I listened to this amazing program, appropriately enough, on the third anniversary of George Bush's declaration of "victory" in the Iraq war. The compassionate humanity of the photographer who is interviewed in this program stands in such stark contrast to the... Oh, never mind. Don't get me started.
This is both a simple and fantastically powerful program. Simple, because it consists of a studio interview with a war photographer, who tells the stories behind three of the photos he took at different stages of the conflict in Iraq. There are so few questions that most of the program is actually a monologue. Quiet piano music comes and goes throughout.
The program is powerful because of the ability of the photographer to convey what appears in each image, as well as to relate the heartbreaking details of what led up to the taking of the photos. Each of the pictures is immensely symbolic, and the photographer is able to explain their complex layers of meaning in simple but eloquent language.
By the end of this program, you've learned way more about the reality of the war in Iraq than you have in the last year's worth of news reports, analyses and commentaries that you've seen, heard or read.
This program is a half-hour long, but the real power is in the first twenty minutes or so. That's when the photos are center stage. The last third of the discussion is interesting, but is more abstract, and actually becomes a bit of an anti-climax. I would have taken a small number of the (very eloquent) conclusions from this last part of the discussion, and used them to end the program in a thoughtful way after that first twenty minutes.
There are going to be many more "turning points" in the ongoing debacle that is the Iraq war before it's over. So you will have, unfortunately, many more "pegs" to justify running this program (if you feel the need for such rationales). Find whatever reason you need, but do run it.
The horrible tragedy that took place in New Orleans last fall is already drifting out of public memory, and the absolute scandal that is the lack of planning and action for the rebuilding of the city is not getting near enough attention in the press or on the air.
If you are planning to do a program discussing all this -- and I hope you will -- this piece certainly could be used as a part of it.
This is basically the story of Roger, who was a builder in the old, grand city -- and is hanging on there, hoping to build again. His old crew is still scattered around the country, and he hopes they'll eventually come back.
At first it bothered me that there is so little sound in this production. After all, it's from New Orleans! But maybe this near-silence accurately reflects the shattered city of today.
I think the producer should have considered trying to do this story as a monologue -- just letting alone Roger talk. The copy bridges don't add all that much, and sometimes fall into cliche. Also, the producer starts out talking like a normal person, but, as the piece goes on, tries to convey emotion and pain in a way that sounds forced and false.
Still, not bad for a beginner. A thoughtful little vignette from a desperate city. Surrounded by other elements, this piece (or excerpts from it) could definitely add something to a New Orleans-themed program.
I see that, elsewhere on this site, this particular program was panned by another reviewer. I completely disagree. In fact, in many ways, this is the most interesting radio I have heard in several months.
Now, what we have here is, in many ways, the exact opposite of what many program directors are looking for. There are no breaks for newscasts, traffic reports, or underwriting announcements. This is a half-hour-long discussion with one person (an author), who isn't even in the studio, but is on a telephone line with a (not too terrible, but still audible) hum in it. There are no opportunities for listeners to call in. The interviewer sometimes lets the guest go on at some length, and never challenges any of his premises or conclusions. There isn't even any theme music at the beginning or the end of the show. In many ways, the "sound" of this program is much more like the non-commercial radio of a generation or two ago -- from back in those ancient times when people "listened" to the radio, as opposed to today, when they supposedly "use" it.
But this program made me sit, and listen, and learn, and think. I won't repeat the main themes that are discussed, or the details about the author and his book. You can read them in the program description. We live in a time of war -- as have, at some point, the vast majority of human beings who have ever inhabited this planet. But, as this program makes clear, modern societies and modern militaries have lost touch with "the spiritual warrior's path" which enabled people to go out and commit the horrible act of killing -- and then return to their communities and re-integrate with them, without the terrible, long-lasting, soul-destroying effects that so often afflict returning veterans today.
Would I like the rest of the programs in this series? I have no idea. But I give a very high rating to this particular episode, topic and discussion.
