Engage the update firehose: Shameless pimping!

[usernamenumber]

As mentioned earlier, I met a lot of nifty podcasty types at Balticon. I've debated whether to even try and pimp all the fun-sounding shows I've learned about or been reminded of lately, because I'm sure that if I try I'm going to forget someone. But I figure networking is good, there are at least a few of your on my flist who are always looking for new shows to check out, and some recs are better than none, so here goes...

Misc nifty podcasty people
There are a bunch of folks I met whose work I haven't yet gotten to sample, but who have me completely convinced of their abilities, such that I'm quite looking forward to doing so.

Podcasting's Rich Sigfrit is a remarkably versatile voice actor, from what I hear, and I look forward to checking out his Pulp Adventures show. He also does a movie reviews 'cast if that's your thing.

Practically every member of the "production master class" panel let me pick his brain afterward about ways I can get 2S wrapped up. Of particular help were JD Sawyer, who has a couple of very cool-sounding podiobooks out, Chooch, who does a 'cast about blended families (eg Brady Bunch, which I hope is not an offensive comparison for them or anything) with his wife Viv, who also hosts the Girls Rules show, and John Taylor Williams, for whom I sadly have no web link, but the guy was a lot of fun to talk to.

Also, special thanks to Chooch and Viv for hosting a swell party for all the New media types Saturday night!

In addition to the pros, I had some good talks with other amateur folks who seemed downright eager to help out.

In particular, I talked with and was on a few panels with Paulette Jaxton, who has just finished what sounds like a really interesting full-cast podiobook called The Empress Sword. I don't wish to pideon-hole it, especially without having heard it yet, but from what I've gathered, it will be particularly interesting for folks who like fantasy stories that play around with gender roles, gender identity, etc.

On a note related to that, one of the voice actors present for a lot of the panels was @ddog, a smart and articulate young person who is also FtM transgendered/genderqueer, and runs a blog and podcast on the subject, which sounds interesting, particularly for people like me who know trans people, but don't have much direct access to that experience.


The creepiest Escape Pod story I've heard in a long time
There was an awesome panel that andrea2s1 was on called "Improv Story Writing", or something along those lines. As the name implies, it was kind of like Whose Line is it Anyway for authors, and lediva and I are totally going to pitch it for next year's Arisia and/or the Intercon pre-con (though it would probably fit best at the former).

Anyway, the guy hosting it, one John Cmar, was one of those people whom I encounter and immediately think "damn, I have got to larp with this person some time". Not only was he an excellent moderator, improvising questions and audience interactivity to fill space while writing was being done, he had, well, I'll just say it: a damn sexy voice.

I talked to him afterward, and it turns out that he did recently read for a short story on Escape Pod called The Love-Quest of Smidgen the Snack Cake, which he described as "the story of a seductive, sociopathic, bio-engineered cake". Needless to say, I obtained this story post-haste and we listened to it on the way home.

Damn.

This story expertly walks the line between creepy and absurd, with a creamy center of eroticism (yeah that's right, I said it), with a net effect of a combination of all three that is ultimately even more creepy. If that doesn't sound like a complete turn-off to you, check it out, but don't say I didn't warn you.


Music!
Plans to go back to my room and nap were interruped by walking by one of the performances room and hearing guitar/mandolin duo performing an upbeat, folkish ditty, the chorus of what was "There's a fetus in the kitchen!". I could explain the context, but trust me, it still wouldn't make much sense. Despite this, though they were musically quite talented and their songs were really catchy and fun, such that I ended up staying for the rest of their show. The guy who writes all the songs also does a podcast called The Drabblecast. At least for me, though, he's a bit like Paul and Storm in that the energy at his live shows makes them a completely different, and IMO better, animal (though if you see him play and like it, buy a CD so he can keep doing it ;)

There was also a lovely spontaneous group-sing led and accomanied by @sinspire aka Comic Book Goddess, a local filker and one of the people who really made an effort to reach out to me and make me feel welcome, not to mention giving me an excuse to sing. Thanks!


Movie!
I also saw a pretty nifty low-budget, indie movie called "I <3 Doomsday". The whole thing was made for less than $10k, and it shows in being pretty amateurish in some ways, but what it lacks in polish it makes up for in originality and a sort of over-the-top, nerdy charm. If you saw my tweet about watching a "mad-scientist proxy-android romantic comedy", this was it. It's not out on DVD currently, but if that ever changes I may well be hosting a showing.


