2020 in Review

Its been a year.

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Entering 2020 I had huge plans. Only a few months earlier, after overwhelming support from our listeners during our Indigogo Campaign we were able to start development on the fourth and final season of Wooden Overcoats. I was beginning development of a grand science fiction series with a production company in the vein of Arthur C. Clarke and finishing off sound design on an exciting new podcast project I'd been working on with long-time collaborator Chris Hogg. As well as producing a variety of audiobooks I had ambitions to further experiment and create GPS located dramas and documentaries expanding on previous work I'd created.

Yet, while 2020 presented many changes to plans, as for many of us,  I've still had the pleasure of working on a number of great projects requiring new remote skills, and meeting and developing programmes with a number of people I would not have had the chance to meet otherwise. I now have the pleasure to work both in London and Oslo on an ever expanding roster of projects. 

Here are some of my highlights from 2020:

Release of Cassie and Corey

On April 19th Chris Hogg and GTA's kids drama was released to the world tackling teenage eating disorders in a bombastic way supported by Arts Council England.

Following the pair and their highjacked mobility scooter over one nights journey in South London I sound designed and directed the production alongside Jeremy Mortimer.

Recorded on a mobility scooter in studio and featuring music from Drum and Base group GTA.

You can hear the series in its entirety now as well as see the resources created for schools as part of the podcast.

New York Festivals: Radio Awards

Also in April 'The Fall of Gondolin' by J.R.R. Tolkien, narrated by Tim and Sam West was awarded a 'Best Narration' award at the New York International Radio Awards. 

I had the pleasure of creating the original sample for Harper Collins with Sam and Tim to convince Christopher Tolkien that we would do right by his own and his father's deep, intricate  and much loved work which he listened to and approved before his death. 

The final audiobook was brilliantly produced by Rosemary O'Dowd, and edited and mastered by myself and was a real labour of love for the whole team. 

Stars Locked Down

Rounding out the month I edited and mastered a number of star studded episodes of 'Locked Together', a free podcast made for Audible Originals by Whistledown Productions.

I was lucky enough to work on conversations between French and Saunders, Pegg and Frost, Tez Ilyas and Sindhu Vee and Sarah Millican and Jason Manford. Each part featured two famous friends nattering it was a delightful programme to be part of and was incredibly well received when it was released on Audible.

You can hear the programme on Audible for free right now 

The Trouble with Rudyard

In May with our cast confined to their homes we sadly had to delay our recording of Season 4 of Wooden Overcoats. 

No access to the studio and our usual radio drama techniques meant rethinking and training ourselves how to script for and record remotely. 

With this in mind we created 'The Trouble with Rudyard' in support of the WHO's Covid-19 Relief Fund. 

It was a great proving round for what was possible with this form of audio drama production. The episode was featured by  Thepodcasthost.com as one of the best standalone audio drama episodes of 2020. 

The Bedroom Book Club

Rebel Book Club have been described by the Evening Standard as 'Instagram's coolest book club' - an exciting new way of reading non fiction combining live events and a subscription reading list founded by Ben Keene and Ben Saul-Garner.

Working with RBC I helped remotely record and produce their new, exciting interview podcast in cooperation with MGallery Hotels, linking each of their unique hotels with an book and a specially curated cocktail to capture the imagination.

Out now, Guests for the show included Sam Coniff-Allende author of 'Be More Pirate', Laura Whateley author of 'Money, A Users Guide' and Zing Tseng, executive editor of Vice UK and author of 'Forgotten Women.'

The 5th Birthday Party

Despite no new series being released on the 24th of September we celebrated 5 years of Wooden Overcoats with a roundtable I produced, presented and recorded with the core cast and crew. 

Listeners questions were phoned in and performed by the delightful Ms Scruple (Ellie Dickens). It was heart-warming to hear how the show has affected listeners and even how, in those 5 years, it has inspired some to dive into the audio world themselves. 

A fitting birthday celebration filled with every flavour of Birthday Cake, including Rainbow. A huge thank you to everyone who sent in their memories, art and questions. They were all read and appreciated.

The Future of Storytelling

Autumn also saw the release of The Storyfutures Academy Podcast, which I had the pleasure of shaping the sound identity for, and editing and mastering for final release. 

Presented and produced by acclaimed VR producer Shehani Fernando (who I've worked with previously on Victoria Mapplebeck's IDFA award winning film 'The Waiting Room') and Chris Hogg, the podcast is a guide to starting out in VR/AR and XR in a variety of roles. 

The Story Futures Academy is the UK's National Centre for Immersive Storytelling run by the National Film and Television School and Royal Holloway, University of London. Episodes 1-5 are available now with more on the way. 

Holy Sh!t

Later in the year I was lucky enough to work with Hat Trick Productions on a variety of programmes across their podcast slate including 'Queen Bees' with Esther Coles and Jane Horrocks, 'Time Ghost' with Armstrong and Miller. 

The last project of the year was helping to record and then sound designing their ambitious new comedy drama 'Holy Sh!t'. The 10 part series was recorded entirely remotely so relied heavily on post-production to shape its world. 

Described as 'ingenious' by the Guardian, 'Holy Sh!t' stars Olivier winner Patsy Ferran, Olivier nominee Cleve September and acclaimed comic performer Mandeep  Dillon.

It follows two best friends who think a room mate in halls may just, be Jesus.

Throughout the year I have continued to produce audiobooks for Harper Collins, Penguin and the RNIB Talking Book Service among others.

There are a number of projects that I've started developing in 2020 and hugely excited about that I'm not ready to speak about yet but I look forward to sharing more news in 2021!