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

[melusina]

this is completely fascinating! Although the difference between the two different approaches is interesting, what's most fascinating to me is the commentary around what techniques you use to achieve a particular effect and what thought processes go into choosing those techniques. I think it could be very useful in explaining to people who haven't podficced what it's actually about.

I'd actually be interested in a slightly different version of this project where the reader shows the difference between reading something the way you would if you read the story aloud to someone (but in the way of your second take, thoughtfully and using your voice to tell the story) and a version that is more like a radio play with sound effects, voices, etc.

Also, I totally want to do a director's cut of something now! Maybe I will pack my mic for the beach. . .

[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.

[metanewsmods]

Hi, would it be okay to link this at metanews

[thefourthvine]

This was a fascinating thing to listen to, and I loved both the contrasts and the director's cut. Thanks for doing it!

[niko]

Very cool approach to talking about podfic "craft". All the little decisions on how to come at the performance are one of my favorite things about podficcing... it's neat to see that element get the spotlight in this.

[fred_mouse]

I have bookmarked this to come back to once semester is over, so will hopefully remember to a) listen and b) engage in the conversation (however stale it might be). In the meantime, as a wanna-be podficcer, I am very grateful for people talking about the whys and wherefores as well as the how-tos. Thank you.

[metanewsmods]

Hi, can we link this at metanews?

[lunchee]

Coming in late, but I just found this post today and found it really interesting. It inspired me to make my own reading vs performance podcast + director's commentary here.