Wednesday, September 28, 2011 New Free Audio Drama!

At long last I am able to present the newest audio drama from The Spirit Blade Underground Alliance, the online creative community of volunteers sponsored by Spirit Blade Productions!

Why "at long last"? Because this project has actually been in development longer than any other project the Alliance has released. It was the first script I gave a green light to and the first to hold auditions. But for reasons that still puzzle me, God has chosen again and again to delay the development of this project. Three different mixers have taken it on and both of the first two had to step away from it because of some difficult things that came into their lives beyond their own control.

After many more months of searching for an interested mixer, a new mixer joined the Alliance and eagerly took on this project a few months ago. He's done a wonderful job and as of today I've posted the audio drama on the Spirit Blade Underground Alliance page.

It's called "DSI Files: Unlucky Seven", and is set in a future where special agents sanctioned by the church are sent out to investigate and deal with significant spiritual events or threats. The script is a cool blend of sci-fi and the supernatural (which you know *I* dig!) and I hope you enjoy checking it out!

You can download it for free right now on the Alliance page!

Monday, September 26, 2011 Getting Back In Shape

Next week, as I return to developing the songs for Spirit Blade 3, I'll also be starting a new, daily regimen of vocal exercise.

While re-recording some vocals for the Special Edition of Spirit Blade, I noticed that my vocal endurance and some of my upper range flexibility had weakened since recording for Dark Ritual. Spirit Blade was recorded just a couple of years after I graduated from college as a vocal performance major. Dark Ritual was recorded shortly after two years of serving as a worship pastor, which involved regular vocal exercise. But since then I haven't had a vocal regimen built into my daily routine, and it's finally begun to show.

Although I'll continue producing music now and then after Spirit Blade 3, I don't really plan to do as much of it. But I still want Spirit Blade 3 to have the best voice possible from me. So, like an actor who goes to the gym for three months before filming that superhero movie, I'm going to be working my voice as hard as I safely can so that when it comes time to record my song vocals for Spirit Blade 3 I'll have all the options I want in terms of vocal range and tonal qualities.

Part of me is looking forward to getting my voice back in shape, but another part of me dreads adding more to my day that does not directly advance the development of a new project. But for every grand vision there are numerous details that have to be stacked one on top of the other in order to assemble the final product. And if this has to be one of them, well... at least it will be more enjoyable than marketing.

1. Ricky aka RicksterSeptember 27, 2011 at 1:58 AM

   You could just kill Merikk off in the very beginning of Spirit Blade 3 and save your self the stress of working out your voice or you could just no have Merikk sing. 
   LOL good luck with your routine can't wait to hear SB3

2. Paeter FrandsenSeptember 27, 2011 at 4:51 PM

   I've got it! In Spirit Blade 3, Merikk... will rap!

3. RickySeptember 27, 2011 at 4:58 PM

   lol

Friday, September 23, 2011 Catching Up On Creative Tid-bits

With my new laptop up and running and the first draft of Spirit Blade 3 finished, I've been anxious to get into work on development of the songs for Spirit Blade 3. But I've also seen how other projects have fallen to the wayside during my writing streak, made more obvious as I've been playing catch up recently.

So instead of charging ahead with the songs, I've decided to take about a week and make sure some smaller projects and tasks I've committed to doing get done.

Among those are the release of a Spirit Blade Underground Alliance audio drama that has been in development even longer than the first audio drama The Alliance released! A series of unfortunate events have kept the project in "limbo" for a long time, but it looks like it will finally be seeing release very soon!

I'm also working on a short bit of audio fiction written by Nathan James Norman, the writer of The SBUA audio drama, "Untold: Alliances". It will be featured on the podcast in October to coincide with the Halloween season (it has vampires and werewolves!) and will be an effort on my part to explore an additional creative avenue for Spirit Blade Productions. (More on that in October.)

I hope to be back into development of the songs for Spirit Blade 3 by this time next week, but of course I'll be sure to give you the latest details right here!

Have a great weekend!

-Paeter Frandsen

Wednesday, September 21, 2011 The Laptop Is Dead! Long Live The Laptop!

