tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post1002802774724603046..comments2024-03-26T23:41:10.319+00:00Comments on Authors Electric: THE AUDIO BOOK – CAN YOU DO IT YOURSELF? BY CATHERINE CZERKAWSKAKatherine Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-19923958226054854682013-08-23T21:04:29.202+01:002013-08-23T21:04:29.202+01:00Hi Lee - yes - a reading and a dramatisation are E...Hi Lee - yes - a reading and a dramatisation are ENTIRELY different things and readings shouldn't have FX though they may have the odd bit of music! I'd go so far as to say that a dramatisation involves a whole lot more work for the person writing the scripts. You have to get away from the book completely in many ways. I used to read and reread the book, then spend time on a very rough draft, but then set the book to one side completely and turn that rough draft into a proper play, or series of plays. It's a whole other artform - although in well loved books such as Kidnapped or The Hunchback of Notre Dame, you lose certain scenes at your peril. We HAD to have a chariot race in Ben Hur, just as we HAD to have a scene with poor old Quasimodo going on about 'The bells, the bells' Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-74628076947425531992013-08-20T07:44:05.239+01:002013-08-20T07:44:05.239+01:00Two quick things to add:
1. Ioan's reading wa...Two quick things to add:<br /><br />1. Ioan's reading was of course an interpretation, as it always must be, and it showed me new ways (not always a happy experience)of looking at my novel.<br /><br />2. We probably should regard audiobooks - even just straightforward readings rather than dramatisations - as a different medium altogether. Hence the need to write explicitly with this in mind if you're going to write them at all (though I'm not going to follow my own advice).Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13770069472552779217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-18330821238449913212013-08-19T20:01:37.962+01:002013-08-19T20:01:37.962+01:00A drama student read my first novel as a universit...A drama student read my first novel as a university-sponsored project; a professional actor (Ioan Hefin - BBC Wales projects, amongst many others), my second. And even for Ioan, who is a hard-working, full-time actor with extensive background in TV, film, and stage, it was a learning experience. <br /><br />But worth it, he claims, since he's prepared to narrate my next novel too. And he does it for free - now that's real commitment, when you understand that <i>Corvus</i>, for example, involves something like 25 hours of listening!<br /><br />And it's worth it because the podcast i.e. audiobook downloads run to the thousands, and have not lessened significantly since they went live. It's a popular format.<br /><br />We chose not to introduce sound effects. Different voices at times, yes. But sound effects and music require an entirely different set of skills. (Just ask my elder daughter, who trained in Babelsberg as a sound designer and engineer, but now directs.)<br /><br />If anyone has any questions about my experiences, I'll be happy to answer as best as I can - I'm still not reading and typing very well.<br /><br />But would I read myself? NEVER!!Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13770069472552779217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-23165362674571985792013-08-19T15:07:18.895+01:002013-08-19T15:07:18.895+01:00Many moons ago, I trained in radio acting at drama...Many moons ago, I trained in radio acting at drama school. I have to say I enjoyed the doing the sound effects much more than voicing! Acting for radio is a specific skill which not all drama schools teach, but all actors should have been taught basics of how to 'read' for performance and I've always used RSAMD students for many of my 'live' productions. Audio books are definitely a thing to think about because there are many folk who have no other way to 'enjoy' books and their choice can be very limited. Thanks for the post Catherine. CallyPhillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15481379296340077102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-69307915118123207972013-08-19T13:10:44.888+01:002013-08-19T13:10:44.888+01:00It truly is an art in itself. I remember that I wa...It truly is an art in itself. I remember that I was only truly able to 'get into' Tolkien's epic The Silmarillion thanks to the audiobook version read by Martin Shaw. That truly must have been a tough gig - huge book, jaw-breaking names and places, made-up languages, little dialogue, vast passages of Biblical description... I was in awe of Shaw. God, but he must have needed the money.Nick Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08191176209084540085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-38164779851926315902013-08-19T10:28:47.172+01:002013-08-19T10:28:47.172+01:00This is wonderful. I've often, with my writer...This is wonderful. I've often, with my writer's hubris and the deceptive memory of declaiming short stories to kids in schools and not sending them to sleep, thought of trying a few things out on Youtube but you've shown me how disastrous that might be. The suggestion of drama students and uni studio facilities is a good one. There's some brilliant kit at Brookes and they may be interested in the odd project. I'll enquire. So thanks, Catherine. You might have opened up a whole new experience for me.Dennis Hamleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781139870037634374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-38738898449263837392013-08-18T21:38:02.780+01:002013-08-18T21:38:02.780+01:00It's a while since I did radio. But I have all...It's a while since I did radio. But I have all kinds of daft stories about productions. In Kidnapped the actors did 'horseback' acting standing on chairs and jingling bunches of keys. But if you need sword fighting, only real swords will do since the sound of the swords has to be orchestrated with the movements. The amazing Liam Brennan is one of our very best radio actors (as well as one of our very best theatre actors.) If you listen to radio you'll almost certainly have heard him, even if you don't know his name. He played Robert Burns in something I wrote and I (thoughtlessly) gave him the phrase 'the whip't syllabub of epistolatory compliment' to say.It was a quote from Burns himself. In rehearsal, I thought 'flippin' eck' or words to that effect and offered to change it, but he said 'No, no. I'm sure I can do it!' And he did. He was in a Ray Bradbury dramatization I did - Skeleton - played a sort of bone vampire. He ate a LOT of breadsticks for that one!Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-35694358771543862132013-08-18T20:46:49.595+01:002013-08-18T20:46:49.595+01:00Great post. I'd love to do audiobooks - thrill...Great post. I'd love to do audiobooks - thrilled to find recently that the BBC have put my radio play on audiogo, you must have loads on there Catherine! A lot of people love audiobooks, not just visually impaired but people who drive a lot for example. But the cost of doing it yourself, ie hiring in recording time, actor etc, seems pretty prohibitive for a full novel. When my play was being recorded I was fascinated by how different radio acting is from stage acting - we had three fab actors but they too had to learn about the rustling, 'mouth noise', and even not to turn your head when speaking 'to' someone else! You are such an expert radio dramatist, so if you think it's hard to make audio books it must be!Lydia Bennethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09328239009863878547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-70954329974228241732013-08-18T16:06:45.851+01:002013-08-18T16:06:45.851+01:00You're right. Asking for help from drama stude...You're right. Asking for help from drama students would be a good idea. I thought about putting something along those lines, but the piece was already getting long! And often universities or colleges running such courses have proper audio studios and people with the tech know how to do the editing - and sometimes they might even be in search of projects! All good if you're working to a very tight budget.Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-92035439059495997082013-08-18T15:36:59.663+01:002013-08-18T15:36:59.663+01:00Tremendously interesting. Thanks.Tremendously interesting. Thanks.julia joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09773900100240758504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-48845703014816672502013-08-18T15:22:30.232+01:002013-08-18T15:22:30.232+01:00Fascinating stuff, thank you! I love audio books, ...Fascinating stuff, thank you! I love audio books, but have found that the narration can make or break the book, even when (or perhaps especially when) it is a much loved favourite. I'm currently listening to the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn which has got a fabulous narration by Matt Armstrong which adds to the already terrific story.<br /><br />I'm not entirely sure that writers reading their own work make the best job of it - but if it's necessary to do things on a tight budget, it seems that soliciting the help of drama students might be a good way to go and could be mutually beneficial. Although picking the right 'voice' is still essential of course! madwippitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02595748471651052552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-11254134350989393972013-08-18T12:49:51.800+01:002013-08-18T12:49:51.800+01:00Thanks, all. It struck me, writing this, that when...Thanks, all. It struck me, writing this, that when we're pretty competent in one area, we tend to think that we can do everything ourselves. I'm as guilty as the next person. It's not so much that people shouldn't have a go (otherwise I wouldn't be so much in favour of indie publishing!) as that we need to recognise the challenges and the genuine skills involved. Chris is right - it's only when you start to record something like a trailer - and Chris, your trailers and readings are excellent! - that you think - whoa - imagine trying to do this for some 80,000 words! Some magic happens between a good producer and a good actor when an audio book is done well and often I think the producer is the key - listening, directing, editing.Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-14621156696039455312013-08-18T12:08:37.862+01:002013-08-18T12:08:37.862+01:00A very good explanation of why just because you &#...A very good explanation of why just because you 'can' (or think you can) it doesn't mean you 'should'. <br />Being a writer does not mean you are a professional actor, let alone one who can work purely for the voice.<br /><br />Paying due respect both to your own work and to the listener (who may well be a reader now blind) is surely paramount. <br /><br />Well said(or well read) Catherine. Heard and understood. <br />I can certainly concur in my experience - writers and actors ARE NOT THE SAME THING. The skillsets are not interchangeable! <br /><br /><br /><br /> <br />CallyPhillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15481379296340077102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-52103278656469762792013-08-18T12:01:25.579+01:002013-08-18T12:01:25.579+01:00Great post, Catherine, and a legitimate warning to...Great post, Catherine, and a legitimate warning to unwary readers. In fact, I've heard novels (Ivanhoe, for example) read and produced by professionals which still had glaring inconsistencies, so even the wary ones make mistakes. But there's unwariness and there's totally embarrassing and neither will do anything but harm to a writer's reputation. I've done plenty of short, ad-type voice-overs but the idea of undertaking a full-length or even abridged novel is daunting.Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16345949773423764808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-74574535123801173492013-08-18T10:00:16.112+01:002013-08-18T10:00:16.112+01:00Marvellous post, Catherine. When I make my trailer...Marvellous post, Catherine. When I make my trailers I read the first chapter of my book, and I've hit all the problems you mention. I can't do it from my computer screen because of the noise of the computer fans, so I have to read from paper. So then you get the paper rustle when you turn pages. What I do is spread the sheets of paper lengthwise on my coffee table, then do a knee shuffle along the table while I'm reading (carpet, doesn't make a noise). But it usually takes several efforts - there's the stumble over a word, or a repetition of the start of a word (never knew I did that before) or a sneeze, throat tickle or cough! And of course that's just the moment the postman rings the doorbell, or one of those dratted phone promotional calls comes in! It takes forever to read one chapter, it might take me two lifetimes to read a whole book!<br />So, congratulations on a great post.Chris Longmuirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02488093821886798927noreply@blogger.com