In 1956, in a secret address at the Twentieth Congress of the Soviet Communist Party, the Party's new leader, Nikita Khrushchev, officially revealed -- and denounced -- the crimes of his predecessor, Joseph Stalin. Khrushchev's speech -- the product of a complex mix of personal and political motives -- didn't stay secret for long. It has been described as one of the most important speeches of the 20th century. Some historians mark the date of the speech (this year marks the fiftieth anniversary) as "the beginning of the end" of the Soviet Union. Whatever the truth of that assertion, it is indisputible that Khrushchev's words rocked the USSR, and prompted countless citizens of the Soviet Union to also begin to speak out, to organize, and to take real personal risks in the effort to create a more free society.
In this well-produced and nearly encyclopedic program, producer Robert Rand tells the story of the speech, how and why it was delivered, what it meant for Nikita Khrushchev and his nation... and much more. He also takes us on a journey in which we meet a wide variety of dissidents who were moved to action by the speech, and traces the varied consequences they faced as a result.
This is history told through the voices of scholars and activists and ordinary citizens. At times, the tone is thoughtful and "educational." Other times, it is deeply personal and emotional.
Now, the Soviet Union that was largely built by Stalin is gone. But, paradoxically, in the chaotic Russia of today, there is more than a little nostalgia for Stalin. And there is concern that, under Vladimir Putin, many of the old authoritarian tendencies of the past are re-emerging. This quietly authoritative program doesn't try to predict what may happen next. But it expertly traces what transpires when an entire political edifice, built on the near-worship of a brutal and dishonest leader, is suddenly challenged by one of the world's most potent weapons -- the truth.
This is a skillfully constructed little story. If it hasn't already run in the Boston area, it should. It involves seven incarcerated teenage girls who are involved with a special Shakespeare class in their Dorchester, Massachusetts detention facility.
A brief intro -- which lacks (but cries out for) a great quote from Shakespeare -- sets the scene. The rest of the piece is a mixture of excerpts from the class, comments from one of the teachers, and the voices of the girls as they talk about their lives and what they feel they are getting from participating in the production of a piece called The Tempest Behind My Eyes.
At times, the voices, words and editing convey real lyrical and rhythmic power -- especially when there is some direct interplay between a girl's comments and an excerpt from the class. In fact, this piece would have been even better had there been more of this. But there is a very good sense of pacing throughout what is presented here.
One distraction is that, while the girls are all nicely recorded, the class was captured from a bit of a distance. That lowers the emotional power of a few sections of this story. Producers everywhere -- come on! Get in there closer to the action with your microphones!
This story is part of a series about the HIV - AIDS situation within the Latino communities of western New England. So, by definition, there is a distinct regional and ethnic focus for the series. I would urge stations within that particular region to seriously consider running this series (if they have not already done so) as a public service.
The reporting in this particular story is solid. A lot of work obviously went into finding individuals who represent the many others who are facing particular issues in their lives that could lead to infection with HIV, as well as people who are facing the consequences of living with the disease. A lot of work also clearly went into getting to know these people, and creating the emotional space that allowed them to talk forthrightly about their situations, how they became infected, and what they are now confronting in their lives.
I do think that a bit more could have been done to bring out the humanity of the people who are profiled. Their stories are both dramatic and tragic. They are treated respectfully in this piece, and I am not arguing here for sensationalism. But the story could have been done in a way that would have created more of a connection between the listener and the people in the story, while still exploring the "issues" in an intelligent and thorough way.
Also, the story bounces around a bit structurally. The transitions from one person's particular story or situation to another's are sometimes not obvious or clear, and require the listener to do a bit of connecting the dots to keep track of who is being talked about and why.
However, these flaws shouldn't disqualify this story, or this series, from airing on your station if it is within the western New England region. As I mentioned earlier, the production of this series was a true public service, as would be its broadcast.
Barrett's shows for this series cast a very wide sonic and thematic net for each topical half-hour. This one, about trains, starts with a very funny and quirky interaction between Amtrak's sort-of-human but really mechanical telephone ticket attendant and a mixed-up, not-quite-sure-where-to-go-next actually human potential passenger. From there it's on to Pullman Porters, an amazing hobo story, pure sound and music -- with the elements flowing from one to the other with a kind of intuitive grace. (By the way, if Barrett rides the trains again for this series, it would be worth checking out Reverend A.W. Nix's incredible "Black Diamond Express Train To Hell" sermon.) This is the kind of show that sends your mind and spirit off to some very unexpected place when it pops out of your radio. Public radio in general used to do that a whole lot more than it does these days. Maybe, one day, it will again. We can always hope...
