- This is our first foray into fictional storytelling. What are a few of your immediate thoughts/reactions? Which fictional podcast did you find most compelling? Why?
2. Reflect on the transitions between scenes in Homecoming, particularly the time jumps in the storyline. Briefly describe how sound (music, sound effects, silence, etc) is used to make those transitions.
- Homecoming is definitely my favorite of the two podcasts. It reminds me of another fiction podcast I love called The Bright Sessions. I like the idea of recordings being from therapy sessions and that we are perhaps coming upon them. Also the voice-acting is superb. I am not a fan of the one-sided conversation that goes on in The Walk. I think it is very smartly done but it makes me feel like the story is incomplete. Also, I am not interested in feeling like a spy on the run so…I am not the target audience, I suppose. I think it would be compelling for people who like that sort of thing. Both did a good job of combining dialogue with ambient/street sounds.
- I was surprised at how easily I followed the time jumps in Homecoming. It was probably easy in part because I Catherine Keener’s voice is so unique that you knew it was her in diner. Each context was very distinct based on the background noise (white noise in the office/restaurant and street sounds in the diner/phone ringing and tinny sounds for the phone call). They also used whirring sounds as transitions between some time jumps that made it sound like fast-forwarding/rewinding. All of the audio backgrounds were distinct enough that I could keep track of which scene was playing out in front of me.
Audio Experiments 