Over the weekend my laptop sputtered and died, finally giving out after at least three years of faithful service. Although I do all of my audio mixing and other production work on my desktop, my beaten up Dell laptop was where I spent most hours of a typical work day, answering e-mails, posting to blogs and other web activities.
 

This particular laptop was my first, a hand me down that my sister and her husband gave us when they upgraded. The timing was perfect, as I was going to have to begin working while watching our oldest son at the same time. That was at least three years ago. These days, I couldn't keep Spirit Blade Productions running without a laptop. (Or without pulling out my hair and having some kind of mental breakdown.) So I quickly spent some of Monday and all of Tuesday researching laptop options, making a purchase and getting my new laptop set up.

During this somewhat stressful transition, two thoughts occurred to me that make me very grateful.
 

First, I reflected on what an effective and meaningful gift that old Dell laptop was. Karyne and Jon, thank you so much for your thoughtfulness, which made it possible for me to keep my work moving forward. It might have been a small thing to you, or maybe more of a sacrifice than I realize. Either way, it made a huge impact on my ability to do what I do and saved me a lot of money that we didn't have.
 

Second, I realized that because of the purchases made by those of you who listen to our audio dramas, I was able to purchase this laptop without pulling any funding from our personal finances. (A big deal given that we still contribute some money every month to fund the company.) and without hindering our ability to fund our upcoming projects.
 

So I just wanted to give you guys a tangible example of how your support literally makes what I'm doing possible. Thank you so much!
 

-Paeter Frandsen

Monday, September 12, 2011 Downloads 50% OFF Through End Of September!!

I've just launched another CRAZY BIG SALE in our online store!

From now through the end of September, you can get the digital download versions of our audio dramas, as well as our two song bundles, for HALF OFF!

"Spirit Blade Special Edition" and "Spirit Blade: Dark Ritual" are both just $4.99 each!

"Pilgrim's Progress: Similitude Of Dream", and our song bundles are just $2.49 each!

If you've never tried out our productions before, now is the time! And if you're already a fan, let someone else know that there's no better opportunity to experience Spirit Blade Productions!

-Paeter Frandsen

1. AnonymousSeptember 12, 2011 at 7:40 PM

   You must have latent telepathic abilities! I've been wishing for a sale since I plaintively googled Christian Sci Fi -expecting little to nothing- and found Spirit Blade Productions (happiest discovery of the year, by the way). Thanks!

2. Paeter FrandsenSeptember 13, 2011 at 4:30 PM

   Cool! Glad the timing worked out and I hope you enjoy what you hear!

Saturday, September 10, 2011 Forum Chat Tonight At 6pm MST!

Just one last reminder to join me for the online 1-hour chat today at 6pm Mountain Standard Time. Just go to spiritblade.net/forums, login (Or create a free account if you haven't yet. It's quick and easy!) and scroll down to the bottom of the main page. The chat box is right there! See you soon!

Friday, September 9, 2011 Script Finished, New Video and Sale Next Week!

This has been a HUGE week and I've got a handful of things to update you on.

First, on Wednesday I finished the first draft of the "Spirit Blade 3" script, and last night I read through it with my wife. We were both very happy with it overall and also made notes of a few details to fix. Thankfully, it does not appear to be running as long as I feared. It will still be longer than "Dark Ritual", though. We're probably looking at a 4-disc set with a run time of around 4 hours once songs have been added in. Today I'll be fixing a few details based on quick notes we made last night. After that I'll begin figuring out where the songs will fall and what themes they will cover so that I can begin the development of the music.

Yesterday I uploaded an odd new video to our Youtube channel that will serve as an "example" for a video creation event I will be launching soon from our monthly newsletter. Keep an eye out there for details. There will be free stuff in it for anyone who participates, so if you're not subscribed to our newsletter, go subscribe now!

Lastly, next week I will be launching a sale that will run through the end of September, giving big discounts on all of our digital download products! I will make an announcement on this blog as soon as the sale has launched. So keep checking back here early next week!

Have a great weekend!

