Okay! Comment here, with the number of participants from your household, if you'd like to be assigned a line or two from Dracula to read aloud for a little Halloween audio project. I'm thinking we'll be doing the log from the doomed ship that carries Dracula (and his boxes o' dirt) to England.
Sign-up will be open until next Monday, Oct. 11. Then I'll close the door, divvy up the excerpt, and hand out lines. You will record yourselves reading them aloud and email the file to me by, say, Oct. 24, one week prior to Halloween. (I think I can take just about any normal audio file, and will let you know if it doesn't work.) I'll piece them together in the right order, apply spooky background music (professional composer
madbard has graciously allowed me to raid his stuff), and put it online for your listening chills in time for Halloween.
Once more, I highly encourage youngsters, oldsters, foreign speakers of English, and those with strong regional accents to apply, as well as all average folk. The more varied the mix of voices, the cooler the end product. It says, "Literature is a realm any person can enter freely, and appreciating it will therefore save the world and keep it safe for democracy." Or something like that. In any case, our project will say, "Halloween is fun!"
To listen to the previous projects, check out 2007's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" or 2008's "The Raven". We didn't do 2009. I had a young infant and stuff.
Edited to add: For those curious, the entire text of Dracula can be found here for free (and probably other places). Our section begins with "Log of the 'Demeter'" (the ship's name)--though whether we cover the whole thing or just the more exciting middle-to-end section of the log may depend on the number of participants.
Sign-up will be open until next Monday, Oct. 11. Then I'll close the door, divvy up the excerpt, and hand out lines. You will record yourselves reading them aloud and email the file to me by, say, Oct. 24, one week prior to Halloween. (I think I can take just about any normal audio file, and will let you know if it doesn't work.) I'll piece them together in the right order, apply spooky background music (professional composer
madbard has graciously allowed me to raid his stuff), and put it online for your listening chills in time for Halloween. Once more, I highly encourage youngsters, oldsters, foreign speakers of English, and those with strong regional accents to apply, as well as all average folk. The more varied the mix of voices, the cooler the end product. It says, "Literature is a realm any person can enter freely, and appreciating it will therefore save the world and keep it safe for democracy." Or something like that. In any case, our project will say, "Halloween is fun!"
To listen to the previous projects, check out 2007's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" or 2008's "The Raven". We didn't do 2009. I had a young infant and stuff.
Edited to add: For those curious, the entire text of Dracula can be found here for free (and probably other places). Our section begins with "Log of the 'Demeter'" (the ship's name)--though whether we cover the whole thing or just the more exciting middle-to-end section of the log may depend on the number of participants.
Page Summary
- mikailborg : (no subject) [+2]
- (Anonymous) : (no subject) [+3]
- new_iconoclast : (no subject) [+2]
- avari_maethor : (no subject) [+2]
- hess42 : (no subject) [+2]
- faroula : (no subject) [+1]
- snorklewacker : (no subject) [+2]
- kirstenfleur : (no subject) [+3]
- gavinworld : (no subject) [+2]
- lalael : (no subject) [+2]
- joemorf : (no subject) [+3]
Comments
1- And with a warning look and his finger on his lip, he went below. There was springing up a choppy wind, and I could not leave the helm.
2 - I saw him come out on deck again with a tool chest and lantern, and go down the forward hatchway. He is mad, stark, raving mad, and it's no use my trying to stop him.
Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24 - writerofirony at earthlink dot net
Thanks so much!
1 - 2 August, midnight.--Woke up from few minutes sleep by hearing a cry, seemingly outside my port. Could see nothing in fog.
2 - Rushed on deck, and ran against mate. Tells me he heard cry and ran, but no sign of man on watch. One more gone. Lord, help us!
3 - 3 August.--At midnight I went to relieve the man at the wheel and when I got to it found no one there. The wind was steady, and as we ran before it there was no yawing.
4 - I dared not leave it, so shouted for the mate. After a few seconds, he rushed up on deck in his flannels.
(Yes, please include the dates.) Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24 - thanks so much!
So here I stay and mind the helm, and write these notes. I can only trust in God and wait till the fog clears. ...It is nearly all over now.
Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24 - writerofirony at earthlink dot net
Thanks so much!
Is the version just Dracula or is there another version I don't know about? If so, title/isbn #?
Yep, just Stoker's regular ol' Dracula. For those curious, the whole thing can be found here for free (and probably other places). Our section begins with "Log of the 'Demeter'" (the ship's name)--though whether we cover the whole thing or just the more exciting middle-to-end section of the log may depend on the number of participants.
In fact, I think I'll edit the post to add that, in case people want to study up! :)
...and up on the deck he came as if shot from a gun, a raging madman, with his eyes rolling and his face convulsed with fear. "Save me! Save me!" he cried, and then looked round on the blanket of fog.
Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24 - writerofirony at earthlink dot net
Thanks so much!
His horror turned to despair, and in a steady voice he said, "You had better come too, captain, before it is too late. He is there! I know the secret now."
Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24 - writerofirony at earthlink dot net
Thanks so much!
"The sea will save me from Him, and it is all that is left!" Before I could say a word, or move forward to seize him, he sprang on the bulwark and deliberately threw himself into the sea.
Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24 - writerofirony at earthlink dot net
Thanks so much!
How do you feel about 3 year old speakers of Australian English? If there's a short line, I could coach her. And it would be cool. :)
God help me! How am I to account for all these horrors when I get to port? When I get to port! Will that ever be?
Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24. Thanks so much!
1 - Still fog, which the sunrise cannot pierce, I know there is sunrise because I am a sailor, why else I know not.
2 - I dared not go below, I dared not leave the helm, so here all night I stayed, and in the dimness of the night I saw it, Him!
3 - God, forgive me, but the mate was right to jump overboard. It was better to die like a man. To die like a sailor in blue water, no man can object.
(If one of those in full is too much for the kiddo, just have him/her do a little part and take over the rest yourselves.)
Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24 - writerofirony at earthlink dot net
Thanks so much!
~j
30 July.-- Awakened by mate telling me that both man of watch and steersman missing. Only self and mate and two hands left to work ship.
(Yes, please do include the date--ship's log and all.)
Please record and send the file to me by Oct. 24 - writerofirony at earthlink dot net
Thanks so much!