time of year is quickly approaching! See, since I live in Arizona, there is no change in the weather to signal a change in seasons.. so I have to rely on what I see in stores and what is playing in movies and tv... and in radio drama!

Colonial Radio Theatre has an extensive list of spooky audio to satisfy during the upcoming "spooky month"... including the premiere of Ray Bradbury's "Something Wicked This Way Comes" on October 1st! (Look for a review soon!) Other things you will want to check out are:

THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW (2005)
Washington Irving's classic story of the Headless Horseman in the
definitive audio production by CRT. Winner of the Ogle Award for Best
Fantasy Production of 2005. 100 min. Available at Barnes and Noble,
Borders Books, and many, many stores online, including Spoken
Network. Just search "Legend of Sleepy Hollow Colonial Radio" and
there it is!

THE DEVILS BARGAIN (1997)
A classic New England legend…General Jonathan Moulton, hero of the
French and Indian war, makes a bargain with Satan. 30min. Available
at Spoken Network and many audio download sites.

THE STORM BREEDER (1997)
A classic old New England ghost tale…the story of Peter Rugg, the
missing man. 37min. Available at Spoken Network and many audio
download sites.

MINOT'S LIGHT (1996)
Suspenseful tale of a haunted lighthouse in Boston Harbor, one that
has kept sailor and landlubber alike spooked for over an hundred
years. 30min. Available at Spoken Network and many audio download
sites.

DIBBLE'S HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR (2003)
Dibble and the gang perform "The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow," and Jake
discovers a real ghost in the Town Hall Theatre. 55min.

DIBBLE'S HALLOWEEN SHOW (2005)
Dibble and the gang plan on spending Halloween night in the old
Mayham Mansion on Mayham Hill. 27min.


Head over to Colonial's website for all the information on how to get this awesome audio- and tons more info about them as well!

Radio Drama Revived Over The Transatlantic

September is shaping up to be a great month for listening to audio cinema on Radio Drama Revival, beginning with an interview with Crazy Dog's Roger Gregg! All last month RDR featured The Last Harbinger on the show, so the interview is a fitting end- and beginning!

The rest of September is going to be Dry Smoke and Whispers month, with a three-parter from yet another very innovative audio cinema group.

Click the post-title and get subscribed!

RDR! Featuring Crazy Dog Audio Theatre This Month

A while ago I mentioned Frederick Greenhalgh of Final Rune Productions and his show Radio Drama Revival! wanting content for future shows. Well, audio drama delivered. The entire month of August is going to feature The Last Harbinger, from Crazy Dog Audio Theatre!

Crazy Dog is never dull, very compelling, and always pushes the envelope. They are also one of the few masters of sound out there when it comes to audio cinema. It's always an... experience to listen to a Crazy Dog show.

It took me long enough, but I subscribed to RDR!, and began listening. I tell you I have not been disappointed (check out episode 26- niiiiiice). It's the perfect audio drama show for an addict: not a lot of pointless chatter, right to the feature, great interviews, and all in a tight 30 minute show.

It's also an excellent blog, as Frederick has his finger on the pulse of all that is happening in the radio drama/audio cinema world.

You can click the post title to take you to the website, or if you all ready know you'll love it, subscribe at this link here:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/RadioDramaRevival

Texas Radio is at you in a Flash!

The latest episode of Sonic Society's summertime series features a Flash Gordon play written by Texas Radio Theatre's Richard Frohlich, and performed by the One Act Players. After doing a little more hunting over to Texas Radio's podcast site, I noticed they have an Episode 2!

I also noticed that the podcast site hasn't been updated in almost a year... hmmm... paging Mr. Frohlich! ;-)

No matter- radio drama is truly timeless, and if you've never heard any of Texas Radio's awesome work before, this is the perfect way to introduce yourself. Then head to the link below and see all the live performances that Texas Radio gives in the Arlington, Fort Worth and Dallas areas!

I also just subscribed to the One Act Players podcast as well! The Radio Nostalgia Network really does the radio drama/audio cinema world quite a service bringing us all this wonderful talent and entertainment!

Canada Day treat: a review of The Red Panda Season 2

A Canadian posting a review of an awesome Canadian audio cinema series on Canada Day- can you get any more Canadian than that?

Nah, I don't think so.

Radio Drama Revived in Maine

On the airwaves and in podcast! Frederick Greenhalgh brings modern audio cinema to your ears every Thursday afternoon. He also brings you interviews with the fabulous producers of this art that truly is never going to die off (and thank goodness for that!).

Currently Frederick is looking for content- and he wants YOUR work. Usually his format is the featured production, then an interview with the producer, writer, director or other person(s) best acquainted with the behind the scenes. It's a great way to get your work showcased and out there for all ears to hear.

You can get all the information you need at the link! His blog is also a great one to stick on your reading list too, very enjoyable!

It's a bird! It's a plane! No! It's Super- uh, Pal?

A little cross-posting. My review on SFF Audio of awesome Great Northern Audio work!

