As many of you know, I’ve been a big fan of short speculative fiction in audio format. Periodically and from time to time, I take a break from screenplay updates to let you know about audio fiction on the ‘net. In fact, Simplyscripts presents short scripts in audio format from time to time. You can even subscribe to the feed via iTunes Oneclick.

However, audio scripts are just not as popular as I thought, so I’ve decided on a major and radical content shift for SimplyScripts. Beginning tomorrow, or the next day. Or early next week, perhaps. SimplyScripts will become SimplyPod^TM! While all the other excellent podcasts have the popular genres locked up, like science fiction, fantasty, horror, hardboiled and thriller, I have found my niche. Coming soon, no more scripts and screenplays. Coming soon, short speculative juvenile fiction in audio format. Each week SimplyPod^TM will bring you short speculative fiction written by and performed by my son and his friends from Mrs. Cartwright’s second grade class at Oakton Elementary School.

Coming next week or tomorrow will be the inaugural story Mr. Carrot and the sad Carnivore. It has been a pleasure serving your screenwriting needs over the past nine years, but I feel I must move on to new and better opportunities. So, please come back tomorrow or early next week for the grand unveiling of SimplyPod^TM! - Don

As you all know, in February we had the February One Week Challenge wherein participants were asked to write a 12 page dramatic script about a prison cell. We had 33 entries. The fine folks over at iScript.com were kind enough to select one script out of the group to be recorded.

The selected script is Rydale’s Prison by Philip Whitcroft .

An over crowded prison opens up a disused room with a dark history.

You can read along with the pdf version of the script here. You can discuss this script and all the OWC entries here. Click the “Play” button to listen to the script.

{note: This audio recording is released under a Creative Commons, attribution, noncommercial, no derivatives 3.0 license. You can share the audio recording in its entirety, but you can’t change it or sell it. }

Thanks to everyone who participated in the February One Week Challenge. - Don

Very special thanks to iScript.com for sponsoring the challenge and judging the final scripts.

After an unsuspecting patient fails a background check, a second-year intern is forced to make a difficult decision…

First watch the episode, then read the script (annotated in pdf format).

Sins of the Mother is the episode of StrangerThings that really cemented my love affair with Earl and the folks behind StrangerThings. This is where the acting, production values and the story really came together to tell a story that surpasses not only Earl’s previous works, but just about anything that has come out of short speculative television in the last few years. Earl and the StrangerThings team hit their stride on Sins of the Mother and carry it through on the next episode, One of those Faces.

A man struggles between his martial vows and a promise to his wife.

Short, Drama
Rated PG for

Read the script (5 pages pdf format). Listen to the script:

{note: This audio recording is released under a Creative Commons, attribution, noncommercial, no derivatives 3.0 license. You can share the audio recording in its entirety, but you can’t change it or sell it. }

After a horrible accident a young man asks forgiveness from his girlfriend while nature closes in.

Short, Horror, Drama
Rated R for language and unsafe driving

Read the script (5 pages pdf format). Listen to the script:

{note: This audio recording is released under a Creative Commons, attribution, noncommercial, no derivatives 3.0 license. You can share the audio recording in its entirety, but you can’t change it or sell it. }

What would happen if Jason, Barbara and Kenny and Danielle were taken hostage in the basement by a madman in a Powerpuff Girls mask?

Short Series - Comedy
Rated R (for language)

Read the script (22 pages - rtf format). Discuss the script. Listen to the script:

{note: This audio recording is released under a Creative Commons, attribution, noncommercial, no derivatives 3.0 license. You can share the audio recording in its entirety, but you can’t change it or sell it. }

A congressmen scheduled for the witness stand before the senate investigative committee is target for all sides of the political spectrum.

Third place finisher in the April ‘07 Movie Poet Writing contest.

Short, Thriller
Rated PG-13 for nudity

Read the script (5 pages pdf format). Listen to the script:

{note: This audio recording is released under a Creative Commons, attribution, noncommercial, no derivatives 3.0 license. You can share the audio recording in its entirety, but you can’t change it or sell it. }

The new girl, Danielle and Jason hit it off when they find out they both love the series Banana Chan. Poppy becomes jealous of there friendship and decides to do something about it. Kenny finds a new friend in Casey.

Short Series - Comedy
Rated R (for language)

Read the script (18 pages - html format). Discuss the script. Listen to the script:

{note: This audio recording is released under a Creative Commons, attribution, noncommercial, no derivatives 3.0 license. You can share the audio recording in its entirety, but you can’t change it or sell it. }

WGA - Day 10 Deadline Hollywood Daily for news on the strike.

Thanks to “Tierney Cat” for his insightful posting on the discussion board on a breakdown of what a WGA writer might typically earn. I think this sums it up pretty well, I’m on strike for the future of my union, for my health insurance and my pension. Right now, it’s sadly not about the writing which I love but about the business of writing which always plays like black comedy. Check out the rest of his post here.

I’ve just finished listening to Bill DeSmedt’s Singularity and thought I’d share. You can listen to the book over at Podiobooks.com. You don’t gotta have an MP3 player to hear the story. You can listen to it right on your computer.

On June 30, 1908, there was a massive explosion near the Podkamennaya Tunguska River. It was called the Tunguska Event. The explosion felled an estimated 80 million trees over 830 square miles. Yes, it was a big boom. Against this back drop, Bill DeSmedt’s Singularity weaves a present day tale of an astrophysicist, a rookie agent and an analyst who unearth a scheme to capture the submicroscopic black hole that caused the Tunguska Event and use its awesome power to transform the world. If you enjoy Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton you will dig this taut, fast-paced thriller. It is well read by the author - voices and all with plausible near future science and technology.

WGA - Day 6 - Strike news and insight over at Diaretical Throw-Up by David Press