Comment for
"Rediscovering Barbara Jordan" (deleted)
If you're in charge of one of the stations that's eligible to run this program -- and you haven't found a place for it yet -- then, by all means, do so! (Or, at least, run the powerful excerpt recounting Barbara Jordan's remarks during the House Judiciary Committee's hearings on impeachment in 1974, which can be found at www.prx.org/pieces/5262.)
This program will make you want to cheer when you hear Barbara Jordan speak, moan in despair when you realize how dismal and cartoonish our political discourse has become in the last three decades, and weep when you learn that -- if it wasn't for her failing health -- Jordan would be a Justice of the Supreme Court today.
I vividly remember her impeachment hearing speech and the sensation it caused. But I learned a great deal about her life and political history from this program that was both illuminating and surprising. I don't need to recount the details. You can find them yourself in this program.
Wayne Bell did an exceptional job putting this program together. I will just briefly mention a few things about the production that I especially liked...
The mix of archival tape, interviews, narration and music is excellent. The reporter knew when to back off and let Jordan and the people who knew her tell large parts of her story. (Many times, they enter the piece by introducing themselves -- and then, later, re-introducing themselves in a completely natural way.) Nicely done.
There is music through most of this program, and it works much like a really good music soundtrack does. It contributes to the mood or the moment, but doesn't draw attention to itself and detract or distract from the story. Often, you don't consciously realize it's even there -- although it is affecting you. Again, nicely done.
I do have a few small quibbles. I wish a bit more of her famous impeachment remarks had been included. The same goes for her keynote speech at the 1976 Democratic National Convention. And sometimes -- particularly in the first half of the program -- the narration is loaded with way too many superlative adjectives. Sure, Barbara Jordan was great, and she had great influences early in life. But there's no need for hagiography. Along this line, I thought the reporter kind of skirted around the early controversies in her political career that led Jordan's critics to charge her with expedience and opportunism.
Still, for many reasons, this is a program that public radio listeners need to hear. In 1974, during the Judiciary Committee hearings, Barbara Jordan said, "My faith in the Constitution is whole. It is complete. It is total. And I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction of the Constitution." If you run a public radio station today, at a time when that Constitution seems increasingly to be in peril, it is your civic duty to permit your audience to hear those important words, in Jordan's remarkable voice.
I love the idea behind this piece -- a musician works with people in a facility for homeless people with serious medical problems, gets to know them, interviews them, then takes parts of those interviews and composes or improvises his own music to accompany them. It's a great idea, and the motiviation behind the idea is wonderful.
But this one -- the first in a proposed series, doesn't really work. Here's why...
First off, the person being interviewed is way off-mike, in an echoey room. At times, it's hard to even make out what he's saying. The musical breaks that surround the subject's voice are really good -- interesting, intriguing and involving. (And very well recorded.) But, sonically, the elements don't integrate at all.
Second, what we hear from the subject -- even though the details in themselves can be harrowing -- is kind of superficial. What was his life like before it went downhill? Why did he fall on such hard times? What were the real, deep, struggles he's endured and lessons he's learned? I want to learn a lot more about this person than I do here.
For the producer... Keep it up. Like I said, I love the original idea, the motivation behind it -- and also your music. Maybe you should check out a couple of stories from the SoundPortraits web site to get some notion of how to really draw out the people you're going to profile. I would suggest venturing over to www.soundportraits.org and listening to "Charley's Story" and "All The Way Broken" for starters. I am not suggesting that you try to "copy" these pieces in any way. But listen for the real depth in the self-portrayal of the people in these stories.
First, to the programmers out there... This piece isn't perfect, but you could certainly mix it into an experimental, free-form night-time show. You still have those, don't you? You're not just running the BBC all night, are you? (I don't think, though, that this little essay would work as a "drop-in" to the usual NPR-style cookie-cutter public affairs program.)
Now, to the young person who produced this story...
