Meta on how I turn the author's words into a performance

[anna_unfolding]

Hi, all! I created a bit of meta about what my thought process is as an artist when I am turning the author's words and character headspace into a performance. It involves me reading a section of a fic I'm currently podficcing a few different ways. The fic is In the Stretch, by sophiahelix, who gave me permission to post this meta.

This is a 500 word section of a baseball rpf fic, pairing Tim Lincecum/Buster Posey. The rating for this scene would be R for sexual content. No AO3 archive warnings apply. Buster is distracted at batting practice by the memory of what happened with Timmy the night before.

It's all one file, but has a few sections, so I'll give the timestamps here, which will have the dual purpose of also being a sort of an outline for you to know what is in the meta.

DL link (with an option to stream) here.


0:00 I introduce my project and what the goals are.
1:36 Take 1. An edited reading of the scene without "performing." Just the author's words, read aloud.
4:08 I discuss what you just heard and introduce what Take 2 will be.
5:22 Take 2, a raw cut of me doing the same scene but as a performance. Includes "director's cut" commentary interspersed throughout the takes.
18:20 My concluding remarks.
19:37 Take 3. An edited retake of the whole scene where I attempt to incorporate all the things I mentioned in Take 2.
22:37 End.

Would love to hear thoughts on this meta, and also I encourage others to make a director's cut of a scene they are working on. I'd love to do it again, next time in a scene with more dialogue. Oh, and if you're interested in the full podfic of this phenomenal fic, it's coming! It's 40k and I'm through recording and editing 20k, so the whole thing will be posted in a couple of weeks. <3

Comments

[jelazakazone]

I am in awe. I don't put this much thought/effort into my podfics. I think I have a slightly different method from you though.

As you say, these things are subtle and I found this fascinating to listen to. Also, I agreed with you when you had that short line where you said you nailed it (can't remember the exact words that you nailed though).

Also, feeling completely inadequate to collab with you. *winces* Have you listened to anything I've done? Save yourself. Don't do it.

Thanks for doing this! Maybe I will do something like this on my next project. It wouldn't be the same though. I tend to only rerecord if the tone is completely blatantly wrong or when I rerecord. I have a hard enough time reading smoothly! LOL.

[anna_unfolding]

I started betaing podficcers last year and also began listening to people's raw files. I found all of our different processes fascinating and all really valid. There are people to retake the tiniest line many, many times, and others who read through flubs without stopping, and both end up with really interesting products. Sometimes stopping to retake things gets certain podficcers out of the zone, while others Can. Not. Move. On. til they get it right. All were valid and taught me things.

I think it'd be wonderful to collab with you; are you kidding?? We don't have to have similar processes to team up. I'm game!

Re: reading smoothly. well we all have different struggles, I think. I do a warm up of singing and speaking to get my lips and throat in shape for a serious recording session, and I found it really cuts down on how many rough flubs I have in those first 20 minutes, saving LOTS of time in editing. I hear you though; some days getting through the lines without tripping up is all I can ask for and I take it with relief!

Thanks for listening and commenting. <3

[jelazakazone]

Hunh. Maybe I should listen to someone else's raw file. Like, we could do a trade. That feels scary!

I have been thinking about this for the past couple days. I just edited a Night Vale podfic. The first bit that I did had far fewer flubs (but I think the number of retakes was about the same). I think I need to "get in character" before I can record. So I don't think singing etc would help me. I often only have 20 minutes to record! I think that being relaxed and channeling the character(s) is the best method for me. Fascinating to think about.

\o/!! I love your enthusiasm.

Thanks for the thoughts and conversation! <3

[anna_unfolding]

There is some interest in a com for people who would like to trade sections of raw podfic for educational/meta purposes (not for critique). I'll keep you in mind if it's brought up again. <3