This could make a great Labor Day weekend soft feature. The story of a man who chooses to be his own boss with a job that, while physically demanding, offers the consolation of working in a beautiful place.
Werner makes his living digging for blood worms, which can go for up to twenty cents a piece, at low tide along the beaches of Maine.
A good example of story telling without a narrator/reporter, I found Werner to be a likable guy and found myself genuinely interested in his work. This story also has that fantasy appeal element to it in that it almost made me wish I could have a life like that.
Lots of good sounds: the ocean, digging, walking through the water, Werner's Maine accent. Interesting use of music at the end.
For stations serving city populations, this is a clear, thoughtful piece that will give your listeners new ideas and information regarding the future of cities.
I can easily imagine dropping this into Morning Edition.
It's the type of piece where I found myself thinking, I'll need to try and remember this so I can tell other people about it.
By way of disclosure I should say that I've worked for the Public Radio Partnership.
This would be an excellent piece to drop into ATC or any magazine format show that deals with people telling their stories or the environment. The piece has the real feel of taking the listener on a journey. The piece also vividly captures the sounds of the cave and effectively uses music to enhance, but not overwhelm, the story.
Most importantly though, the story's main voice, caver Peggy Nims, is engaging, funny and insightful. This is the kind of piece that makes you remember why radio story telling can be so cool.
If I were a PD in the West, and especially along the route of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, I would find a way to offer this program to my listeners. The program can be aired as an hour show or as five segments that will fit into ATC's Clock.
I produced a two hour documentary on William Clark's slave/body servant York, who played an important role on the L&C Expedition. I've spent much time reading and thinking about L&C.
Three reasons to invest the time to air this program:
One, while deftly handling the essential facts of the Expedition, this program offers much new information and, more importantly, adds a voice and perspective on L&C I hadn't heard before. I was surprised by what I learned. I have a deeper understanding of what the L&C Expedition meant and still means. Just one example, hearing the different opinions RE Sacajawea's role on the Expedition made me aware that there was a whole other way of seeing L&C that I had never considered.
Two, the people interviewed are excellent. The historians (including Stephen Ambrose and Dayton Duncan), historical reenactors and Native American descendents of the peoples who first met L&C are by turns authoritative, thought provoking and moving. The documentary also does an excellent job of balancing the genuine anger & resentment of some voices within a larger perspective that deepened my sense of the impact of L&C.
Three, the show sounds great. Effective use of music. The varied voices keep the ear fresh.
Well crafted, thought provoking, a program that can well serve and impact listeners living within the legacy of L&C.
This is the kind of piece that I wish I could hear on All Things Considered or Morning Edition. It's funny. It's well done. It has a point.
I had a conversation with a PD once who told me that he was especially looking for shows & pieces that didn't fit what traditionally sounded like Public Radio. He talked about how Tavis Smiley & Car Talk were both shows that expanded the sound of Public Radio and offered listeners something new and something that they would value. This piece does those things.
If I were a PD with any DJs programming a blues or jazz program on my station, then I would definitely recommend airing this piece to them.
While the piece doesn't fit the format of most music programs which are made up of songs being played straight through, it does give a real flavor of the song and also gives background information about this well known song that many listeners may not already know.
I can easily imagine this being a genuinely effective piece if introduced by the DJ, then played, and then followed by playing a version of Strange Fruit.
A well produced, interesting, emotionally involving piece.
As the other reviewers have said, the recordings of: period music, General Pershing and the interview with the WWI veteran give this story added impact. Vivid images, lasting voices.
I was struck by how this story honors the sacrifices made by US veterans without glorifying war. A good cutaway piece for PD's looking to add another perspective on a holiday that's taken on more importance in a post September 11th, Iraq War world.
A really cool little story! Funny, well told, well written. The first three minutes have great sounds & music mixed underneath the narrator. A driveway moment type piece for me.
Comments by Garry McCandless
Comment for "Werner the Wormer"
Garry McCandless
Posted on August 01, 2005 at 08:05 AM | Permalink
Review of Werner the Wormer
This could make a great Labor Day weekend soft feature. The story of a man who chooses to be his own boss with a job that, while physically demanding, offers the consolation of working in a beautiful place.
Werner makes his living digging for blood worms, which can go for up to twenty cents a piece, at low tide along the beaches of Maine.
A good example of story telling without a narrator/reporter, I found Werner to be a likable guy and found myself genuinely interested in his work. This story also has that fantasy appeal element to it in that it almost made me wish I could have a life like that.
Lots of good sounds: the ocean, digging, walking through the water, Werner's Maine accent. Interesting use of music at the end.