I really like what you tried to do with this, but here are some unsolicited tips...
You need to work on how you record and then use the sound -- if you are going to be doing a story like this, which is about the sounds you notice (and seek out) as you walk your walk. The sounds you gathered aren't integrated completely into your narration; they kind of drop in and out like they came from a sound-effects collection. And the motorcycles -- they should have really roared by your microphone, just like they do for real when you watch them. Get closer in there, somehow!
Your writing is great. At times, it has the rhythm and raw feel of the Beats. (That's a big compliment.) But you do sound, often, like you're reading, instead of talking. And then, when you are talking, you are half-swallowing your words and almost mumbling.
So, when you're doing your thing with the microphone, don't talk just to yourself. If you're using headphones when recording your voice, turn the volume on them down a lot. That will help you speak up. And speak up! You have something to say, after all! Maybe pretend that you're telling it to a big crowd that's in front of you. Or look into the sky and let the clouds and the spirits hear you. I repeat -- you are someone with things to say -- so let the whole world really hear your words! Don't be shy about it. Your writing has a musical cadence. So, perform like a musician!
I hope you continue to do radio essays like this. I'll look forward to hearing more of them...
Comments by Gary Covino
Comment for "RN Documentary: Three Photographs"
Gary Covino
Posted on May 03, 2006 at 12:19 AM | Permalink
Review of RN Documentary: Three Photographs
I listened to this amazing program, appropriately enough, on the third anniversary of George Bush's declaration of "victory" in the Iraq war. The compassionate humanity of the photographer who is interviewed in this program stands in such stark contrast to the... Oh, never mind. Don't get me started.
This is both a simple and fantastically powerful program. Simple, because it consists of a studio interview with a war photographer, who tells the stories behind three of the photos he took at different stages of the conflict in Iraq. There are so few questions that most of the program is actually a monologue. Quiet piano music comes and goes throughout.
The program is powerful because of the ability of the photographer to convey what appears in each image, as well as to relate the heartbreaking details of what led up to the taking of the photos. Each of the pictures is immensely symbolic, and the photographer is able to explain their complex layers of meaning in simple but eloquent language.
By the end of this program, you've learned way more about the reality of the war in Iraq than you have in the last year's worth of news reports, analyses and commentaries that you've seen, heard or read.
This program is a half-hour long, but the real power is in the first twenty minutes or so. That's when the photos are center stage. The last third of the discussion is interesting, but is more abstract, and actually becomes a bit of an anti-climax. I would have taken a small number of the (very eloquent) conclusions from this last part of the discussion, and used them to end the program in a thoughtful way after that first twenty minutes.
There are going to be many more "turning points" in the ongoing debacle that is the Iraq war before it's over. So you will have, unfortunately, many more "pegs" to justify running this program (if you feel the need for such rationales). Find whatever reason you need, but do run it.
Comment for "Crawfish Out of the Boil"
Gary Covino
Posted on May 02, 2006 at 10:00 PM | Permalink
Review of Crawfish Out of the Boil
The horrible tragedy that took place in New Orleans last fall is already drifting out of public memory, and the absolute scandal that is the lack of planning and action for the rebuilding of the city is not getting near enough attention in the press or on the air.
If you are planning to do a program discussing all this -- and I hope you will -- this piece certainly could be used as a part of it.
This is basically the story of Roger, who was a builder in the old, grand city -- and is hanging on there, hoping to build again. His old crew is still scattered around the country, and he hopes they'll eventually come back.
At first it bothered me that there is so little sound in this production. After all, it's from New Orleans! But maybe this near-silence accurately reflects the shattered city of today.
I think the producer should have considered trying to do this story as a monologue -- just letting alone Roger talk. The copy bridges don't add all that much, and sometimes fall into cliche. Also, the producer starts out talking like a normal person, but, as the piece goes on, tries to convey emotion and pain in a way that sounds forced and false.
Still, not bad for a beginner. A thoughtful little vignette from a desperate city. Surrounded by other elements, this piece (or excerpts from it) could definitely add something to a New Orleans-themed program.
