I love sledding and nothing beats being outside with kids and a thermos of hot chocolate on a frosty day, but this just didn't give me that teary-eyed, wanna-be-there, feeling. The kids seem sweet enough, but there wasn't anything that made me feel nostalgic or warm. Perhaps it was the sound effects - just cold blades on ice and snow - nothing warm and inviting like the sounds of kids laughing in the background, or the swish of down jackets and mittens being rubbed together. Not sure why, but it just didn't feel right.
I liked it until the end. It ends strangely, almost mid-sentence. I waited and waited, and even checked to see if it was a commercial break...nope, it just ended. A very unsatisfying way to end a great piece. Strange.
Until then it was a great day-in-the-life piece with likeable people with great stories of their daily life.
Perfect for a spring planting or fall harvest timeframe.
I enjoyed the three segments and found that each could stand alone. The pieces were wonderfully woven with real people and experiences and I enjoyed the richness of their lives and memories. I highly recommend this piece and find that the pieces regarding the internment of the American Japanese would be timely around Pearl Harbor (December) but it is also a Spring seasonal piece as well. Lovely and very well done.
Comment for
"David Bouchier Essay: Permission to Travel" (deleted)
Review of David Bouchier Essay: Permission to Travel (deleted)
I work while I listen and so a piece needs to grab my attention - this one didn't. While I love the accent, the voice melts into the background so the piece was more relaxing than notable. I enjoyed the details of the 50-years of passports and the humor surrounding the aging of the writer, but he lost me after that. Well done but probably too polished for my taste.
I tried to understand and like it, but it was so difficult with the voice-over-voice and with the tones so loud. I listened to it three times trying to get through the piercing sounds to understand the text, but it just was too much. I just can't imagine when and why a station would want to use this. I can imagine myself driving down the road and the moment this came on reaching quickly for the station button to relieve my ears from the sound.
Unfortunately, the special effects of the deconstruction of the apple so overwhelmed the narrative I couldn't enjoy the piece. It was sadly a mess in my opinion. I can't imagine how it would be used in a station's day. I enjoy experimental pieces, but this one just didn't meld into anything.
I usually love the LA Theatre Works but like the audience at the end this was just "OK" for me. Unlike most audio I found myself looking at the clock wondering when it was going to be over. I generally love this period of history so it wasn't the subject matter, it was the voices chosen for the parts - they just didn't fit for me. With the exception of the servants, I found most of the voices an odd fit for the characters. Again, not one of my favorites.
Disclaimer: My name is also Ott, but I'm not related to the producer. I enjoyed this piece and found it polished and professional. Well put together and perfectly chosen subjects that are personable and likable. This piece is a short piece but doesn't feel like it as it's a complete piece that feels substantial.
While I didn't learn anything new about military families, I do feel the piece was well balanced and timely. The people followed were interesting and worth my time and I enjoyed the hour I spent with them. I especially appreciated that the story covered military families from all walks of life including those who have lost loved ones, those who oppose the war, and those who are very pro-military. Thank you for producing such a fine piece - I hope to hear it on my local stations soon.
Comments by Connie Ott
Comment for "Winter Sledding Audio Postcard"
Connie Ott
Posted on February 27, 2007 at 12:46 PM | Permalink
Review of Winter Sledding Audio Postcard
I love sledding and nothing beats being outside with kids and a thermos of hot chocolate on a frosty day, but this just didn't give me that teary-eyed, wanna-be-there, feeling. The kids seem sweet enough, but there wasn't anything that made me feel nostalgic or warm. Perhaps it was the sound effects - just cold blades on ice and snow - nothing warm and inviting like the sounds of kids laughing in the background, or the swish of down jackets and mittens being rubbed together. Not sure why, but it just didn't feel right.
Comment for "Natural Harvest Farm" (deleted)
Connie Ott
Posted on February 27, 2007 at 12:35 PM
Review of Natural Harvest Farm (deleted)
I liked it until the end. It ends strangely, almost mid-sentence. I waited and waited, and even checked to see if it was a commercial break...nope, it just ended. A very unsatisfying way to end a great piece. Strange.
Until then it was a great day-in-the-life piece with likeable people with great stories of their daily life.
Perfect for a spring planting or fall harvest timeframe.
Comment for "Pastures of Plenty: Sailing East: Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos in the Fields"
Connie Ott
Posted on February 27, 2007 at 12:01 PM | Permalink
Review of Pastures of Plenty: Sailing East: Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos in the Fields
I enjoyed the three segments and found that each could stand alone. The pieces were wonderfully woven with real people and experiences and I enjoyed the richness of their lives and memories. I highly recommend this piece and find that the pieces regarding the internment of the American Japanese would be timely around Pearl Harbor (December) but it is also a Spring seasonal piece as well. Lovely and very well done.
Comment for "David Bouchier Essay: Permission to Travel" (deleted)
Connie Ott
Posted on February 27, 2007 at 10:45 AM
Review of David Bouchier Essay: Permission to Travel (deleted)
I work while I listen and so a piece needs to grab my attention - this one didn't. While I love the accent, the voice melts into the background so the piece was more relaxing than notable. I enjoyed the details of the 50-years of passports and the humor surrounding the aging of the writer, but he lost me after that. Well done but probably too polished for my taste.
Comment for "TRACES"
Connie Ott
Posted on February 27, 2007 at 10:33 AM | Permalink
Review of TRACES
I tried to understand and like it, but it was so difficult with the voice-over-voice and with the tones so loud. I listened to it three times trying to get through the piercing sounds to understand the text, but it just was too much. I just can't imagine when and why a station would want to use this. I can imagine myself driving down the road and the moment this came on reaching quickly for the station button to relieve my ears from the sound.
Comment for "FairyTapples" (deleted)
Connie Ott
Posted on February 27, 2007 at 10:11 AM
Review of FairyTapples (deleted)
Unfortunately, the special effects of the deconstruction of the apple so overwhelmed the narrative I couldn't enjoy the piece. It was sadly a mess in my opinion. I can't imagine how it would be used in a station's day. I enjoy experimental pieces, but this one just didn't meld into anything.
Comment for "Mary Stuart" (deleted)
Connie Ott
Posted on February 26, 2007 at 12:50 PM
Review of Mary Stuart (deleted)
I usually love the LA Theatre Works but like the audience at the end this was just "OK" for me. Unlike most audio I found myself looking at the clock wondering when it was going to be over. I generally love this period of history so it wasn't the subject matter, it was the voices chosen for the parts - they just didn't fit for me. With the exception of the servants, I found most of the voices an odd fit for the characters. Again, not one of my favorites.
Comment for "The "New" New South"
Connie Ott
Posted on February 26, 2007 at 10:40 AM | Permalink
Review of The "New" New South
Disclaimer: My name is also Ott, but I'm not related to the producer. I enjoyed this piece and found it polished and professional. Well put together and perfectly chosen subjects that are personable and likable. This piece is a short piece but doesn't feel like it as it's a complete piece that feels substantial.
Comment for "Married to the Military"
Connie Ott
Posted on February 26, 2007 at 10:17 AM | Permalink
Review of Married to the Military
While I didn't learn anything new about military families, I do feel the piece was well balanced and timely. The people followed were interesting and worth my time and I enjoyed the hour I spent with them. I especially appreciated that the story covered military families from all walks of life including those who have lost loved ones, those who oppose the war, and those who are very pro-military. Thank you for producing such a fine piece - I hope to hear it on my local stations soon.