Wednesday, April 13, 2011 Rip Hunter's Chalkboard

I've got one of these, too. It's called my "Agenda Items" doc. Not everything on there stays on there. The order of priority can get switched around. Some items are canceled or replaced by new ideas that come out of the old ones. But it's the checklist of things on my agenda and it might just give you a sneak peak at what is to come!

 

SBP AGENDA ITEMS

Release Audio Book to 10 sites.

Create task schedule for Blade Runners.

Create Blade Runners Page and Description and announce. (Create incentive/contest/”mission” that will get five reviews on top five online digital retailers for SB:SE and Pilgrim's Progress.)

Re-write “Getting involved” page to include Newsletter, Blade Runners, and Alliance.

Produce “The Silver Dance” for podcast.

Market announce Brent Weeks interview in as many places as appropriate and give mission to Blade Runners. Look into facebook ad for interview.

Read Untold script and get back to Nathan.

Submit blog article or original article to Captain radio. See 2/15 email.

Troubleshoot more mixer involvement. Mixer training program? Phone time with Paeter? Brainstorm this, maybe with other mixers involved.

Press releases

Develop Audio Book Services

Contact Mesa Tribune Movie Reviewer. Use ChristianCinema.com (and Clash) as publisher(s) and see how to get into screenings.

Contact Wally about a publicist

Work through links at http://www.the-cosmic-forces.net/

Continue working through contacts for http://www.audiotheater.com/atwho.html You're at the Ds now.

http://www.purevolume.com/about_us

Wednesday, March 30, 2011 Out Til April 6th

Just wanted to let everybody know that I'll be out of my office until April 6th. I'm actually out of it now (in more ways than one) and on the road on vacation with my family. But I wanted to jump on here real quick to let you guys know that "In Search Of Truth" will be back next Wednesday and although there will be no podcast this weekend, we'll be back on track on April 8th!

See you then!

-Paeter Frandsen

Monday, March 28, 2011 The Bizarre Bazaar

On Saturday I had a table for Spirit Blade Productions at a quarterly event my comic store chain hosts called "The Bizarre Bazaar", in which local artists get to showcase their work for free and keep 100% of their profits.

Since my work is almost completely an online endeavor, I've never done anything quite like this before. Of all the exhibits there, mine was probably the most "bizarre", given that the word "Christian" tends to alienate plenty of folks all by itself. Mix that with audio drama AND sci-fi/fantasy and you've got an odd combo. But taking all this into consideration, I was really happy with how the event went and the connections I was able to make.

I'm planning to sign up for the next one as well, and I'll be sure to pass along the info for those of you in the Phoenix area that might like to stop by and say hi!

-Paeter Frandsen

1. Clockwork Ninja FilmsMarch 30, 2011 at 6:12 PM

   It was great hanging out with you there as well.

2. Paeter FrandsenMarch 30, 2011 at 8:53 PM

   Thanks, guys!

Friday, March 25, 2011 Pilgrim's Progress Chat Tomorrow!

Just one more reminder that we'll be having a live chat for "Pilgrim's Progress: Similitude Of A Dream" tomorrow, Saturday, at 6pm Pacific/9pm Eastern at our online forums in the chatbox.

See you then!

-Paeter Frandsen

Thursday, March 24, 2011 Casting Call For "Jealousy"!

This is a casting call for "Jealousy", an audio drama produced by "The Spirit Blade Underground Alliance"!

This is a one-shot feature. (Not a series. One, then done.) The story is a post-apocalyptic murder mystery written by Malcolm Cowen! A small community is struggling to survive after a deadly disease wipes out most of the earth's population. But when a mysterious outsider visits the village one night, the outcome is murder. Without an established legal system, this small group of survivors has to determine how they will find the truth, and what they will do when they find it.