-Paeter Frandsen

Friday, September 2, 2011 Finishing The First Draft And The Future Of "Spirit Blade"

I'm amazed at how fast I've been writing the first draft for "Spirit Blade 3"! Yesterday and today I've wrapped up three plot threads and I'm currently writing the climax. 

I plan to go back through the script to ensure that there is a good amount of action throughout, but I think I can safely say that it ramps up enough at the end, with enough epic scale, to be worthy of the end of a trilogy. 

But while writing the big fun action at the end of this script, I'm also writing the final scenes I'll probably ever write for at least some of these characters. There are elements of both triumph and tragedy as this story comes to a close, and it's fittingly sad that I prepare to say goodbye to these characters and their stories. 

Yet I still wonder if this will really be the last we'll see of Merikk and his allies (or his enemies for that matter). It's too soon to make any announcements. In fact, it may fizzle and no announcement will come. But I can at least say that I have been toying with an idea that will in some way continue the world of Spirit Blade. In fact, more than "toying", I've spent extra hours every night this week intensely exploring a possibility that, if it works as I hope, will mean a new "Spirit Blade" experience for you all to enjoy. (And for those reading the forums, I am not referring to the potential i-phone game, which I'm also excited about!) 

There is still plenty of conceptual work to be done, but I'll say I'm VERY excited about this idea, and hope it will be something I can launch at the same time that Spirit Blade 3 is released. That's all I can say for now. Let the speculation commence! 

Have a great weekend! 

-Paeter Frandsen 

Wednesday, August 31, 2011 Live Chat Saturday September 10th!

Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 10th at 6pm Mountain Standard Time! We will be hosting a live chat for the Spirit Blade Community on our forums! 

Just head over to the Spirit Blade Underground Forums on the 10th for the chat, sign in or create a free account if you haven't yet, and join the chat box at the bottom of the main page! 

The chat will go for one hour. (6-7pm MST) There's no specific topic or agenda for the chat. We just figured we were overdue for some hangin' out! Hope to see you there! 

-Paeter Frandsen

Friday, August 26, 2011 First Draft Over Half Done!

It's been a great week for writing and I am currently more than halfway through writing the first draft of Spirit Blade 3! 

This is exciting because my side-gig substitute teaching could unpredictably kick into high gear at any time. 

Although I've timed one or two scenes, I haven't done a read through yet, and don't plan to until the first draft is complete. But I told my wife today that she should prepare to set an evening aside in 2-4 weeks so I can read the entire script to her. (I'm DYING to share this story with SOMEBODY!) 

Unlike previous entries in the series, I am waiting until the script is finished before I even conceptualize any of the songs. I have some guesses about how this different approach will effect the final product and I think it will be all good! 

I'll keep you up to date and hope to report a finished first draft very soon! 

-Paeter Frandsen 

Friday, August 19, 2011 Michael Bryce Recording Session, Part 2!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011 Make Your Own "Spirit Blade" Movie!

I'm planning something fun for the Spirit Blade Underground community to do together. At the end of August, I'll be selecting one or two clips from Spirit Blade and Spirit Blade: Dark Ritual to put online for people to download and use to create a video. The idea is to create a video that looks ridiculous, driving home the point that "some things are better left to the imagination". You can use puppets, action figures, or real people using the audio track like "dubbed kung fu movie" audio. Or whatever other crazy idea comes to mind. 

I'll give more specific instructions when the event is launched from our Official Newsletter. For now, I need your scene suggestions. What scene from either “Spirit Blades” do you think would be the most interesting/ridiculous to make movies from using puppets, action figures, actors mouthing along like dubbed kung fu movies, or something else equally ridiculous? 

Respond to this post before the end of August and make your voice heard! 

Thanks! 

-Paeter Frandsen 

Friday, August 12, 2011 "Action Scenes" In Audio Drama

While I never seem to have quite as much time for scripting as I'd like, this has been a "tortoise week", where the progress has been slow but consistently plodding along. I'm getting pretty close to the halfway point as I write my way through my outline. I continue to feel like the script will be too long, but I'm not letting that stifle my creativity at this point. 

Have I ever mentioned that action sequences are tough to design for audio drama? I've been writing one today, and as usual it plays out very different from what a film version would look like. I take a lot of inspiration from film as opposed to other audio dramas, which I think gives my work a specific and unique flavor, especially concerning how I handle action. 