Comment for "War and the Soul"
Gary Covino
Posted on April 02, 2006 at 09:48 PM | Permalink
Review of War and the Soul
I see that, elsewhere on this site, this particular program was panned by another reviewer. I completely disagree. In fact, in many ways, this is the most interesting radio I have heard in several months.
Now, what we have here is, in many ways, the exact opposite of what many program directors are looking for. There are no breaks for newscasts, traffic reports, or underwriting announcements. This is a half-hour-long discussion with one person (an author), who isn't even in the studio, but is on a telephone line with a (not too terrible, but still audible) hum in it. There are no opportunities for listeners to call in. The interviewer sometimes lets the guest go on at some length, and never challenges any of his premises or conclusions. There isn't even any theme music at the beginning or the end of the show. In many ways, the "sound" of this program is much more like the non-commercial radio of a generation or two ago -- from back in those ancient times when people "listened" to the radio, as opposed to today, when they supposedly "use" it.
But this program made me sit, and listen, and learn, and think. I won't repeat the main themes that are discussed, or the details about the author and his book. You can read them in the program description. We live in a time of war -- as have, at some point, the vast majority of human beings who have ever inhabited this planet. But, as this program makes clear, modern societies and modern militaries have lost touch with "the spiritual warrior's path" which enabled people to go out and commit the horrible act of killing -- and then return to their communities and re-integrate with them, without the terrible, long-lasting, soul-destroying effects that so often afflict returning veterans today.
Would I like the rest of the programs in this series? I have no idea. But I give a very high rating to this particular episode, topic and discussion.
Comment for "Unmasking Stalin: A Speech that Changed the World"
Gary Covino
Posted on April 01, 2006 at 08:08 PM | Permalink
Review of Unmasking Stalin: A Speech that Changed the World
I highly recommend this documentary.
In 1956, in a secret address at the Twentieth Congress of the Soviet Communist Party, the Party's new leader, Nikita Khrushchev, officially revealed -- and denounced -- the crimes of his predecessor, Joseph Stalin. Khrushchev's speech -- the product of a complex mix of personal and political motives -- didn't stay secret for long. It has been described as one of the most important speeches of the 20th century. Some historians mark the date of the speech (this year marks the fiftieth anniversary) as "the beginning of the end" of the Soviet Union. Whatever the truth of that assertion, it is indisputible that Khrushchev's words rocked the USSR, and prompted countless citizens of the Soviet Union to also begin to speak out, to organize, and to take real personal risks in the effort to create a more free society.
In this well-produced and nearly encyclopedic program, producer Robert Rand tells the story of the speech, how and why it was delivered, what it meant for Nikita Khrushchev and his nation... and much more. He also takes us on a journey in which we meet a wide variety of dissidents who were moved to action by the speech, and traces the varied consequences they faced as a result.
This is history told through the voices of scholars and activists and ordinary citizens. At times, the tone is thoughtful and "educational." Other times, it is deeply personal and emotional.
Now, the Soviet Union that was largely built by Stalin is gone. But, paradoxically, in the chaotic Russia of today, there is more than a little nostalgia for Stalin. And there is concern that, under Vladimir Putin, many of the old authoritarian tendencies of the past are re-emerging. This quietly authoritative program doesn't try to predict what may happen next. But it expertly traces what transpires when an entire political edifice, built on the near-worship of a brutal and dishonest leader, is suddenly challenged by one of the world's most potent weapons -- the truth.
Comment for "Will in the Courts"
Gary Covino
Posted on March 23, 2006 at 09:42 PM | Permalink
Review of Will in the Courts
This is a skillfully constructed little story. If it hasn't already run in the Boston area, it should. It involves seven incarcerated teenage girls who are involved with a special Shakespeare class in their Dorchester, Massachusetts detention facility.
A brief intro -- which lacks (but cries out for) a great quote from Shakespeare -- sets the scene. The rest of the piece is a mixture of excerpts from the class, comments from one of the teachers, and the voices of the girls as they talk about their lives and what they feel they are getting from participating in the production of a piece called The Tempest Behind My Eyes.
At times, the voices, words and editing convey real lyrical and rhythmic power -- especially when there is some direct interplay between a girl's comments and an excerpt from the class. In fact, this piece would have been even better had there been more of this. But there is a very good sense of pacing throughout what is presented here.
