citrus_java | About perfection in podfic (audio)

FWIW, I think auditions don't always mean "quality control." I'm very against the idea of "quality control" in podfic, but the idea of a director getting to listen to different options for characters and then develop a creative vision for how the performance will go based on putting a certain combination of those performers together is something that I think could be very fun to play with. And something that, I think, there is room for without anybody being judged as not good enough. I think that auditions, when it is a director-led project, should be and usually are about who will play off each other well and who has interpretations of the character that challenge or inspire the director to new thinking about the story. Not about one person being rated as objectively better or worse than another.

Interesting. That has interesting potential, ad I agree it can be really interesting artistically! I'm not as actively involved in the podfic discourse as all of you, so I might not be, you know, attuned to subtleties of the recording community. But I was once involved in recording an audiobook in the way you describe, and it went pretty badly (though I personally got good parts). I'm so not saying that the general podficcer is like Ryan Murphy (and hm, I hope writing this doesn't offend any of his fans, if any might be reading), but - have you watched The Glee Project? He goes on and on about being unique and inspiring, and the winners still keep being the most normative people there. That worries me... It's not a reason not to create, it's - I hope for there to be many projects - other than that?

It sound like we agree on that :-))
I agree that chemistry between performers, for instance, can really make a difference, and that an overview of the creation can help the director bring out more meaning and layers. But it worries me that we'd casually adopt formats that can be so oppressive in other areas, and so easily accepted as 'natural'... I'd like to be able to believe that fandom is clean of prejudice, but as many people have written before me, of course it isn't... If this tool will be used, imo it has to be done very carefully and with reflection ... IDK It really worries me.

Well, as mod of theatripod, I like to think I *am* using it carefully and with reflection. I suspect if you listened to the completed theatripod projects from the last round, or to the other project I auditioned some parts for, you would not hear what you fear in them nor feel that they had negatively impacted unrelated projects by other podficcers (which is something you seemed to claim in your initial talkback).

However, I'm also very willing to loop you in and get your input for how the discourse around the audition process will be phrased in the upcoming round, because a wider variety of perspectives is always helpful!

I do agree with you insofar as you are saying that auditions can be used in very negative and harmful ways. I strongly disagree with anyone who would claim that the only way to address this is to exclude the possibility of ever using auditions purposefully in the podfic community.

Oops, that was me of course. Didn't realize i wasn't signed in on my phone!

Hey,

I'm really not saying you are or haven't done that, but that adopting this into podfic is dangerous. I haven't listened to theatripod podfics - I listen to a whole lot of podfic, but haven't heard of this project, probably since it's not in my fandoms - but after listening to your podcast definitely want to listen - this is a fantastic and exciting concept!

Yes, I do worry that if auditioning became common in the podfic world, it would intimidate people from recording their own. And since I want a whole lot of podfic, even just as a listener, and I know how easily intimidated people can get, that does worry me. But as far as I know that is not the case right now, not from the things I've been reading.

As I said, I'm not saying auditions should never be used ever for anything - they are a tool. They worry me, and are connected, even just as a common association for people in arts - to a whole lo of trauma and other problems, and IMO this needs to be taken into very careful account ....

I'm really not saying you haven't done that - I don't know your work as a director, though it sounds really awesome - I'm saying that in general in the field, this comes with prices and worries me (and if I quote Tim Gunn one more time I'm gonna have to be flabbergasted).

I absolutely agree that it is tricky, and thanks for bringing to the forefront of my mind the traumatic and problematic history with auditions in various settings and contexts, including mainstream theatre/TV/movie casting!

This conversation is very timely because we're having our first meeting to discuss Round 2 of theatripod (including how to run and how to frame auditions, if the directors wish to use them) later today. I definitely re-extend my invitation for you to be involved in the process and give feedback on what we come up with before we go public with anything—maybe I could email you our draft of thoughts?—because I think your perspective as someone who has been hurt by theatre auditions is a very valuable one to have when figuring these things out!

That's so sweet! Thanks for the suggestion :)
Sure, I'll gladly look at it, though I don;t know that I'll be able to be much use - mostly my strategy is to worry about things, I'm not sure what to do to actually solve them ;-))))

Also, heh, awkwardly I'm actually a huge Ryan Murphy stan, but as it happens I fully agree that his casting choices on The Glee Project were terrible and disgustingly non-diverse, so I take no offense at you saying so!

LOL
<3

Thanks for the link - I didn't know this existed.

As I'm getting back into podding - I'm getting more and more interested in discussions surrounding it.

Oh, you should totally check it out!

And on more self serving note - yay! Yes! Go podfic stuff! :):)

About perfection in podfic (audio)

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