I rely on the fact that my audience is made up of movie-goers like me and can "fill in the gaps" in action scenes with the help of movies they've seen, music and sound effects I provide, and their imaginations. If I rely on this too heavily, it becomes too difficult to tell what's happening. If I don't rely on it enough, then I've got characters describing out loud everything they're doing. (Lame. Who does that?) 

So my challenge today has involved scrapping two attempts at an action sequence and taking it in a very different direction than I had planned because of the limitations of the medium. Although very different from what I've been imagining for this scene until today, I think the direction I'm going now plays up the strengths, rather than weaknesses, of audio drama. 

-Paeter Frandsen 

Friday, August 5, 2011 Need Art For Two Audio Dramas!

The Spirit Blade Underground Alliance will soon be releasing two new audio dramas that we need some cool images for.

The first audio drama is called "Jealousy", a murder mystery set in a post-pandemic future. A small town in the desolate remains of the U.S. is distraught after a shocking murder. But without any formal law enforcement structure, they are struggling to solve the mystery and keep their town safe.

The second is a space adventure series (think "Star Trek: The Next Generation") called "Voyages Of The USS Sasquatch".

If you're "graphically inclined" and would like to create something we can use, shoot me an e-mail at paeter(at)spiritblade(dot)net for details and scripts (if you'd like to read them).

Thanks so much!

-Paeter Frandsen

Wednesday, August 3, 2011 We Need To Re-Cast!

We need your voice!

Recently an actor in a project for The Spirit Blade Underground Alliance decided to drop out of the mini-series he had been cast in. We were really bummed to hear this, and now we are scrambling to replace him! The Director/Mixer for this project is about 3/4 finished, but needs to be able to plug in some lines from a new actor for this role before we can release the first episode!

We've already posted a re-casting call for this role, but haven't received a single audition! Which means that if you're interested in auditioning, your chances of being cast are extremely good!

Here are the details-

Project Title: "Voyages Of The USS Sasquatch"

This is a limited, four episode mini-series with a Star Trek/Stargate TV series feel to it.

Premise: On the far distant border of our known universe and the frontier, Brianna Summers’ life and direction will be forever changed by what she faces and how she copes.

Episode 1-

Midshipman Brianna Summers reluctantly signs on the crew of the USS Sasquatch, a Patrol cutter. Although she has been expecting a practicum placement on a Fleet cruiser, this was not available to her. As she acclimates to being on a much smaller vessel, she finds that her crew mates are interesting people, not the “second stringers” as portrayed by the Admiralty. Sasquatch is then called to rescue an Arghian science ship from an artificial black hole. This leads to a showdown with two Path cruisers and a critical decision being made by Captain Jessup in order to save lives.


CHARACTER: "Moose". Late twenties. Male. RECURRING ROLE
Moose will be involved in all four episodes of the series. Please only audition if you are willing to commit to all episodes of the series.

Alton Mosberg or Moose” is a hulking Marine. This puts him in charge of the squad of Marines which makes up most of the Sasquatch’s crew. Moose can come across as an “aw shucks” type of southern boy. But he is all business "when the visor comes down."


Audition Lines:

Yeah. Park it and be neighborly.

The Admiralty (snort). Babe, the Admiralty is only interested in building big fancy cruise ships that just happen to be armed. Did you know that everybody over the rank of lieutenant has an assigned valet? A valet…On a war ship.


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:
paeter(at)spiritblade(dot)net

***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 file:
YourName_CharacterName_SasquatchAUD.mp3
Please only audition for this role if you are interested in recording for all episodes in this series.


***Auditions are due by Sunday, August 14th.***


Thanks and good luck!

-Paeter Frandsen

Friday, July 29, 2011 Website Upkeep

As many of you know, I'm not very tech-savvy. Very ironic given how I spend my days sometimes.

This week I've been taking some time out to adjust point sizes on our website in response to a comment I received that the words were too small to read. I checked and it did, in fact, look like the point size was too small. An unintended side effect of me being the guy who monkeys with and updates the site, instead of somebody who knows what they're doing..

