Life's not easy for Doug Eiffel, the communications officer for the U.S.S. Hephaestus Research Station, currently on Day 448 of its orbit around red dwarf star Wolf 359. He's stuck on a scientific survey mission of indeterminate length, 7.8 light years from Earth. His only company on board the station are stern mission chief Minkowski, insane science officer Hilbert, and Hephaestus Station's sentient, often malfunctioning operating system Hera. He doesn't have much to do for his job other than monitoring static and intercepting the occasional decades-old radio broadcast from Earth, so he spends most of his time creating extensive audio logs about the ordinary, day-to-day happenings within the station. But the Hephaestus is an odd place, and life in extremely isolated, zero gravity conditions has a way of doing funny things to people's minds. Even the simplest of tasks can turn into a gargantuan struggle, and the most ordinary-seeming things have a way of turning into anything but that. Wolf 359 is a radio drama in the tradition of Golden Age of Radio shows...
http://www.wolf359.fm
Eiffel and Hilbert Present: Writing Stories For Sound with Gabriel Urbina
Want to write great fiction podcasts but don't know where to begin? You're not alone! Wolf 359 creator Gabriel Urbina is offering a new and updated version of his acclaimed online workshop, Writing Stories For Sound this February. Join Gabriel on a guided tour of his own journey into understanding audio, as he retraces his steps and revisits the questions he asked as he was taking his first baby steps into the medium with the first episodes of Wolf 359.
He's teaching the workshop twice this month - once on Thursday February 22nd at 7:00 PM Eastern time and once on Sunday February 25th at 2:00 PM Eastern time!
For more information or to sign up, please visit wolf359.fm/learn.
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TRANSCRIPT OF TODAY'S MESSAGE:
(sounds of Eiffel fidgeting, while tense, dramatic music plays)
Eiffel: Come on come on come on... where is he? Doctor...
(door opens)
Eiffel: Ah, Doctor Hilbert! Thank goodness, there you are! I need help.
Hilbert: Officer Eiffel. What seems to be the problem?
Eiffel: I - I don’t know. I feel like nothing I do sounds the way it ought to. The funny parts aren’t funny. The exciting parts aren’t exciting. It’s like I’ve lost the script on my whole life.
Hilbert: I see. Do not be worried, Officer Eiffel. Problem is serious but there is simple solution.
Eiffel: Is the great clown Pagliacci in town?
Hilbert: Even better.
(music abruptly changes, replaced by a more playful melody)
Hilbert: Podcast creator Gabriel Urbina is offering online workshop on how to write the great audio fiction.
Eiffel: He is?
Hilbert: He is. Is comprehensive journey through the building blocks of gripping podcast stories.
Eiffel: Does it cover the basics of how to write scenes without any visuals?
Hilbert: Absolutely. But it goes beyond that. It explains how audio fiction can do things no other medium does, such as making the audience imagine visuals that cannot be seen.
Eiffel: You mean like that weird room in the back of the station, where the walls are painted a color that’s darker than black?
Hilbert: Precisely. Or the way you can introduce a new detail into scene and completely change audience’s understanding of what was happening.
Eiffel: Oh! Is that why you’re dressed up as a Teletubby? To illustrate that concept?
Hilbert: Uh... no. I am wearing this for... my own purposes. Do not ask any more questions about the outfit.
Eiffel: I am not going to ask any more questions about the outfit. Well, Doc, I have to say I’m sold.
(a laminated card is placed on the table)
Eiffel: Will my insurance cover this?
Hilbert: Eiffel, you know very well that Goddard Futuristics does not offer health insurance to independent contractors such as yourself.
Eiffel: Awww man...
Hilbert: This is Dave and Busters gift card.
Eiffel: But it's still valid!
Hilbert: But: more good news. There are scholarship opportunities available for students and others who need them. Visit website for more information.
Eiffel: (leaving) Amazing. Doc, this sounds exactly like what I needed. How can I repay you?
Hilbert: No need, happy to be of assistance. (lower) Besides, genetic materials nanobots collected while you were in laboratory will be perfectly adequate display of gratitude.
Eiffel: What was that, doc?
Hilbert: Nothing, Officer Eiffel, nothing! Enjoy the class!
(music changes again, replaced with a bouncy, happy theme)
Old-Timey Radio Announcer Voice: Writing Stories For Sound, a workshop by Gabriel Urbina. Seats are now open for sessions on February 22nd and 25th. Visit wolf359.fm/learn for more info and to secure your seat today!
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