Comment for "In Praise of the Intentional City"
Garry McCandless
Posted on July 28, 2005 at 07:12 AM | Permalink
Review of In Praise of the Intentional City
For stations serving city populations, this is a clear, thoughtful piece that will give your listeners new ideas and information regarding the future of cities.
I can easily imagine dropping this into Morning Edition.
It's the type of piece where I found myself thinking, I'll need to try and remember this so I can tell other people about it.
Comment for "Exploring Hidden River Cave with Peggy Nims"
Garry McCandless
Posted on July 07, 2005 at 11:46 AM | Permalink
Review of Exploring Hidden River Cave with Peggy Nims
By way of disclosure I should say that I've worked for the Public Radio Partnership.
This would be an excellent piece to drop into ATC or any magazine format show that deals with people telling their stories or the environment. The piece has the real feel of taking the listener on a journey. The piece also vividly captures the sounds of the cave and effectively uses music to enhance, but not overwhelm, the story.
Most importantly though, the story's main voice, caver Peggy Nims, is engaging, funny and insightful. This is the kind of piece that makes you remember why radio story telling can be so cool.
Comment for "The Legacy and Lessons of Lewis & Clark (an hour-long special)"
Garry McCandless
Posted on June 30, 2005 at 02:18 AM | Permalink
Review of The Legacy and Lessons of Lewis & Clark (an hour-long special)
If I were a PD in the West, and especially along the route of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, I would find a way to offer this program to my listeners. The program can be aired as an hour show or as five segments that will fit into ATC's Clock.
I produced a two hour documentary on William Clark's slave/body servant York, who played an important role on the L&C Expedition. I've spent much time reading and thinking about L&C.
Three reasons to invest the time to air this program:
One, while deftly handling the essential facts of the Expedition, this program offers much new information and, more importantly, adds a voice and perspective on L&C I hadn't heard before. I was surprised by what I learned. I have a deeper understanding of what the L&C Expedition meant and still means. Just one example, hearing the different opinions RE Sacajawea's role on the Expedition made me aware that there was a whole other way of seeing L&C that I had never considered.
Two, the people interviewed are excellent. The historians (including Stephen Ambrose and Dayton Duncan), historical reenactors and Native American descendents of the peoples who first met L&C are by turns authoritative, thought provoking and moving. The documentary also does an excellent job of balancing the genuine anger & resentment of some voices within a larger perspective that deepened my sense of the impact of L&C.
Three, the show sounds great. Effective use of music. The varied voices keep the ear fresh.
Well crafted, thought provoking, a program that can well serve and impact listeners living within the legacy of L&C.
Comment for "4th of July Fireworks"
Garry McCandless
Posted on June 26, 2005 at 09:57 PM | Permalink
Review of 4th of July Fireworks
This is the kind of piece that I wish I could hear on All Things Considered or Morning Edition. It's funny. It's well done. It has a point.
I had a conversation with a PD once who told me that he was especially looking for shows & pieces that didn't fit what traditionally sounded like Public Radio. He talked about how Tavis Smiley & Car Talk were both shows that expanded the sound of Public Radio and offered listeners something new and something that they would value. This piece does those things.
Comment for "Strange Fruit" (deleted)
Garry McCandless
Posted on June 26, 2005 at 09:12 PM
Review of Strange Fruit (deleted)
If I were a PD with any DJs programming a blues or jazz program on my station, then I would definitely recommend airing this piece to them.
While the piece doesn't fit the format of most music programs which are made up of songs being played straight through, it does give a real flavor of the song and also gives background information about this well known song that many listeners may not already know.
I can easily imagine this being a genuinely effective piece if introduced by the DJ, then played, and then followed by playing a version of Strange Fruit.
A well produced, interesting, emotionally involving piece.
Comment for "World War One and Armistice Day"
Garry McCandless
Posted on November 08, 2004 at 08:59 AM | Permalink
Review of WW-I and Armistice Day
As the other reviewers have said, the recordings of: period music, General Pershing and the interview with the WWI veteran give this story added impact. Vivid images, lasting voices.
I was struck by how this story honors the sacrifices made by US veterans without glorifying war. A good cutaway piece for PD's looking to add another perspective on a holiday that's taken on more importance in a post September 11th, Iraq War world.
Comment for "Lost at Sea: One VW Microbus"
Garry McCandless
Posted on October 15, 2004 at 12:41 PM | Permalink
Review of Lost at Sea: One VW Microbus
A really cool little story! Funny, well told, well written. The first three minutes have great sounds & music mixed underneath the narrator. A driveway moment type piece for me.