So I've been trying to go for a larger size that isn't too big. During that process I discovered that Lo And Behold there is a "zoom" function in my browser that lets me zoom an entire page or just the text. (I'm not being sarcastic. I really didn't know about this function.) And other people can use this function, too!

When I put the topic up on the forums, someone pointed this out. But I'm guessing there will be plenty of folks who don't know about that browser function. (Not to downplay my computer illiteracy.)

So I'm kinda "feeling my way" to a point size that will be a happy medium. If you'd like to help you can visit our website and let me know what you think of the point size, or any other issues related to functionality. (As far as visual design preferences, you're welcome to include those comments as well, but it won't be in my budget to do anything in that regard for quite awhile.)

Hopefully if you've been running into difficulties or glitches we can get them fixed soon! Thanks!

-Paeter Frandsen

Wednesday, July 27, 2011 "Vincent" In A TV Commercial!

If you're not connected to our Facebook Page, you're missing out on a great way to stay connected and interact with me and other fans over the latest happenings atSpirit Blade Productions!

And this week, if you visit our wall, you'll see a video of Randy Hesson, the voice of Spirit Blade's "Vincent Craft", in a commercial he filmed for ABC Nissan!

Randy recently won an audition/contest to become the local spokesperson for ABC Nissan and will be filming a series of commercials this year as part of his new role.

Friday, July 22, 2011 New Video Featuring "Isaiah"!

Michael E. Bryce, Spirit Blade's "Isaiah", is featured in the new behind the scenes video on our Youtube Channel!

Backwards musicals, vocal fatigue, and my answer to the most commonly asked question during recording sessions!

Check out the video below!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011 Spirit Blade 3 Script 1/4th Complete?

If I'm going just off of my outline, I'd estimate that I'm about 1/4th of the way through the first draft of Spirit Blade 3. That's a rough estimate because some scenes take more time to write then others and some scenes also end up longer or shorter on the page than I thought they would be.

At this point I've set up the problems that the Liberation has to face, and the issues each character is struggling with, which means that going forward from here, crap will start hitting the fan and the action will really start ramping up!

Although I'm still concerned the script may end up too long, I'm just writing unrestrained at this point and I'll figure out later what I need to whittle down. But I'll be saving the longest version of the script to make available later so you guys can see all that might have been.

At this rate I feel like I'm "on track" to be finished with the first draft in September or October(hopefully sooner!), at which point I'll turn my attention to working on the songs as well as writing the second draft of "Pilgrim's Progress, Episode 2".

That's all I can think to update you on for now. I better get back to it!

-Paeter Frandsen

Friday, July 15, 2011 Characters And Emotion: The Real "Special Effects"

This week has been one of my most productive in terms of writing lately. And once again I can only guess at how long the final product will be.

At the moment, it risks being longer than "Dark Ritual", because I'm trying to spend some more time on character relationships than I have previously. This week, most of my focus has been on the friendship shared by Merikk and Raan. Some of the best storytelling is only made possible when you believe that characters really care for each other. But developing that in a script takes time and a finesse that I'm not sure I've developed yet as a writer.

Now don't get me wrong, the action will be more epic than ever in Spirit Blade 3. But special effects are only as dramatic as the writing and performances that motivate them and that they have an effect on. To end this trilogy well, I feel like I need to tap into some emotional kinds of storytelling that I didn't have in Spirit Blade and only began to introduce to Dark Ritual.

While Dark Ritual represented a jump forward in technical production for me, I'm hoping that Spirit Blade 3 will be a jump forward in writing. There's a sense in which I feel confident now about the technical production side of things. But I know I have a lot to learn as a writer. I'm hoping to learn some of those things right now so I can give this story the strongest ending possible.

-Paeter Frandsen

1. RickyJuly 18, 2011 at 11:40 AM

   Do you have any idea on what the subtitle will be yet?

2. Paeter FrandsenJuly 18, 2011 at 12:45 PM

   Not yet. "Dark Ritual" came fairly early during outlining. But it may be that I have to finish the script on this one first to see what pops out at me.