One distraction is that, while the girls are all nicely recorded, the class was captured from a bit of a distance. That lowers the emotional power of a few sections of this story. Producers everywhere -- come on! Get in there closer to the action with your microphones!
Comment for "Part Two: LATINA WOMEN AT INCREASING RISK of HIV"
Gary Covino
Posted on March 23, 2006 at 05:32 PM | Permalink
Review of Part Two: LATINA WOMEN AT INCREASING RISK of HIV
This story is part of a series about the HIV - AIDS situation within the Latino communities of western New England. So, by definition, there is a distinct regional and ethnic focus for the series. I would urge stations within that particular region to seriously consider running this series (if they have not already done so) as a public service.
The reporting in this particular story is solid. A lot of work obviously went into finding individuals who represent the many others who are facing particular issues in their lives that could lead to infection with HIV, as well as people who are facing the consequences of living with the disease. A lot of work also clearly went into getting to know these people, and creating the emotional space that allowed them to talk forthrightly about their situations, how they became infected, and what they are now confronting in their lives.
I do think that a bit more could have been done to bring out the humanity of the people who are profiled. Their stories are both dramatic and tragic. They are treated respectfully in this piece, and I am not arguing here for sensationalism. But the story could have been done in a way that would have created more of a connection between the listener and the people in the story, while still exploring the "issues" in an intelligent and thorough way.
Also, the story bounces around a bit structurally. The transitions from one person's particular story or situation to another's are sometimes not obvious or clear, and require the listener to do a bit of connecting the dots to keep track of who is being talked about and why.
However, these flaws shouldn't disqualify this story, or this series, from airing on your station if it is within the western New England region. As I mentioned earlier, the production of this series was a true public service, as would be its broadcast.
Comment for "The Train Plan"
Gary Covino
Posted on March 01, 2006 at 08:05 PM | Permalink
Review of The Plan- Trains
Barrett's shows for this series cast a very wide sonic and thematic net for each topical half-hour. This one, about trains, starts with a very funny and quirky interaction between Amtrak's sort-of-human but really mechanical telephone ticket attendant and a mixed-up, not-quite-sure-where-to-go-next actually human potential passenger. From there it's on to Pullman Porters, an amazing hobo story, pure sound and music -- with the elements flowing from one to the other with a kind of intuitive grace. (By the way, if Barrett rides the trains again for this series, it would be worth checking out Reverend A.W. Nix's incredible "Black Diamond Express Train To Hell" sermon.) This is the kind of show that sends your mind and spirit off to some very unexpected place when it pops out of your radio. Public radio in general used to do that a whole lot more than it does these days. Maybe, one day, it will again. We can always hope...
Comment for "Rediscovering Barbara Jordan" (deleted)
Gary Covino
Posted on February 25, 2006 at 06:38 PM
Review of Rediscovering Barbara Jordan (deleted)
If you're in charge of one of the stations that's eligible to run this program -- and you haven't found a place for it yet -- then, by all means, do so! (Or, at least, run the powerful excerpt recounting Barbara Jordan's remarks during the House Judiciary Committee's hearings on impeachment in 1974, which can be found at www.prx.org/pieces/5262.)
This program will make you want to cheer when you hear Barbara Jordan speak, moan in despair when you realize how dismal and cartoonish our political discourse has become in the last three decades, and weep when you learn that -- if it wasn't for her failing health -- Jordan would be a Justice of the Supreme Court today.
I vividly remember her impeachment hearing speech and the sensation it caused. But I learned a great deal about her life and political history from this program that was both illuminating and surprising. I don't need to recount the details. You can find them yourself in this program.
Wayne Bell did an exceptional job putting this program together. I will just briefly mention a few things about the production that I especially liked...
The mix of archival tape, interviews, narration and music is excellent. The reporter knew when to back off and let Jordan and the people who knew her tell large parts of her story. (Many times, they enter the piece by introducing themselves -- and then, later, re-introducing themselves in a completely natural way.) Nicely done.