The script features some brief, mild "swearing". You may request a copy of the script to examine the specific words used by contacting me at:
paeter(at)spiritblade(dot)net



Please record your audition at 128kbps or higher in mp3, or use wav file format.
All auditions should be sent via Yousendit (www.yousendit.com) to:
no1soulie(at)hotmail(dot)com

***Yousendit is a FREE online file transfer service. Please remember to make use of it. Do not send your file directly to
the e-mail listed.***

Please use the following format when naming your audition files:
YourName_CharacterName_JealousyAUD.mp3

All lines for each character audition should be in one file. However, please submit a separate file for each character you audition for. You may send multiple files separately or in one compressed folder. In either case, PLEASE make use of yousendit.

If a role requires yelling or screaming, please take measures(lower recording levels, increase
distance from microphone, etc.) to avoid distortion in your recordings. Your
ability to do this will have an impact on whether or not you are cast for these kinds of roles.

***Auditions are due by Saturday, April 9th.***

Below are brief character descriptions and the lines to use in your audition.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to e-mail me at: paeter(at)spiritblade(dot)net

Thanks and have fun!


-Paeter Frandsen

Friday, March 18, 2011 The All-New Newsletter!

Recently I just launched the all-new Spirit Blade Productions Newsletter!

In the next few weeks I'll be phasing out use of the old newsletter and transitioning to the new one, which features a ton more functionality that will make for a more fun and interactive experience.

The newsletter will now be produced through a blogger blog and is set up so that you can receive posts via e-mail. This will make it possible for me to include links and different media like audio and video right in the newsletter. No more copying and pasting links or sifting through the website to find content featured in the newsletter. It will now be either embedded in the e-mail itself or just one click away, with nothing to download. The Newsletter Page will also serve as easy access to archived editions of the newsletter.

The Newsletter is now designed to be a VIP portal to the essential Spirit Blade Productions experience, and also features discounts not advertised anywhere else. For example, if you weren't subscribed to the newsletter a few weeks ago, you missed out on this year's first "Demented Dollar Download", in which I made "Pilgrim's Progress: Similitude Of A Dream" available to purchase for just a buck!

So don't miss the next Newsletter exclusive sale or the latest free content! Sign up for the newsletter today!

You can get an idea of the new features of the newsletter on the Newsletter Welcome Page.

You can also see a sample of the newsletter on the Newsletter Page.

There will also be a free bonus for those who subscribe in the next few weeks. More details on that next week!

-Paeter Frandsen

Friday, March 11, 2011 My Sentimental Database

This week I've started putting together a database of our customers, tracking what they've purchased in our store and when. It's the kinda "business/marketing" stuff that I hate having to do and is usually just a necessary evil.

But as I started going through our store history, I started seeing familiar names and e-mail addresses. People that were strangers to me when they first went out on a limb and bought something from us, but have since become people I've been interacting with for years through this blog, the Podcast or more recently the Spirit Blade Forums.

Just yesterday I sent an e-mail thanking Winston Crutchfield of Critical Press Media. He was the first person(that I didn't already know) to ever buy from our online store. As it happens, he and I have stayed in touch over the years and even spent an afternoon together in person! I consider it part of God's reward for what I do to have met Winston and so many of you guys through this work.

All this to say "thank you" to all of you who have connected with what we're doing and supported this little endeavor with big ambitions. I'm extremely grateful for every one of you and look forward to connecting with you more and more in the future.

-Paeter Frandsen

Friday, March 4, 2011 Big Sale Starts Monday!

This week I've been hard at work getting ready to launch the all-new Spirit Blade Productions Newsletter. I'll have more info on that for you soon, but keep your eyes here. There are some great benefits to the new version of the newsletter that you won't want to miss out on!

And as I mentioned on Wednesday, we've got a big sale starting on Monday! Spring break is nearly here and many of you will be on the road to some fun. But you can also have tons of fun on the road itself! 

The "Roadtrip Reduction" sale starts on Monday! I'll be dropping all prices on our digital download products by 30%! Don't miss out on the chance to transform your next road trip into a sci-fi/fantasy adventure! And if you're staying put, but someone else is coming your way, be sure and let THEM know about the money they can save!

The sale will officially launch on Monday as soon as I have posted the announcement for it here. So check back throughout the day!

In the meantime, have a great weekend!

