A CAPELLA OPERA, PODCAST RECS & GHOST DETECTIVES

OYSTEIN
Dear patrons!

It’s Oystein here. We have another little surprise in store for you today!

You’ve probably listened to Dogopearances, the bonus episode with real voice mails from listeners? Perhaps you were one of the people whose voice mail we included? If you haven’t called our number yet, remember you can always leave a message. There will be more listener voice mail compilations in the future. And if you can’t afford international phone charges, you can also send your submission to implodingfictions at gmail dot com.

One of the amazing submissions we got for Dogopearances was the a cappella rendition of the Amelia theme tune, made by Caroline Mincks.

But Caroline didn’t just make intro and outro theme versions that you heard in the episode, they also made a third version - in the style of opera. And this version, we’ve saved for your ears only. It will be coming up shortly.

But first:

Caroline is not just a fan of the show, they are also a fellow podcaster involved in creating several audio dramas, and I want to recommend a couple of them.

Personally, I’ve been very taken by “Seen and Not Heard”. The show is about Bet, a woman who has recently lost most of her hearing. We follow Bet as she tries to navigate her new existence. Whilst facing obstacles such as feeling like an outsider in the deaf community, not having anyone in her life to practe sign language with, or the perils of dating, Bet never gives up, and has a wonderfully sardonic way of looking at the world.

What’s been for me the most heart breaking plotline is the relationship to her mother who is in serious denial about Bet’s condition. One episode literally had me crying on my commute to work.

If making an audio drama about being deaf seems like a paradox, you need to check this show out. The ingenious, immersive sound design by Tal Minear will occationally let you experience the world through Bet’s ears, giving a startling insight into what it’s like to experience hearing loss.

“Seen and Not Heard” is a very different kind of show to The Amelia Project, but if you like well written, well acted and insightful, touching drama that packs an emotional punch, then go subscribe to “Seen and Not Heard” on your favourite podcatcher.

By the way, “Seen and Not Heard” incidentally contains the best metaphor for microaggression I’ve ever heard. I simply can’t recommend it enough.

Caroline is also half of the duo behind the lighthearted and spooky show “Hughes and Mincks: Ghost Detectives”. We were recently invited to do a cross-over minisode with them, where a well known character from The Amelia Project leaves a mysterious message on the two ghost detectives’ answer phone…

In a second, we will play the short, funny minisode called “Mug shot”, and whilst listening, I hope you head over to iTunes or whatever podcatcher you use to hit “subscribe” to “Hughes and Mincks: Ghost Detectives”.

You’ll find links to both these shows in the shownotes.

Thanks again for your amazing support! We wish all of our patrons a happy, ghost free day with plenty of cocoa top ups.

Coming up: The Amelia Project A Cappella Theme Tune Opera Version by Caroline Mincks, followed by the cross-over minisode “Mug shot” from “Hughes and Mincks: Ghost Detectives”.


THE AMELIA PROJECT A CAPPELLA THEME TUNE OPERA VERSION



MINCKS SITS AT HER DESK. HUGHES ENTERS.

HUGHES:
Morning!

MINCKS:
Hey...do me a favor and listen to this voicemail? I’m...confused by it.

HUGHES:
What, weird potential client?

MINCKS:
Well, they didn’t actually mean to call us. It’s pretty clearly a wrong number, but at the same time...maybe?

HUGHES:
Uh...yeah, go on, play it, then.


MINCKS PLAYS THE MESSAGE. THE VOICE OF THE INTERVIEWER FROM THE AMELIA PROJECT IS HEARD.


INTERVIEWER:
Alvina - I’m at my wit’s end. I can’t carry on like this. Every time I turn around, it’s something else, and I can’t seem to put a stop to it. Files falling off of my shelf! The door opening itself! Mysterious voices on my recordings! Not to mention all the footsteps - constant footsteps! It’s as though someone is pacing just behind me, but when I turn around, there’s no one there!

And worst of all, today... oh, it pains me to relive this... today, I set down my mug of cocoa. I put it squarely in the center of my desk, safe and sound. All of a sudden, it all but flew off the desk, the mug shattering as it hit the wall, and all that glorious cocoa wasted! Oh, it dripped down the wall, mocking me, breaking my heart. The rich, velvety chocolate staining the wallpaper, cream all over the place, sprinkles scattered in the ceramic shatters - oh, it was too much to bear!

