The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas

Hi TZ radio fans!

Well this week, don't miss the brand new TZ radio play "Beewinjapeedee" written by JoBe Cerny. It stars the always amazing Sean Astin as a documentary filmmaker who travels to the Everglades in search of his brother's killer. While there. he meets a legendary Indian Princess with a ravenous appetite. In the studio we're working on the TZ radio episode "Eye of the Beholder" which stars Virginia Williams as Janet Tyler, a woman who is born with a particular handicap - ugliness.

The following description of the TV episode is from the website: http://spacedoutinc.org/DU-11/TwilightZone.html

In the TV version Janet is shown in a hospital on her eleventh visit to seek medical assistance for her deformity. The medical staff shows great compassion and sympathy for her despite their country’s political determination to ruthlessly eliminate non-conformity. “Some people want to live, no matter what,” says one nurse confidentially to another, showing their personal sympathy for Janet despite her severe social handicap. Director Douglas Heyes employs a particularly striking method of captivating our attention - he keeps all the characters faceless for most of the episode, as though to add to the bleakness and oppression all around. Poor Janet Tyler is wrapped in bandages, and the doctors and nurses who care for her also have their faces hidden by shadows, as though their compassion for Janet places them in some twilight zone between their political duties and their humanity - they are faceless minions of an oppressive society.

Naturally, being Twilight Zone, the episode features a twist at the end to demonstrate the adage that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.

Because this episode is so visual it created certain challenges when adapting it to radio. Once again I called upon Barry Richert, who faced similar challenges when adapting "The Invaders." Barry did an awesome job with the script and so far I am delighted with what I've heard in the mix stage. A mix for a typical TZ radio episodes takes about a week, so I'll keep you updated and be sure to listen for it in June.

Max Allen Collins just turned in his first draft to Stacy Keach and me on Volume 3 of "The New Adventures of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer." Working from the plot for an unwritten novel found in the files of the late Mickey Spillane, Max Allan Collins ("Road to Perdition") has fashioned a compelling noir thriller that is vintage Mike Hammer all the way titled "Encore For Murder." This 3-hour radio novel will be fully dramatized and star Stacy Keach as Mike Hammer, the toughest P.I. of them all. Look for it to be released by Blackstone Audio in the Fall.

In other news my "Word of Promise audio Bible" was recently nominated for 4 audio awards and for "Audiobook of the Year" please see:

http://news.thomasnelson.com/2010/04/14/the-word-of-promise-audio-bible-named-an-audiobook-of-the-year-finalist/

Well that's all for now, check back in a month for more NEWS FROM THE
ZONE!