-Paeter Frandsen

Thursday, February 24, 2011 Out For The Weekend

Just a reminder that there will be no podcast this weekend. But if you're looking for something to fill that slot, why not head over to our Media Page and check out some cool free audio you might have missed before now! Or jump over to our Videos Page to watch the misadventures involved in producing our audio dramas!

Have a great weekend!

-Paeter Frandsen

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 Randy Hesson (Vincent Craft) Video!

This week I just posted the first of a two-part video featuring Randy Hesson in a recording session with me.

Listeners will know Randy best as the voice of Vincent Craft in the Spirit Blade Trilogy. These videos feature Randy as he recorded for the role of Vanger in Pilgrim's Progress: Similitude Of A Dream.

Check out the embedded video below or go to the Spirit Blade Videos Page to see it along with all of our production videos!

Enjoy!

-Paeter Frandsen

Monday, February 21, 2011 Raan Is The ULTIMATE Led Zeppelin Fan!

Since there won't be a podcast this weekend, I'm taking the week off from "In Search Of Truth" as well. But here's a special treat for you Spirit Blade fans!

Michael Tully, the voice of Spirit Blade's Raan Galvaanik, is a HUGE Led Zeppelin fan. 

In 2007, he and a buddy flew out to England to attend the first Led Zeppelin concert produced in... well, a loooong time!

Not only that, but he was first in line and made it on the news! You can check out the links below for the video he's in. (He even gets interviewed!)

Not to be outdone in his insane Zeppelin geekiness, Mike was quick to clarify that "The dude who speaks first (in the video below) is lying! Andy and I were there first , about 4 hours before them, but we went back to the hotel to get a few hrs sleep, then those guys came and set up in the wrong place, so andy and I lined up in the correct place, first!!!!"

Mike spent a number of years in a Zeppelin cover band (he's also a trained classical vocalist and has his doctorate in Vocal Pedagogy) and his knowledge of the legendary group is freakin' encyclopedic!

The first video has more of Mike (visually) and is a little shorter. The second is a longer cut with more British news anchor commentary, but no more of Mike. Enjoy seeing video of "Raan" for the first time, and in a very unique light!


http://music.guardian.co.uk/video/2007/dec/10/led.zeppelin


http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/469460/fans_camp_for_led_zeppelin

Friday, February 18, 2011 White Knuckle Week!

The podcast shows have been going WAAAY over time lately, so I wasn't sure if there would be a new episode this weekend. But I checked my server space and it just cleared up in time for me to post this week's episode!

I've been experiencing a surge of other work that has kept me out of my office, so lately I've been doing about all I can just to keep up with my usual activities. (Blogging, day to day e-mails and forum activity.) So things likely don't seem different to you, but I'm hanging on by the skin of my teeth!

Thankfully, I've been able to make just a little bit of time to keep up with the special features monthly release schedule and should be releasing part 1 of Randy Hesson's (Vincent Craft, Vanger) recording session video next week!

Have a great weekend!

Monday, February 14, 2011 Over Capacity!

Things are full to bursting in more ways than one!

First, the last several episodes of the podcast put me way over the top in my storage limits, so I may have to cancel the podcast for this coming weekend to give my hosting capacity time to catch up!

Secondly my side gig, substitute teaching, has had an unexpected surge, keeping me busy most of last week and today as well. So while I'm almost done with "In Search Of Truth" for this week, it just wasn't in the cards for it to go up today. Be sure to check back Wednesday as we continue our look at Romans!

In the meantime, I'll be taking slow, deep breaths and reminding myself that it is actually highly unlikely for someone's head to spontaneously explode.

See ya!

-Paeter

Friday, February 11, 2011 Brent Weeks Interview!

Both parts of my unprecedented interview with Brent Weeks are available to listen to right now!

For the first time in an interview, New York Times Bestselling fantasy author Brent Weeks openly talks about his Christian faith and the role it plays in his writing.


Use the links below for a revealing look at Brent Weeks and his approach to combining his Christian faith with dark, unsterilized fantasy fiction.