I tell you, Alvina, it was the last straw. Something has to be done. I don’t know what is going on, but I know it has to stop. Please. Help me! Help the cocoa!


MESSAGE ENDS.


HUGHES:
How did they not realize who they were calling? Our outgoing very clearly states “you’ve reached Hughes and Mincks: Ghost Detectives”.

MINCKS:
I can only assume they were too distracted by the ghosts to realize. I mean, clearly this is a haunting, right?  

HUGHES:
Sure sounds like one.

MINCKS:
A ghost who takes issue with cocoa?

HUGHES:
Truly a monster. God, I could go for a cocoa right now…

MINCKS:
I have some packets in the cupboard.

HUGHES:
Speaking of monsters.

MINCKS:
It’s all I could afford!

HUGHES:
Fine, fine, I’ll make the sad powdered cocoa for us both.


HUGHES GOES TO MAKE COCOA.


HUGHES:
So, what are we doing about this mystery caller? They didn’t leave any information. We don’t even know where they are.

MINCKS:
I figured I’d just call them back and offer some help. If they’re too far for us to get to them, maybe I can do a consultation over the phone.

HUGHES:
Good of you.

MINCKS:
I try. Okay, here goes.


MINCKS DIALS THE NUMBER BACK. PHONE RINGS. AS SHE LISTENS TO THE VOICEMAIL, SHE REACTS IN REAL TIME TO IT.



MINCKS:
...I’m being congratulated...Amelia Project? Okay…uh, this phone call definitely is happening, what?...who is this?...of course I’m sure about this...yes, I’m still here, what on earth...no way back? That’s grim...oh, they said good choice, that’s nice...hoax? This is the strangest outgoing mes…Ah, yes, hi, hello. My name is Caroline Mincks, and I’m a ghost detective. Someone from your office left a message here - they dialed us by mistake, they were trying to reach an Alvina somebody, but I actually think we may be able to help. Whoever called us...you’re being haunted. And I’m terribly sorry to hear about your cocoa. Nothing worse than a wasted cocoa, and yours sounded particularly good. No one should suffer like that. So, whoever you are, wherever you are...I hope you’ll let us help you. Just give us a ring and we’ll do what we can!


MINCKS HANGS UP.


HUGHES:
That sounded like an adventure.

MINCKS:
It was...bizarre.

HUGHES:
Something about a hoax?

MINCKS:
And a new life awaiting me. Apparently.

HUGHES:
Don’t think it’s a cult or something, do you?

MINCKS:
Your guess is as good as mine.

HUGHES:
Well, if they call back and start talking about recruitment, I’ll rescue you.

MINCKS:
According to the voicemail, they’ll give us a buzz within the hour.

HUGHES:
Gives us plenty of time for cocoa.


THEY BOTH TAKE A SIP AND THEN GROAN.


MINCKS:
It’s just not the same as the real deal.

HUGHES:
Maybe we ought to find some room in the budget for the good stuff?

MINCKS:
Tell you what. If this Amelia Project person hires us, cocoa’s on me for a month.

HUGHES:
I’m going to hold you to that.


THE PHONE RINGS. HUGHES ANSWERS IT.


HUGHES:
Hughes and Mincks, ghost detectives. This is Hughes.


THEY LISTEN TO THE VOICE ON THE OTHER END.


HUGHES:
Ah, yes, that was us! Glad to hear back from you. We hope that we can help with your ghost problems and get you back to enjoying your cocoa in peace. Now then, where can we find you…?


OUTRO MUSIC


CREDITS:
This minisode of Hughes and Mincks: Ghost Detectives was a cross over with The Amelia Project and starred the elegant Alan Burgon as the Interviewer, the adorable Sophie Hughes as Hughes and me, Caroline Mincks as Mincks. This episode was written and edited by Caroline. Find us on Twitter @HughesandMincks and The Amelia Project @amelia_podcast. And give us a shout if you’ve got any haunting happenings going on.


THE END.