Oh yes... amid a flurry of ideas about where to go with the website, I figured I'd best claim the blogspot while I could. Methinks I'll make this place for longer-winded, less relevant rantings about the project, and maybe even life in general! I'll start bugging you, you internauts, to start leaving comments...
Reflecting on the recording of mtl2012_episode4:
Collective writing is an interesting process. Depending on who is involved, who is trying to work together, it can be painful or fun. It always yields a unique result. As part of the Coop Sur Genereux's Skillshare Weekend, I facilitated a "radio from the FUTURE" workshop, based on the mtl2012 productions. Participants were invited to develop a character that inhabited the post-"economic and ecological catastrophe that completely changed life as we knew it" island of Montreal. Instead of questioning and debating the details of this world, we listened to episode3, and started writing quietly. Over the next two hours, we shared the thoughts, activities, and lives of our new characters, and developed questions that they might like to be asked in an interview. This process worked really well, and I'm really happy and eager to be producing the recordings this week. Also as part of the workshop, all three participants had a chance to learn how to use a portable mini-disc recorder. They did a good job too! I'll bug them to leave their own comments, and reflections on the workshop, and responses to the finished product.
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2 comments:
I enjoyed the experience as well. It is difficult to write collectively as a group, especially when one does not know the setting our the plot in any way.
But I did like how we went about it. It can be a challenge to ensure that each person is heard, because some personalities are louder than others, and when it comes to art or writing as a group, some might prefer not to have themselves judged, or to compete with more intense participants.
All that aside, I think that it was a great excercise and learning experience about the power of radio. To make that same drama on film would have taken a lot of time and money to produce something so simple. I think this tool needs to be used more and to bring out statements and ideas to all listeners in a creative, provocative, and clear manner.
Sorry for taking so long to reply. Charlie gets two thumbs up
To be perfectly honest I hadn't even realized what I was getting into. I thought we were simply going to be interviewed for the regular MTL 2012 series. I hadn't really clued in on the whole radio drama idea and collective writing workshop. In any case, I really enjoyed the experience. The process Charlie led us through allowed us to slowly ease into the semi-fictional world of MTL 2012. It's a really good idea to have participants reflect on their ideas individually before coming together to share as a group. It was interesting how everyone brought their own unique perspective to the piece. I guess we are all colored by our own experiences. The small group was key in assuring full participation. To echo Colin's comments, certain personalities tend to dominate in large groups and so the intimacy of the small group helped assure that everyone felt comfortable to put forth their ideas. I think that taking on another persona really helped me envision a post collapse world. I would get new ideas as I was acting out the ones I'd just then scripted out. This is serious shit to explore, I wouldnt want to trivialize it. The concept for the radio drama is good: a post collapse radio show interviewing characters in a post collapse world. If you tuned into it by accident, it would definitely catch your attention. It's dire, but honest. I'd be into doing it again. It was that good!
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