There is music through most of this program, and it works much like a really good music soundtrack does. It contributes to the mood or the moment, but doesn't draw attention to itself and detract or distract from the story. Often, you don't consciously realize it's even there -- although it is affecting you. Again, nicely done.
I do have a few small quibbles. I wish a bit more of her famous impeachment remarks had been included. The same goes for her keynote speech at the 1976 Democratic National Convention. And sometimes -- particularly in the first half of the program -- the narration is loaded with way too many superlative adjectives. Sure, Barbara Jordan was great, and she had great influences early in life. But there's no need for hagiography. Along this line, I thought the reporter kind of skirted around the early controversies in her political career that led Jordan's critics to charge her with expedience and opportunism.
Still, for many reasons, this is a program that public radio listeners need to hear. In 1974, during the Judiciary Committee hearings, Barbara Jordan said, "My faith in the Constitution is whole. It is complete. It is total. And I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction of the Constitution." If you run a public radio station today, at a time when that Constitution seems increasingly to be in peril, it is your civic duty to permit your audience to hear those important words, in Jordan's remarkable voice.
Comment for ""I woke up, I was all split open...""
Gary Covino
Posted on February 25, 2006 at 05:02 PM | Permalink
Review of "I woke up, I was all split open..."
I love the idea behind this piece -- a musician works with people in a facility for homeless people with serious medical problems, gets to know them, interviews them, then takes parts of those interviews and composes or improvises his own music to accompany them. It's a great idea, and the motiviation behind the idea is wonderful.
But this one -- the first in a proposed series, doesn't really work. Here's why...
First off, the person being interviewed is way off-mike, in an echoey room. At times, it's hard to even make out what he's saying. The musical breaks that surround the subject's voice are really good -- interesting, intriguing and involving. (And very well recorded.) But, sonically, the elements don't integrate at all.
Second, what we hear from the subject -- even though the details in themselves can be harrowing -- is kind of superficial. What was his life like before it went downhill? Why did he fall on such hard times? What were the real, deep, struggles he's endured and lessons he's learned? I want to learn a lot more about this person than I do here.
For the producer... Keep it up. Like I said, I love the original idea, the motivation behind it -- and also your music. Maybe you should check out a couple of stories from the SoundPortraits web site to get some notion of how to really draw out the people you're going to profile. I would suggest venturing over to www.soundportraits.org and listening to "Charley's Story" and "All The Way Broken" for starters. I am not suggesting that you try to "copy" these pieces in any way. But listen for the real depth in the self-portrayal of the people in these stories.
Good luck with the next one...
Comment for "Southwest Side Stories: The Jumps"
Gary Covino
Posted on February 25, 2006 at 04:34 PM | Permalink
Review of Southwest Side Stories: The Jumps
First, to the programmers out there... This piece isn't perfect, but you could certainly mix it into an experimental, free-form night-time show. You still have those, don't you? You're not just running the BBC all night, are you? (I don't think, though, that this little essay would work as a "drop-in" to the usual NPR-style cookie-cutter public affairs program.)
Now, to the young person who produced this story...
I really like what you tried to do with this, but here are some unsolicited tips...
You need to work on how you record and then use the sound -- if you are going to be doing a story like this, which is about the sounds you notice (and seek out) as you walk your walk. The sounds you gathered aren't integrated completely into your narration; they kind of drop in and out like they came from a sound-effects collection. And the motorcycles -- they should have really roared by your microphone, just like they do for real when you watch them. Get closer in there, somehow!
Your writing is great. At times, it has the rhythm and raw feel of the Beats. (That's a big compliment.) But you do sound, often, like you're reading, instead of talking. And then, when you are talking, you are half-swallowing your words and almost mumbling.
So, when you're doing your thing with the microphone, don't talk just to yourself. If you're using headphones when recording your voice, turn the volume on them down a lot. That will help you speak up. And speak up! You have something to say, after all! Maybe pretend that you're telling it to a big crowd that's in front of you. Or look into the sky and let the clouds and the spirits hear you. I repeat -- you are someone with things to say -- so let the whole world really hear your words! Don't be shy about it. Your writing has a musical cadence. So, perform like a musician!
I hope you continue to do radio essays like this. I'll look forward to hearing more of them...