The Saving of the World: Super Pal (Includes Jewels of the 11th Generation)
By Great Northern Audio Theatre; Performed by a FULL CAST
1 CD - Approx. 70 minutes [LIVE AUDIO DRAMA]
Publisher: Great Northern Audio
Published: 2005/2006
Themes: / Fantasy / Comedy / Superheroes / Meteors / Jewels / Space Travel / Children / Squeak Toys / Computers

A comet is heading towards Big City, but is it a job for Super Pal?

Great Northern Audio brings you the tale of the blue-glowing superhero, as told from those closest to him. The nurse who helped birth him, the girlfriend who likes the cape (nudge-nudge), his best friend growing up, even the crooks he brought down.

Meanwhile, the comet comes closer, and Super Pal is nowhere to be found. The mayor begins to look at other superheroes, but no help is available. One kinked their back while lugging an oil rig across the desert, and another is expecting a baby and is on light duty. You know, bank robbers.

What to do? Well, Super Pal does have a weakness for cats in trees….

The CD also includes The Jewels of the 11th Generation, a story of two zany treasure-hunters looking for the ultimate treasure. They certainly find more than that! Children, pirates- and… squeak toys? But where are the jewels? This is also a lot of fun and well-written. Mix that with excellent acting, including the talents of David Ossman of Firesign Theatre, and you know exactly why I enjoyed it so much.

These performances were a lot of fun. I loved the documentary-style interviews in telling the tale of Super Pal, and the jokes in Jewels made me laugh out loud a couple of times! Very witty, and hearing the audience respond now and then in the background really made it all the more enjoyable. For a live performance, it has a better sound than a lot of in-studio performances. A very enjoyable hour!

Both SuperPal and Jewels of the 11th Generation were part of live Great Northern Audio performances in 2005 and 2006. Definitely worth going over to Great Northern’s website and getting a copy today!

Second Shift Season Two Premieres Tonight

"Three college students from Boston find themselves mysteriously summoned to another world.... and chaos ensues. " ;-)

That is the WAY short version of what Second Shift is about. I like to think of it as three students end up in a RPG universe. Either way, it's a great story, and the long-awaited second season is going to premiere tonight!

----
"Don't miss the online SEASON TWO RELEASE PARTY tonight!

We're going to kick off the season by holding a live chat where fans can talk with cast and crew while listening to the season premiere. Ever watched a TV show while talking on IM with a friend about it? This is just like that. We will release the episode during the chat, so everyone can download, listen and type "OMG!" together!

The chat will start between 9:00-9:15 p.m. EST, so show up then to make sure everyone's in. At 9:30, we'll release the episode on our site, and listen together.

To join the chat:
1) Go to http://chat.efnet.org
2) Enter whatever you want as a user name
3) Select "Other" on the menu
4) Type in "#secondshiftreleaseparty" in the dropdown

Or, if you're familiar with IRC, just join "#secondshiftreleaseparty" on efnet.

We'll see you there!"

----
What a great idea- reminds me of my old Tuesday night routine when Dave and I would listen and chat together during Sonic Society... it's fun to listen that way, and share the love of audio cinema.

Mark Time/ Ogle Award Winners Announced!

Presented by The American Society For Science Fiction Audio
(ASFSFA)


The winners of the Mark Time/Ogle Awards have been officially announced! Boy it was difficult keeping my mouth shut for so long!

Mark Time Awards / Ogle Awards
Winners - 2007
Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Audio Production
http://www.greatnorthernaudio.com/MarkTime/MarkTime.html

Mark Time Award
SILVER

Through the Turnstiles
Produced by Sam A. Mowry
Written by Carole Dane
Willamette Radio Workshop
www.radiowork.com

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Canadia: 2056
Produced by Joe Mahoney
Written by Matt Watts
CBC Radio A & E
www.assortednonsense.com

Tears of the Tin God
Produced by Richard Sellers
Story by T. Ray Gordon
www.apexaudiotheatre.com

Ogle Award
GOLD

God of the Razor
Produced by Scott Hickey
Story by Joe R. Lansdale
The Grist Mill
www.amfmtheater.com
and
Dandelion Wine
Produced by Jerry Robbins, & Mark Vander Berg
Script by Ray Bradbury
The Colonial Radio Theatre On the Air
www.colonialradio.com

SILVER

HURF
Produced by Sam A. Mowry
Written by Craig Kenworthy
Willamette Radio Workshop
www.radiowork.com

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
In Science Fiction Audio

* Norman Corwin
* Ray Bradbury

A Gold and a Silver Mark Time Award, and a Gold and a Silver Ogle Award, will be awarded at CONvergence,, July 6-7-8 of 2007.

Decoder Ring's Summer Showcase Begins

Decoder Ring Theatre is now proud to present its audio drama Summer Showcase, featuring work from several writers from around the internets.

"This week, the Summer Showcase is proud to present The Magic of the Movies by Tim Prasil. A tale of suspense told late at night around a Hollywood bar... A tale of fame and fortune lost, and a terrible secret found. The sad ramblings of a forgotten man? You be the judge..."

For the rest of the summer schedule, head to Decoder Ring's podcast site for all the details!