Brent Weeks, Part 1 

Brent Weeks, Part 2

1. Chipper MuseOctober 25, 2011 at 1:11 PM

   Glad I stopped by for this interview. I so appreciated what you and Brent both shared. I'll have to write him a note...the Christian themes don't go unnoticed! He's doing a great job. And I appreciate what you shared about "unsterilized" entertainment. So nice to hear someone talk about that. If you ever get a chance, swing by my blog. I'd love to see what you think of it.

2. AnonymousDecember 3, 2011 at 10:49 AM

   I wish more people would not only listen to this but write fantasy the way Brent Weeks did with the Night Angel Trilogy. I am a huge fan of the trilogy and I am a young author currently working on my own fantasy trilogy. I started the series about four years ago with a sort of Lord of the Rings type feel, but written in a modern way. Then I read the Night Angel trilogy. I was re-inspired to re-vamp my trilogy adding more religious aspects but giving it a more gritty feel where the characters are faced with life-changing experiences constantly, and even sometimes life-ending experiences. Much like the Night Angel trilogy, not everyone you like is going to make it to the end. Except maybe a few more people die. I was also insipired to make the main character an assassin who is given the choice to give up his life as a killer and embrace prophecies written over the course of ages, but later in the trilogy has to use many of his traits he learned as an assassin and even kill some of his allies. I listened to this interview because I, myself, am a Christian and I was wondering what Mr. Weeks had to say about his faith. I did have a hunch he was a Christian because of the symbolism in his story, but I wondered if he jsut used Christianity as a template for a prominate religion in his works. I am glad to know that he is, and it is quite a cool story that he went from athiest to Christian and how it inspired his wors.

Thursday, February 3, 2011 Brent Weeks Interview, Part 1!

First off, I'll be out on Friday and Monday, so "In Search Of Truth" will be up next Wednesday instead. I'm taking a long weekend to play some "marathon Descent" with my buddy, Mark.

But I posted the podcast early this week. And is this ever a BIG one!

For the first time in an interview, New York Times Bestselling fantasy author Brent Weeks, openly discusses his Christian faith and the role it played in writing The Night Angel Trilogy.

This week I play part one of the two-part interview. It's filled with laughs and fascinating insight. Tell all of your fantasy-loving friends. This is NOT a show to miss!

Then stay tuned for the second half next week!

Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011 New Video and Live Chat for "Pilgrim's Progress"!

Extras Junkies, rejoice! I've just released a new behind the scenes video on the making of the "Dreadgloom Swamp" sequence in "Pilgrim's Progress: Similitude Of A Dream"!

I've been asked multiple times exactly how this sequence was created, given all of the water involved. It was easily one of the most challenging to record! And for the first time you can see how it was done!

You can see the video, along with all of our other production videos, at:

http://www.youtube.com/user/spiritbladevideos?feature=mhum



While you're at it, Mark you calendar for Saturday, March 26th at 6pm MST. That's when we'll be having a live chat for "Pilgrim's Progress: Similitude Of A Dream"! It's a free event. All you need is your own copy of the audio drama so you can sync up with me as we listen to and talk about the project together.

I'll provide information here on how to sign in as we get close to the event, so stay tuned!


-Paeter Frandsen

Friday, January 21, 2011 Spirit Blade Audio Book Event!

The Spirit Blade Enhanced Audio Book is coming, and YOU can help get it here! (And maybe even win a prize doing it!)

The unpublished novella on which the Spirit Blade Trilogy is based will soon be available to everyone for FREE in enhanced audio book format, read by myself and featuring sound effects and music from "Spirit Blade: Special Edition" and "Spirit Blade: Dark Ritual"!

I am planning to release it on multiple sites across the web, simultaneously. But I need your help!

For this to have the far reaching potential it's intended to have, I need to release the audio book on at least 10 different sites at once.

Once I have 10 viable sites to launch the audio book on, I will drop everything else* I'm doing and immediately launch the audio book for everyone to download and enjoy for FREE!

