Submissions guide for the Mark Time / Ogle Awards 2008

SFFaudio News

Mark Time AwardsJerry Stearns writes in to remind us that the Mark Time Awards submission deadline is fast approaching.

“The deadline for entering the Mark Time Awards and Ogle Awards competition is approaching: March 1, 2009 is the date for a postmark.

The Mark Time Awards are given each year for the best Science Fiction audio theater production of the year, and the Ogle Awards are for the best Fantasy and Horror audio theater production of the year. This will be the 12th Annual awards, announced at Convergence 2009, July 2 in Bloomington, MN.

Named for the character created by the Firesign Theatre, the awards are a celebration of the most popular genres in audio theater these days. The Ogle awards are named after Charles Ogle, who played the creation of Baron von Frankenstein in Thomas Edison’s 1910 silent film of that name. The winners will receive a plaque, a t-shirt, a letter from David Ossman (Mark Time himself) and the right to shamelessly promote their work holding the award out in front.

Convergence, an annual convention sponsored by MISFITS, the Minnesota Society for Interest in Science Fiction and Fantasy, is pleased to host the awards ceremony, and MISFITS is honored to be a supporter. Winners are invited to attend the convention to accept the award in person as part of the Opening Ceremonies. The convention also hosts a venue for playback of winners for convention attendees.

Five judges will listen, rank the entries, and come to a concensus of the winners by Mid-May. Recent judges have included Philip Proctor (of the Firesign Theatre), Tom Lopez (of ZBS) and Dani Cutler (of SFFaudio and the Society of Audio Addicts). Judging is based on the quality of the writing, performance, sound production, and originality of the whole package. Remember, this is SF & F we’re dealing with, so originality counts. Recreations and adaptations are considered, and judged both on the above criteria and considering the original source material. Audiobooks are NOT what we are looking for, but full cast audio theater.

To enter, go to the Mark Time website, http://www.greatnorthernaudio.com/MarkTime/MarkTime.html, and print out the online form. Send the form, a $25 entry fee, and FIVE copies of your entry (usually an audio or MP3 CD these days) to the address listed there. Postmark must be on or before March 1, 2009. Past winners, and the Mark Time SF Audio Hall of Fame are there as well.

Don’t miss the deadline. Enter now.”

Posted by Jesse Willis

CBC Radio One: Ideas – MISTAKES WERE MADE

Aural Noir: Online Audio

CBC Radio One - IdeasI mentioned the paperbook called Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me) in The SFFaudio Podcast #023.

So, here’s the thing. Sometimes I push the limits. I sometimes tell you about stuff that, if you only look at it head-on, doesn’t really sound much related to Science Fiction, Fantasy or even Aural Noirish Mystery etc.. But, this one really is related (or so I’m convincing myself).

If you don’t buy that, just pretend I’m right in this case and go with the fiction. Listen for the Casablanca (see Aural Noir!) reference within this enlightening interview.

Have a listen to CBC Radio’s Ideas host Paul Kennedy talking to Elliot Aronson about why the ending of Casablanca isn’t very realistic (cognitive dissonance). This particular interview appeared in The Best Of Ideas podcast back in Summer 2008.

CBC Radio One: Ideas – MISTAKES WERE MADE – BY OTHERS!
1 |MP3| – 53 Minutes 30 Seconds [INTERVIEW]
Podcaster: CBC Radio One’s The Best Of Ideas
Podcast: 2008
Why do people dodge responsibility when things fall apart? Why can’t political figures own up to their blunders? What’s behind so many domestic fights? The distinguished social psychologist Elliot Aronson tells us about the power of cognitive dissonance.

Posted by Jesse Willis

P.S. Free Apocalypse Al!