The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas

Well, this week we're in the throws of mixing "Number Twelve Looks Just Like You" starring Bonnie Somerville, Charles Shaughnessy and Mike Starr. I'm really happy with the way it's turning out and Bob Benson at Cerny is heading this one up. It's a really spooky one and I'm excited for listeners to hear it on the air very soon. The mix process for most TZ's takes about 100 hours of production with generally one main engineer (in this case Bob Benson) and then several assistant engineers ­ one to edit the dialog, two to create the Foley (sound effects), one to add the music and the main engineer who oversees and engineers the final mix. Generally the first thing that is recorded is the star's dialog in Los Angeles (or here in Chicago if the star is in town). That way the supporting Chicago actors and I can listen to the star's performance and get a feel for the pace and style ­ and so we can take notes as to how the star pronounces character names. For example, a name like "Dana" can be pronounced with a hard "a" or a soft "a" and it wouldn't be good if the star said it one way and the supporting cast said it another now would it??? So before I direct the supporting cast we do our prep work. The entire supporting cast receives their scripts with their role(s) circled about a week in advance. When they come in to the studio we record a rehearsal and then take a break and then record "the show." We record the rehearsal because in editing the final mix together we may borrow pieces and parts and replace them from "the rehearsal." It just gives the engineers a safety.

Then after we've recorded twice, we take a lunch break before going through the same process on a second script. I make sure that everyone eats a lot of food and are full because the microphones are very sensitive and can pick up stomach noises. The only downside to that is everyone is so full they sometimes get sleepy : ) I like to direct the supporting actors while in the room with them and not from a director's booth. We have two Neiuman U-87 microphones set so that actors can work both sides of the mics, that way we can have as many as four actors having dialog with each another at one time. The actors are always standing at the mics and they move in and out per their scripted lines. I am very fortunate to produce and direct this series in a city (Chicago) that boasts some of the best vocal actors in the country. I have about 10 "Zoners" that appear in most of the shows and then I mix in new actors to give the shows fresh voices. We always tease the new actors about it being their first time and we sometimes put them through a friendly initiation : )

Ryan, our in-house sound engineer, keeps a close watch on the VU meters making sure that the actors are recorded at the proper levels. Then all of the sound files are sent to Cerny American Creative to be assembled and mixed. Stacy Keach records the Narration usually twice per year about 10 shows at a time. These sessions are either done in LA or in Chicago depending on his schedule.

Well, that's a little info on the process --- come back often to check this blog. I'll see you next time in THE ZONE!