With all that I have on my plate right now(prepping the Brent Weeks podcasts, planning and creating behind the scenes videos, publicity networking, etc.) I don't have the time to find the best websites for this endeavor. I've found three so far: podiobooks.com, spoken network, and archive.org. Any suggestions from you would be HUGELY appreciated! And as I said, as soon as I have 10 viable sites, EVERYONE can have this audio book for FREE!

For a website to be a viable host for the audio book files, it must meet the following criteria:

1. I must be able to submit and have them host and distribute the files from their site for free.

2. If they sell audio fiction, rather than primarily give it away, I must have the option to give my files away or set my price at $0.00.

3. I must not be required to place my files in the "Public Domain", though "Creative Commons" is fine.

4. It must be a site where people primarily go for audio fiction. (As opposed to a site purposed primarily for something else that is simply willing to host the files.)

In addition, the first person to suggest the site that I believe will have the greatest traffic of all those suggested, will be awarded with a free download of their choice from the Spirit Blade Productions online store!

There is no deadline for this event. It's simply over once I have 7 viable suggestions. So you can send me one suggestion or send me seven! Just leave a comment here or e-mail me at: paeter(at)spiritblade(dot)net

The arrival of the FREE Spirit Blade Audio Book is entirely in your hands!

Happy hunting!

-Paeter Frandsen

* - does not include the processing of online orders, blog posting, podcasting, caring for wife and children, eating or bathing. (Well, maybe bathing.)

Wednesday, January 19, 2011 Brent Weeks Interview, Feb. 4th and 11th!

I was THRILLED this week to get on the phone and record an interview with New York Times bestselling fantasy author Brent Weeks. (The Night Angel Trilogy, Black Prism)

For the first time in any interview, Brent spoke openly about his personal faith and the role it plays in his writing. It was a fantastic conversation that I was honored to have with him. Both fun and fascinating, this is NOT something you'll want to miss!

I will be playing the two part interview on The Spirit Blade Underground Podcast on February 4th and the 11th.

In the meantime, you can read my review of "The Night Angel Trilogy" or listen to it on the podcast!

-Paeter Frandsen

Friday, January 14, 2011 Cool Stuff Comin' Up!

After being pinned down for a couple of days with two sick boys at home, we're all sleeping a little better and I've been able to start getting ready for some fun stuff coming up.

First, I've scheduled my phone interview with the New York Times Best Selling Mystery Fantasy Author I mentioned last week. We'll be chatting on Monday, after which I'll be able to let the cat out of the bag and soon after announce when the interview will play on the podcast! Keep an eye here next week for the big reveal!

I've also determined my release strategy for the "Pilgrim's Progress" behind the scenes video features. I found that the kinds of things in the raw session footage were too diverse to edit together thematically (and still put them out this year), so I'll be releasing the raw footage in 10-15 minute segments with some text commentary embedded in each segment to hopefully provide another layer of interest. I'll begin work on the first one soon and hopefully release it next week or sometime soon after!

Lastly, I'm currently figuring out when to schedule the "Pilgrim's Progress" live chat. So stay tuned for an announcement on that as well!

-Paeter Frandsen

Wednesday, January 12, 2011 "Pilgrim's Progress" Interactive Commentary!

Once again I'm getting ready to record an audio commentary and this time it's for "Pilgrim's Progress: Similitude Of A Dream". But I can't do it alone! This will be the second "Interactive Audio Commentary" I've created, but the "interactive" part means I need YOUR questions and comments! So fire up your copy of this re-imagined fantasy adventure and then let me know what's on your mind!

I will be producing the commentary in two parts, releasing them for free on the website in February and March. You can send me your questions and comments to include in the commentary by e-mailing me at paeter(at)spiritblade(dot)net, or calling 206-350-1226 and leaving a voice message that I will play as part of the commentary!

Your comments and questions for the first 30 minutes of the project can be sent my way anytime before February 13th. Questions and comments for the second half of the project are due before March 13th.

Be immortalized for all of... uh, however long Spirit Blade Productions is around! I hope to hear from you soon!

-Paeter Frandsen