Jewelery!
I also picked up a really nifty pendant at the art show made by Hibernia Curios, which I have dubbed "The Steampunk Shodan". It really needs to be seen in-person to be appreciated, though, so no pic. Her stuff reminds me a bit of slyviolet's, and since Vi just released a gorgeous new piece, here's a link to that, too.


Metamor City
I had heard of Metamor City ages ago, but had never really taken the time to listen, but I talked to the guy who runs it at the con, and saw a live performance and now I am really intrigued. The remarkable thing about MC is that the creator sort of outlined the world in which it all takes place and then licenced it under a Creative Commons/Share-Alike license. So, while he still gets to pick which stories become "official canon", anyone is welcome to play around in that world, create spinoffs, etc.

Since it's creation many years ago, it seems to have grown into a pretty expansive world, which lots of details and characters contributed by a host of authors, which is pretty dang cool. I look forward to exploring it further.


TekDiff/Waking World/The Account
I'm saving this one for last, both because technically it's not connected to Balticon (though I did find out about it when doing research for my panels), and because, to be honest, it's my favorite new thing I've found in a while. Oddly, no one at Balticon had heard of this one, so its seems that, like Second Shift, this guy's been off doing his own thing in a little bubble, and he's produced some amazing results. The show is called Teknikal Diffikulties, by a guy who calls himself Cayenne Chris Conroy. It's mostly sketch comedy which, in an audio-only medium, is something I don't see much of, but I've been paying particular attention to his "Waking World" series of serialized stories (look for episode titles that begin with "The Account:"). It's a fantasy comedy series that is remarkable in a number of ways:

• The writing is some of the best I've ever heard. I'm three eps into the "Relic Skies" series, and in the most recent episode he had me both laughing out loud and seriously, seriously creeped out.


• Cayenne Chris Conroy does almost all of the voices. His skill as a voice-actor is really quite amazing, and I'm learning a lot just by listening to him. If you know what to listen for, you can tell all the voices are being done by one person, but every character is still distinct. Sometimes it's by accent, but often it's just by differences in attitude and inflection. Quite impressive.
  
• This is a weird thing to say, given that so many of the characters are done by one actor, but the chemistry between cast members is fantastic. I'm assuming that much of this is done in post, but however he manages, the comedic timing and delivery is consistently absolutely spot on. This guy is good.


• Cayenne Chris Conroyis a pretty badass name. Just sayin'.

Ok, that's all for now. Apologies if I left anyone off. Too many awesome people doing awesome things! :)

Comments

[slyviolet.livejournal.com]

That was a great read. And thanks for the shout-out and signal boost on my jewelry!

[laurion]

I've found many an excellent work of fiction podcasted over at podiobooks.com.

And yeah, that's a badass name if ever.

[usernamenumber.livejournal.com]

Yup, I am familiar with it. I've been finding a lot of great stuff lately at The Audio Drama Directory.

[darkoni]

I would suggest doing the Improv Story Writing at Intercon pre-con. It sounds like an interesting idea. It's something I would want to attend, just to see how it turns out.

I'm probably going to have to check out that weird cake story as well. I don't know if I'll like it, but my insatiable curiosity will likely not let me avoid it now that I know about it. :/

[yogcmarthoth.livejournal.com]

As the one John Cmar in question, I can vouch for the creepiness of said story. And many thanks for the compliments!

Damn, do I ever need to get my LARP on... maybe a field trip to BOS is in the future...

[usernamenumber.livejournal.com]

I'll be happy to let you know of anything going on if you ever make it out here. Here's the site for the con I mentioned. It's a blast, but be warned that you have to be diligent about signing up for games if you decide to do it, as they tend to fill up fast. That's a ways away yet though. If you're ever in the area lemme know.

Also, banana slug! You're not a fellow UCSC alum, are you? (the Banana Slug is UCSC's mascot-- for serious!)

[yogcmarthoth.livejournal.com]

Sweet - I'll keep that in mind, and see how my March next year shapes out. In any case, I'll be sure to let you know if I find myself in the area. And it would be excellent to work on the same audio project someday, as well.

As awesome as it would be to have a banana slug as my mascot, alas, that is not the case. We left cat food out for a neighbor's cat one night, and found that nothing like the sweet crunch of said food more than a massive slug.